Legislative Update

Friends,

March is here and with it comes a fast-moving legislative session. House Republicans are standing up for common sense and defending the rights and opportunities of Minnesotan’s.

Protecting Girls’ Sports – Every Republican Stood Up, Every Democrat Refused

As a very proud father of two daughters, athletics has taught us all to work hard, compete with integrity, and push our limits—but what happens when the playing field isn’t fair from the start?

The Preserving Girls’ Sports Act (HF 12) ensures that the protections and opportunities created by Title IX remain in place for the next generation of female athletes. Our girls and women should not be forced into unfair competition against biological males. This a growing concern.

This bill is about safety, fairness, and preserving girls sports in Minnesota. For decades, women fought for their own spaces, sports leagues, scholarships, and records. Allowing biological males to compete against, and into private spaces of girls, erases those hard-won gains.

The vast majority of Minnesotans—parents, coaches, and athletes alike—support fairness in girls’ sports.

Democrats Spent Us Into a $6 Billion Deficit

The spending of one-party control has led Minnesota into economic uncertainty.

Last November, the budget forecast predicted a $5.1 billion deficit by 2028. Now, just a few months later, that number has ballooned to $6 billion for Fiscal Year 2028-29. And yet, Democrats are already looking for more ways to tax hardworking Minnesotans.

Rather than take responsibility for setting spending to exceed revenues, Democrats are trying to blame federal cuts, despite the fact that deficits were projected well before any federal reductions were even talked about or a new administration was elected. We have a lot of work to get our state back on fiscal track. It’s our job to ensure government efficiency and make sure it’s right sized.

Supporting State Troopers To Keep Their Badges

Minnesota’s State Troopers and other law enforcement officers take pride in the badges they were sworn in with. Due to a costly and unnecessary redesign of the state seal, officers are being forced to give up their original badges.

I’m a co-sponsoring HF 1255, a bill that allows state employees—such as state troopers—to keep their original badges, a piece of their service history. Troopers shouldn’t be forced to turn in or pay for the badges they started their careers with just because the state decided to change the state seal.

This is a small but meaningful way to show respect and support for those who serve our communities. This bill idea came to me from a local trooper! Thank You Jason, I was proud to give the bill a hearing in the Transportation committee and pass it out, straight to the house floor for an upcoming floor vote.

Bipartisan Action on College Suicide Prevention

An important bill we heard in the committee I Chair is moving to the house floor. Mental health and suicide prevention should never be a partisan issue. That’s why I’m working across the aisle with Rep. Hansen (DFL) to pass HF 1214. It requires Hennepin County to fund a suicide prevention fence on the Washington Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis.

Suicide is a heartbreaking tragedy. The Washington Avenue Bridge on the University of Minnesota campus has been a site of too many preventable deaths, and this has been a know problem for a long time. This bill invests in prevention measures to help save lives. Hennepin County owns the bridge and should have addressed this issue a long time ago.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help.

Suicide Prevention Resources:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Dial 988 for free, 24/7 support.
Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.

You are not alone, and help is available.

Capitol Visits

The new office set up in the Centennial Building is not ideal, but thank you to those who have visited with me at the Capitol.

I know the committee and floor schedule is super packed and I apologize if our schedules didn’t or don’t work out. We do read your emails and brochures that are dropped off. Please know I am honored to work hard for our district and the values we share.

Thanks for reading the Koznick Connection, please share with any friends or neighbors who you think might be interested.

They can subscribe here.