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Dear Neighbors,
It's hard to believe we're already beginning the month of August and that it's been nearly two months since Melissa and Mark Hortman were taken from us.
Melissa was loved, valued, and respected—not only in Brooklyn Park, but across political spectrums and the entire state of Minnesota. Melissa was all about people—how we show up for one another and how we treat each other. Mark was by her side supporting her every step of the way.
We continue to hold Melissa and Mark's children, families, friends, and loved ones in our hearts, and we continue to keep John, Yvette, and Hope Hoffman in our thoughts as they recover and heal.
The attacks on DFL legislators one month ago have shaken us to our core, but they have not shaken our resolve to build a state that works better for everyone. I believe we are stronger when we work together.
 During my first legislative session, we faced many challenges in the divided legislature, however, I’m proud that we were still able to make progress for Minnesotans and Brooklyn Park and Osseo residents alike. During the June special session, we passed budget bills for Commerce, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Health, Children, and Families, Higher Education, Human Services, Jobs and Labor, K-12 Education, Taxes, and Transportation. We also passed a pair of Capital Investment bills that improve our state buildings, transportation, and water infrastructure. You can read about each of those bills in more detail at the linked articles from the nonpartisan office of House Public Information.
Included in these bills are some local wins I was honored to champion for our communities and state:
- Supports for the Minnesota Board on Aging
- Investments renovate the Brooklyn Park Northwest Metro Regional Athletic Facility
- Funding for Osseo’s sesquicentennial
- Homelessness Prevention Assistance Program
- Enhanced statewide renter protections
- Funds for the African Career, Education & Resource, Inc. (ACER)
These bills are about fairness, transparency, and Minnesota values — and I’m so grateful to my colleagues from both sides of the aisle who voted green and helped move them forward.
This is just the beginning. We can deliver real solutions for real people when we work together.
 Collaborating with my colleague Rep. Repinski (R-Winona), Photo Credit: House Photography
The Big Ugly Betrayal
While Congressional Republicans and President Trump call it the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” there’s nothing beautiful about slashing health care, food support, and clean energy investments – especially to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.
The new law makes the largest health care cut in U.S. history, slashing $900 billion from Medicaid. One in four Minnesotans rely on Medicaid, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. These cuts could strip coverage from 250,000 Minnesotans and cost our state $500 million annually in lost federal funding, threatening the stability of hospitals and nursing homes already under financial strain. The bill also defunds Planned Parenthood, a vital provider of cancer screenings, birth control, and preventive care.
It cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which more than 440,000 Minnesotans use to feed their families. With nine million food shelf visits last year alone, our hunger relief network can’t absorb these additional burdens.
Minnesota has committed to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, but this bill undercuts that effort by eliminating clean energy tax credits. As a result, our state stands to lose 13,000 jobs and $7.8 billion in green energy investment by 2030. Utility bills could rise by over 10% by 2029.
All of these cuts are to pay for $1.3 trillion in tax cuts, with the lion’s share of them going to the very wealthiest among us. Meanwhile, because the vast majority of able-bodied adults receiving benefits are already working, new “work requirements” will just add unnecessary paperwork for counties and providers.
This bill raises costs, reduces care, and undermines Minnesota’s future. I’ll keep you updated as we fight back.
Welcoming the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders to Minnesota
The future of Africa is BRIGHT—because of them!
Out of 24 young Africans selected for the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship to come to Minnesota, only four were from Kenyan and I had the absolute honor of welcoming them to the People’s House!
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative Network (YALI), and in partnership with U.S. Embassy Nairobi, empowers young changemakers from across the continent to drive transformation in their communities and beyond.
Please meet our incredible Kenyan fellows delegation:
- Dr. Elizabeth Itotia – A passionate radiopharmacist deeply committed to improving cancer care and treatment across Africa.
- Mr. Maxwell Madaga – A fierce disability rights advocate with over 13 years of experience in inclusion, accessibility, and social justice.
- Dr. Yona Masheti – An agricultural scientist and development expert with a PhD in Crop Protection, focused on sustainable farming and farmer empowerment.
- Dr. Alfred Makotsi – An academic in International Relations and Diplomacy, and a legislative consultant dedicated to governance and youth engagement.
During their visit, they had the opportunity to engage with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who shared insights on U.S. governance, African geopolitics, and the intersections of law and policy. They also met Chief Clerk Patrick Murphy, who emphasized the vital role of civic participation especially among the youth.
Today was yet another powerful reminder that the solutions to Africa’s challenges are not imported, instead they’re born and nurtured within its borders. And its greatest resource? It's young people. They just need the opportunity and support to soar.
The future of Kenya looks bright—and it speaks with a Kenyan accent.
New Laws
On July 1, our new state budget took effect, along with the majority of the new policies lawmakers enacted this past session. As with all of this year’s successful legislation, these new laws are the product of bipartisan compromise. While there are certainly components of the budget I wish went further, especially with Trump and Congressional Republicans turning their backs on working families, there are still plenty of new commonsense policies and investments to be proud of.
Highlights include required access to free water at ticketed events of 100 or more people, protections for children who appear in online media, and assistance for homeowners and tenants when dealing with HOAs.
Minnesota Public Radio provided a brief overview of some of these laws and more, but if you’d like a deep dive of what’s been implemented, you can read a nonpartisan summary of all the new laws here.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime with input, questions, or ideas for legislation. The legislative interim is here, but the work doesn’t stop. Collaborating with and in community is the best part of this job.
Due to technical constraints, direct replies to this email won’t reach me. Please send me an email directly at [email protected] or 651-296-3751. You’re also welcome to follow me on my official Facebook page for more updates.
Stronger together,
Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley
State Representative
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