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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The legislative session is in full swing, and it's encouraging to see such strong civic participation at the Capitol. Minnesotans from across the state are attending committee meetings and engaging with legislators on issues that matter to their communities.
This year, I am proud to serve on the House Rules and Legislative Administration, Public Safety, and Energy committees, in addition to my role as DFL Deputy Floor Leader.
Committee meetings have been productive, with thoughtful input from stakeholders representing diverse interests and regions. This level of engagement helps ensure our legislative process remains responsive to the needs of all Minnesotans.
As we continue our work this session, your participation in the legislative process remains vital. Your feedback and experiences help inform policy decisions that affect our entire state. Thanks to many Minnesotans that came to the Capitol to advocate for stronger gun protections laws, we passed the Extreme Risk Protection Orders (red flag laws) in 2024, and after one-year of its implementation, I am proud to share it is doing exactly what its meant to do - protect and preserve lives in Minnesota against gun violence. Read the Star Tribune article here.
Thank you for your continued involvement in shaping Minnesota's future.
I can’t believe we had almost 200 constituents attend our SD 66 town hall last night. Thank you for showing up, staying engaged, asking amazing questions, and your commitment to defending Minnesota against Trump’s extremist agenda. Please continue to reach out to my office to share your thoughts, voice your concerns, or just to chat. We are in this together and I’ll do everything in my power at the legislature to advocate for our community and our needs.
Know your Rights with ICE
Many of our neighbors have expressed concerns and are experiencing anxiety related to the operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in our state. As I mentioned last night, my office is collaborating with local BIPOC-led organizations providing resources, tools, and legal information to communities impacted by Trump’s dehumanizing attacks to our undocumented neighbors, including an immigration safety townhall. My office has also been in contact with the Saint Paul Police Department and Mayor’s office, and I’ve been assured they are not complying with federal demands.
I will have more information to share around the immigration safety town hall. Please stay tuned.
In the meantime, here are other resources available to help you understand the laws and processes involved:
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Minnesota Attorney General’s Office released guidance for Minnesota schools regarding their legal responsibilities with respect to federal immigration enforcement priorities. The guidance reiterates that, regardless of changes in federal immigration policy, schools continue to be bound by law to provide public education to students regardless of immigration status, must protect student data, and cannot be compelled to enforce a federal program or changes in federal policies.
Minnesota Defense Against Trump Administration
Last night, we spent a good amount of time dedicated to answering questions around the executive orders, the threat of cuts to critical funding, and how our state’s economy will be impacted by these impulsive and damaging policies. To ease everyone’s mind, here is a reminder of the work we are doing in our state to defend Minnesotans against these brazen attacks.
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Rep. Kelly Moller and Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten joined a press conference lifting up the impact of cuts to organizations who support victims of domestic violence: Watch Here
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Some Senate and House Republicans sent a letter to the President and members of the federal delegation asking them not to cut Medicaid.
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This is a good start on behalf of the Minnesota GOP, but the letter will not be enough. We need to work collective as a district to continue to hold them accountable and responsible to consistently call out these harmful policies that will have severe consequences on some of our most vulnerable Minnesotans.
On Monday, House Republicans will hold a House Floor vote on HF 12, which aims to prevent trans girls from playing in sports. Let’s me be clear, this bill will not pass. Excluding trans kids from playing sports is not protecting sports. Our trans and other non-binary kids deserve our support and love, not exclusion via legislation. Trans youth suffer from mental health issues at a greater rate than the rest of the population - on top of an ever-increasing trend of mental health related illnesses our children experience. Study after study has shown the benefits to mental health sports provide, and the last thing we should do is force kids to participate against their identity.
Join Outfront Minnesota and other community advocates at the Minnesota State Capitol building outside the House Chamber on the second floor at 2:00 pm to show your support for trans youth.
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Keep in Touch
Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call or email any time at [email protected] or 651-296-4224. You can also follow my official Facebook page.
Minnesota House of Representatives
Due to technological limitations, this mailbox is not monitored. To reach Rep. Athena Hollins directly, please email [email protected].
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