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Dear Neighbors,
It’s been two months since Melissa was murdered in an act of political violence that also claimed the lives of her husband Mark and their dog Gilbert. I am so thankful that the Hoffman family is recovering from their attack on that horrible night, and my thoughts continue to be with both families.
Political violence has no place in this country. We must resolve our differences peacefully, never through violence. The attacks on DFL legislators two months ago have shaken us to our core, but they have not shaken our resolve to build a state that works better for everyone.
We will keep working hard to build the future that Melissa and Mark Hortman believed in. I’m committed to that work, and I will continue to meet you in our district and at the State Capitol to move our state forward.
On July 1, our new state budget took effect, along with most of the new policies we enacted this past session. More of those laws were implemented at the start of this month, too. As with all 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, 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.
We also took a close look at the state’s DWI laws, and this session, we passed legislation to strengthen and modernize the interlock program, requiring it more aggressively for repeat offenses while also making it easier for people to access the program.
Minnesota Public Radio provided a brief overview of some of these laws and more in July and August, but if you’d like a deep dive into what’s been implemented, you can read a nonpartisan summary of all the new laws here.
In 2024, DFLers passed the Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act (MCDPA), which is now taking effect. The MCDPA helps safeguard consumers’ data and their right to privacy and provides Minnesota residents with the power to control how their data is used by companies and other parties.
The Attorney General’s Office enforces the MCDPA and ensures that businesses and covered entities follow the law. They have a website set up to assist you in learning about and exercising your rights. Learn more here.
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