This Tuesday, January 14th, marked the start of the 2025 legislative session. On the first day, the Senate passed a series of motions, including a unanimously passed resolution to enact a temporary power-sharing agreement between the two caucuses. This agreement comes in response to the recent death of Senator Kari Dziedzic (D-Minneapolis), leaving the Senate tied at 33 Republicans and 33 Democrats.

Through my role as assistant Republican leader, I was grateful to serve on the negotiation team that helped craft this bipartisan agreement. This agreement reflects the current moment of an evenly divided Senate and our commitment to working for the benefit of all Minnesotans.

Key items in the agreement include:

• Each caucus leader will appoint a co-presiding officer.
• Equal representation of DFL and GOP members on committees, including joint chairs.
• A permanent increase in GOP committee membership after the power-sharing agreement ends.
• The creation of a new Senate Subcommittee on Veterans.
• No changes to Senate rules through 2025.
• The agreement is in place until there are 34 votes to end it.

As a result of the power-sharing agreement, I will now serve as the Republican chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, and I will also serve as the Republican vice chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. In addition, I am a new member of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and I will continue to serve on the Pension and Retirement Commission and the Senate Capital Investment Committee.

Throughout my time in the Senate, I've championed policies to address critical human services issues. In recent sessions, I’ve worked to enhance long-term care services, support our EMS providers, and strengthen mental health and recovery systems. I look forward to building on this progress and advancing policies that benefit the well-being of all Minnesotans.

I invite you to learn more about my work on key human services issues – HERE.

On Thursday, December 26th,  $24 million in Emergency Ambulance Service Aid was distributed to EMS providers who primarily serve Greater Minnesota communities. This funding is part of a larger $30 million aid package for rural EMS passed during the 2024 legislative session.

The package is based on the findings of a bipartisan EMS Task Force, which investigated ways to enhance the life-saving services provided by EMS personnel. Access to Emergency Medical Services is crucial for Greater Minnesota, yet delivering these services can be particularly challenging. That is why the Emergency Ambulance Aid package is designed to support EMS providers in our rural communities. I am grateful for the bipartisan partnership in addressing this vital issue, and I know that this funding will make a positive difference across our region and state.

For more information on the Emergency Ambulance Service Aid and to view the full list of EMS aid recipients, please visit – HERE.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with the scouts of Cub Scout Pack 312!

They had great questions on how government works, and it’s clear that they are future leaders of our community! I'm grateful for the impact Scouting had on my journey.

I recently had an informative visit to the UMN-Morris campus for a tour and an insightful conversation with Chancellor Janet Schrunk Ericksen and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Facilities Bryan Herrmann.

I want to hear from you, my constituents, on issues that are important to you! With session underway, please feel free to reach out to my office with any concerns or ideas you may have. You can contact my office at [email protected] or 651-296-4875.

With Gratitude,

Senator Jordan Rasmusson

District 9

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