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Neighbors,
Thank you to everyone who attended my latest Huddle with Hicks on Sunday. I am always interested in your questions and to talk with you about the legislative session. I look forward to the next event!
Session activity continues to increase, and the second committee deadline to pass legislation is the end of next week. We have many bills to consider as the session moves along.
Rebecca, an advocate from the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, testified on my bill, HF1660, to increase the Medical Assistance income limit for persons with disabilities and 65 or older.
In committee, I also presented HF2516, to modify personal care assistance payment rates, and HF2665, which directs the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a program to award competitive grants to entities to provide diapers and wipes to under resourced families statewide.
On Thursday, the Minnesota House unanimously passed the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, protecting Indigenous children and ensuring they continue to have a lifeline to their culture. There is a dark, ugly history around separating children from their tribal nations, and this legislation is an important part of having honest, educational conversations about the experiences of Indigenous people. The erasure of Indigenous people and Tribal Nations isn’t only in our past; it is firmly in our present. The bill is now on its way to Governor Walz’s desk.
I was honored to participate in Monday’s Sovereignty Day at the Capitol, hosted by the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate. Sovereignty Day was an educational event for legislators on tribal history and culture, sovereignty, and the interplay between federal, state, and tribal law. This event included the leaders of the eleven federally recognized sovereign tribal nations in Minnesota.
It is easy to stay connected to news from the State Capitol. The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website.
Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so call or email any time. You can find my information on my House website. You can also like my Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter.
It is an honor to represent you at the State Capitol.
Sincerely,
Kim Hicks
State Representative
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