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Dear Neighbors,

Every day brings a little more daylight and the promise of spring. As the days get longer, they are getting longer at the Capitol too as we work to deliver big things for the state of Minnesota.?

For too long, Minnesotans have been left frustrated at a Legislature that waits until the last minute to pass giant bills and the gridlock of divided government has meant we don?t pass some things at all.? Over the last two years, I?ve had many conversations with community members who want a legislative process that reflects the hard work and needs of the people in Minnesota. That is what the DFL majority is focused on delivering -- a values-driven budget and legislative agenda that addresses the issues facing our state.

Last week, Governor Tim Walz, Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, and House Speaker Melissa Hortman announced an agreement on key budget decisions, taking a major step toward finalizing the two-year state budget. The agreed-upon budget framework includes historic investments for kids and families, investments in housing, funding to improve health and safety, clean energy, and tax cuts for low and middle-class Minnesotans.?

We have been listening to Minnesotans, and we are drawing on thousands of face-to-face conversations we've had with people at their doors, listening tours, and town hall meetings over the last year. Whether it?s ensuring no child goes without breakfast and lunch in school, or providing some more economic security for families, this budget agreement centers the needs of our kids, families, communities and environment. This is a direct result of Minnesotans all over the state who entrusted the DFL with a government majority.

Here?s an update about what we?ve been getting done in Saint Paul:

Safeguarding Gender-Affirming Healthcare

Minnesota should be a safe and welcoming place for everyone, including those who come to the state to seek life-affirming, gender-affirming care. Given the growing legislative assault in other states on the ability of people to both seek and provide gender-affirming healthcare, the legislature is moving forward with a bill to prohibit any attempts of outside jurisdictions or entities from reaching into our state with their laws to take action on people who come to Minnesota to receive this critical care. After a long floor debate, the House passed this important bill that protect trans youth, their families and the care providers who care for them. This legislation mirrors legislation being introduced in state?s across the country to create states of refuge for those seeking this care.

These efforts will protect Minnesotans and they will send a strong message to the trans community that they are loved, supported, and protected here in our state.

Reproductive Freedom Defense Act??

Last, Monday the House passed HF 366, the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act. The bill protects the privacy and rights of persons receiving or providing reproductive health care in the state against legal attacks and criminal penalties imposed in other states.

When some states are doing everything they can to restrict the rights of women, in Minnesota, we value the fundamental rights of everyone to access reproductive health care without any interference from partisan, elected politicians. The Reproductive Freedom Defense Act amends existing laws, including those regarding medical privacy, licensure, extradition, and prosecutorial procedure to reflect the reality that some states consider reproductive health care a crime and Minnesota explicitly does not.?

It is crucial to act now to protect patients and providers in Minnesota and those coming to Minnesota seeking care from the attacks enabled by last year?s Supreme Court decision.

Protecting Election Workers

In Judiciary Committee last week, we heard my legislation to protect election officials from harassment, intimidation, and attempts to interfere with official duties and elections infrastructure.

Every election cycle, 30,000 of our friends and neighbors, in every community in our state, pitch in to help staff our polling places and run our elections. These are the Minnesotans that make our democracy work by doing the apolitical work of conducting free and fair elections. But in the last three years, the spread of conspiracy theories and lies about elections have made these election workers the target of increasing threats, harassment, and interference. Passing this bill is a critical way we can protect Minnesota?s strong record of local elections administration while providing the legal tools to keep election officials safe and ensure they?re able to carry out their important work.

Both in Minnesota and nationally, election workers are facing an unprecedented rise in the level of threats, hostility, and attempted interference. This is making it more difficult to hire and retain election judges and election workers to administer elections. The legislation prohibits harassing and intimidating election officials or interfering with the performance of their duties. It safeguards the functions of local election administration from interference. ?

New EPA PFAS Protections?

The Biden Administration recently announced the Environmental Protection Agency will require utilities to remove PFAS from drinking water. It is estimated as many as 200 million Americans are currently exposed to PFAS chemicals through drinking water. The EPA regulation would include testing and filtering of six PFAS chemicals.??

I?m incredibly thankful we will be seeing federal action on getting PFAS out of drinking water. Now, we need to take it a step further. It?s corporate greed that got us into this mess, and we need to turn off the faucet on PFAS in more than just water. These cancer-causing chemicals are found in products and packaging we use every single day, and they're actively harming our health, our families, and our future.??

Here in Minnesota, we?re going to finish the job and keep PFAS out of our everyday lives.?

Stay in Touch

Thank you for your time, energy, and all you do to make our community a great place for everyone. Please reach out to me with your input and ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance. My email is [email protected] or you are always welcome to call me at the Capitol at 651-296-4200 and follow my Facebook page for updates.

It?s an honor and a privilege to be your State Representative and I look forward to working with you to create a stronger, brighter future for all Minnesotans!??

Best,?

Emma Greenman

State Representative