Dear friends and neighbors,

It continues to be very busy at the Capitol. With only four weeks remaining before committee deadline, I spent last week attending Committee hearings on bills and working with Constituents. In fact, I was happy to meet with over 15 different constituent groups to discuss perspectives on important issues!

Sen. Lucero and Rep. Novotny Friday last week meeting with members of the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce at the Capitol.

Sen. Lucero with Otsego constituent Roxanne testifying before the Senate Housing Committee on Lucero’s HOA reform bill, SF1750. 

Background: Thursday last week, my HOA Reform bill (SF1750) was heard in the Senate Housing Committee. The bill is a culmination of months of work and is still an ongoing discussion. 

Why it Matters: SF1750 is an HOA reform bill to fix the power imbalance between HOA Boards/Property Management Companies and HOA residents. The bill is approximately 60 pages containing provision to increase transparency, accountability, end conflicts of interest, provide a framework for dispute resolution, and more. 

Next Steps: This bill successfully passed the Housing Committee by a unanimous voice vote and was rereferred to the Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee has not yet scheduled a date to hear the bill but I anticipate a date soon. The hearing in Judiciary will work out many of the remaining technical issues with the bill and then I expect a potential stop in the State and Local Government Committee. After that, the bill likely will head to the Senate Floor for a vote.

Sen. Lucero and Sen. Housley testifying to their complaint against Sen. Nicole Mitchell in the Senate Ethics Committee.

Background: Sen. Nicole Mitchell was charged with one count of first degree felony burglary for breaking into her stepmothers' home and attempting to take things. Recently, the Becker County prosecutor filed a second felony charge against Mitchell for possession of burglary or theft tools. The added felony change was because a crowbar found in the window well of the home. Because of this additional charge, my Senate colleagues and I filed an amended ethics complaint similar to the one filed last year, but with the additional information. This complaint was heard in committee Thursday last week.

Why it Matters: The ethics complaint is more than simple political fighting but to uphold the integrity of the MN Senate itself. Minnesotans expect those charged with felonies should not be continuing to vote. To make matters worse, Sen. Mitchell is manipulating both Senate processes and criminal processes. When the Senate Ethics Committee met last May, the committee deferred action to after Senator Mitchell’s next court proceeding. Sen. Mitchell’s attorney’s argued the legal process was only a few short weeks away, and the Senate Ethics Committee could hold off decisions to allow the criminal trial to proceed. The Ethics Committee never reconvened because the trial faced delays throughout the year. But, Sen. Mitchell turned right around and had the criminal trial delayed arguing the criminal trial would interfere with Sen. Mitchell’s service in the Senate. This circular pattern must be stopped, which we attempted. Unfortunately, Democrats shut down our ethics complaint and once again delayed justice. 

Next Steps: For now, unless body camera footage or new information is released, we will have to wait until the conclusion of the criminal trial for the ethics complaint to be acted upon. This is unfortunate, but we have very little recourse in this situation.

Background: Gov. Walz continues to compare Pres. Trump, Republicans, and supporters to Nazis. Democrats in Minnesota and across the country continue to assert Pres. Trump and Republicans are a threat to Democracy.

Why it Matters: In 2017, during Pres. Trump's first term, a deranged Bernie Sanders supporter opened fire on Republicans during a Congressional baseball game. More recently, crazed lunatics are engaged in criminal damage to property against Tesla vehicles, Tesla dealerships, and Tesla vehicle charging stations. Republicans and Pres. Trump supporters are being kicked out of businesses by triggered employees. Multiple instances of swatting (prank call to 911-services so a swat team of armed law enforcement officers is dispatched to a targeted home) have occurred against known Republicans and conservatives. Swatting has, in the past, ended in the accidental death of the victim. This is no simple prank but one that has very serious and potentially deadly consequences. The demonization by Gov. Walz and Democrats has created a perception leftwing activists are justified in their extreme and dangerous measures against Republicans.

Next Steps: I chief authored a SF2589 to bring attention this very real and serious issue. Mental illness is a real problem for many, and I’ve supported resources for those who need help. But Democrats need to get real and understand they can’t continue blaming Trump for everything Democrats have done with the Democrat full-on effort to make Trump the scapegoat for all of Minnesota’s and our country's problems. Gov. Walz has left the state to campaign because he doesn’t want to deal with the $6 billion deficit he caused—but he’s quick to blame Trump for it instead.

Democrats have made Trump and Republicans the bogeyman responsible for every problem they see, despite hours of testimony showing Democrat mandates have left schools with deficits while counties and long-term care providers are preparing for massive cost shifts that will crush their budgets.

Fun time joining Jack and Kelly on the radio last Saturday and I also ran into Bill Glahn who is working hard tracking all the fraud occurring on Gov. Walz's watch!

Sen. Lucero visiting with School Board Members and Superintendents last week. 

Sen. Lucero Thursday last week with constituents after the HOA reform bill hearing.

Sen. Lucero with constituents Tuesday last week.

From smart meters that invade privacy to "voluntary" variable rates. Next, variable rate will be switched from "voluntary" to "mandatory" leveraging the smart meter to track/ration electricity usage. 

Capitol Address

95 University Avenue W.
Minnesota Senate Bldg. 2413
St. Paul, MN 55155

651-296-5655

Unsubscribe from future updates