Friends and Neighbors,

First, happy Independence Day! Hope you get to spend the day with people you love, and enjoy some well-earned fun!

While we celebrate, let’s also take a moment to thank the folks in the military and law enforcement who help keep us safe. Their service is a big part of why we get to enjoy the freedoms we have today.

New that laws took effect July 1

A number of new state laws officially took effect on July 1, including several tied to Minnesota’s recently passed $66 billion budget. Among them:

$100 million to reimburse school districts for unemployment benefits provided to hourly school employees over the summer.
Minnesotans 21 and under now need a permit to operate a motorboat or jet ski. The new rule will eventually expand to include anyone born after June 30,1987.
The end of the shotgun-only deer hunting zone.
Higher penalties for exposing children to fentanyl.

And more. You can find a full list of the laws that took effect July here: https://www.house.mn.gov/hinfo/leginfo/06012025NewLaws.pdf

Submit your comments about troubling K-12 health standards proposal

I would strongly encourage all of you to submit your comments about the state’s proposed new health education requirements for K-12 students, which will impose gender ideology benchmarks on kids as young as third grade:

Third graders would be required to “describe internal and external reproductive body parts using medically accurate terms in a gender-neutral way” and “explain the difference between sex assigned at birth and gender identity and expression.”
Other third-grade benchmarks include requiring students to “define gender identity and expression” and “describe consent and its importance in all relationships.”
Fifth graders would be required to “define sexual orientation including sense of identity, attractions and related behaviors” and “describe the differences between sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression.”

The comment period is open until July 18 and can be done online.

If this issue is important to you, this is your opportunity to have your voice heard!

If you have any questions about any of these issues, please reach out any time. Have a great 4th of July!

Sincerely,