Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page [ [link removed] ].






Stephenson email banner




Dear friends,

It has been a frustrating start to session, but I am pleased to report that the Minnesota House of Representatives has returned to normal operations.  As you probably know, the House has been unable to act for several weeks due to a standoff between the DFL and Republican Caucuses.  I was on the negotiating team for the DFL Caucus and spent long hours over the last few weeks working with my DFL and Republican colleagues to find a resolution that everyone can live with.

Under this agreement, Republicans (who currently hold 67 seats, as compared to 66 seats held by the DFL and one vacancy) will run the House until we return to a 67-67 tie, which we expect to happen following the March 11th special election in Roseville. When we return to a tie, all committees will have equal party representation with co-chairs. You can find the full agreement here [ [link removed](Signed).pdf%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2hoO59LeEmXRWZpTy7F3kiStSQAbv8GcZfHic0eKvPC5hmFPnsbIPYXm8_aem_dHjgjYDkQaWGiVWEp_UJnQ&h=AT02DR0v-er3iL0nB3r0MgGKgK-cV4IAQTu9n3cIjpr-Bxaj-fSWCprW1ZMpCUUFqLyJjebbae5CGtpCbLAzz4t_Hor824-Pc3M60re_DuV95npAFEuo3u-AI2OulZSgov13&__tn__=R-R&c%5B0%5D=AT016NeildbhpsEfjJ8nDmqlMyVT8-o0YueLkrWlIXIbr3rfA_ydqojVfM26zvzo40ykE1Ld4LGahs47ahyIm-xV9OG_cw00MaNj6cRaKArXXlT4ZdQWcmxi9hmRsb8K7-lGxT2HfmNEhBom7RWdsAnS1iy1D8PGYpCL9IytVN8RzqSsoGzVFjsU3JhyEufhAK4qN5mIqtti7ZmuMA4 ]. 

While the compromise reached allows Republican Leader Lisa Demuth to serve as Speaker for the biennium, it also significantly limits the power of the Speaker’s Office, requiring her to share power with the DFL Caucus.  It also blocks Republicans’ attempt to overturn legitimate election results and ensures Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee) will serve his rightfully elected term. 

This agreement sends a clear message that in Minnesota: voters decide elections, not politicians. Should anyone attempt to undermine our democratic institutions I will defend it without hesitation. 

Thank you to the community leaders, advocates, and constituents who met with me over the past few weeks. Your insight continues to shape my priorities in Saint Paul. Together, we will continue advancing our shared values through legislative action. As the DFL Co-Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, I’m dedicated to working with our colleagues across the aisle and in the Senate to ensure our state budget reflects the values we all share, so everyone in Minnesota has the opportunity to thrive. We have our work cut out for us, but I have faith in this committee to move Minnesota forward.

First Bill Introduced

With the House functioning again, I introduced my first bill of the 2025 session.  My bill would require health insurance companies in Minnesota to fully cover mental health care for children, and to do so without any copays, deductibles, or cost sharing.  We have a mental health crisis among young people, with historic levels of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide.  Ensuring that children have good access to mental health care has never been more essential.  I believe that a significant cause of our mental health crisis is social media.  Last year, I passed the first bill in Minnesota's history regulating social media companies, requiring several transparency measures.  Most important, my bill required social media companies to disclose when they are conducting product experiments on young people.  Later this year, I will introduce additional bills regulating social media companies.

Stephenson1

Keep in Touch

Please continue to reach out anytime if you need assistance or have questions at [email protected] or 651-296-5513.

It’s an honor to represent our Coon Rapids and Anoka families in St. Paul.

Sincerely,

Rep. Zack Stephenson

Minnesota House of Representatives






State Representative Zack Stephenson

5th Floor, Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar St.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-5513
www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15507
[email protected] "(replies to this newsletter are not monitored)
"Facebook: facebook.com/repzackstephenson [ [link removed] ]







To unsubscribe, visit the Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. If you have questions or experience technical difficulties with this subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota House DFL · 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. · Saint Paul, MN 55155 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]