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Dear Neighbors,

We had another productive week in the House. I?m thankful for my colleagues who continue to work together to build policies that will improve the lives of all Minnesotans.

Progress!

We did it! HF1, the Protecting Reproductive Options Act, was signed into law by Governor Walz on Tuesday. This bill creates a fundamental right to reproductive healthcare in Minnesota. Thank you Pro-Choice Minnesota, Gender Justice, Planned Parenthood Minnesota Advocate, and UnRestrict Minnesota for your advocacy! And to all the activists who told their stories to improve the lives of your neighbors for generations to come. You can watch the signing ceremony here.

This week we passed several bills in the House. On Tuesday, we passed the Driver?s Licenses for All bill, permitting undocumented immigrants to apply for driver?s licensure, take a driver?s exam, and earn a driver?s license. The bill restores driver?s license privileges removed by former Gov. Pawlenty in 2003. This bill is important for the safety of everyone on our roads, and I?m happy to have voted for it and passed it on the House floor. Undocumented immigrants are an essential part of our workforce. Their labor provides at least $1.56 billion of value added to Minnesota?s economy. I?m proud to supply our workers with safe access to our roads considering the critical work they do for the rest of us.

On Thursday we passed two major bills. First of all, we passed the ?Restore the Vote? bill. This bill restores voting rights to our formerly incarcerated neighbors. Voting is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy, and it ensures that citizens have a voice in decisions that impact their lives. Twenty-one states automatically restore voting rights after incarceration ends, including Red States like North Dakota and Blue States like Illinois.?

Restoring voting rights is an equity issue and a racial justice issue. Black Minnesotans account for 20% of those ineligible to vote, but make up just 4% of the state?s voting-age population. Indigenous Minnesotans are less than 1% of the voting-age population but are almost 7% of those ineligible to vote. Hispanic Minnesotans are 2.5% of the voting-age population but 6% of those with voting rights withheld. I want to give a special shout-out to former State Rep. Ray Dehn for originally bringing this legislation to the House long before it was a caucus priority.

Secondly, we voted for and passed a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the liberation of African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. By learning from our past we can better address the harmful racial disparities of the present and build a state that is more inclusive and more just. Passing this bill alone will not rectify racial disparities and anti-Blackness in our nation. That?s why members of the Minnesota House DFL Majority are committed to investing in Black communities so Black Minnesotans have opportunities to succeed and thrive.

New bills!

This week I introduced our English Language Learner (ELL) bill - a top priority for our DFL Caucus and our Minnesota Asian Pacific Caucus. If we are to live up to our vision of fully funding education, funding our English Language Learner programs is a vital piece of that mission. ELL is underfunded. The need to invest in our ELL students is more urgent than it has ever been coming out of the pandemic.?

Proficiency in math and reading has fallen drastically for this student group. Also, ELL students are usually new Americans or vulnerable people who are unable to advocate for themselves. We know Minnesota has a rich history of welcoming immigrants and protecting the vulnerable, and I am proud to carry this bill to continue that legacy. You can watch the bill presentation here. You can watch the bill testimony here.

On Friday, I presented HF 601, to require gun owners to report lost and stolen firearms to law enforcement within 48 hours. I and other DFL members presented a package of bills to strengthen our gun safety laws in Minnesota. Gun owners around our state agree with responsible, common-sense gun safety measures, however, nearly 40% of the guns lost or stolen in the United States are never reported to law enforcement. Gun theft is a growing problem across the nation that threatens community safety. By enacting a reporting requirement, we can deter gun trafficking and straw purchasing, help law enforcement recover and return lost or stolen guns to their rightful owners, and help law enforcement disarm individuals who become ineligible to possess firearms.

Stay in Touch

If you have any questions or feedback you?d like to share, please don?t hesitate to reach out. You can contact me by email at [email protected] or call (651) 296-8799.?

Sincerely,??

Kaohly Vang Her

State Representative?