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The two bipartisan bills were House File 3614 and House File 3631. The former is the public safety policy omnibus bill, while the latter is the bonding bill. The public safety bill makes simple corrections and public safety policy initiatives. This bill does not infringe on 2nd Amendment rights nor add spending…a win-win. The bill does do multiple things, including protections for victims of domestic abuse, expanding restrictions against level II and III predatory offenders, and updating the notification system used to track and alert community members of sexual offenders in their community. The bonding bill, on the other hand, corrects the two bonding bills passed last year, as well as corrects language for many of the nonprofits that received state funding.
However, the other bill did not achieve the bipartisan stamp of approval. House File 4772 was the elections policy bill that had zero provisions to ensure the integrity of our democratic processes. Two of three of the bill’s articles work actively against election integrity. Article one allows for people to register to vote or receive an absentee ballot without providing an address so long as they can ‘describe’ where they live. It also changes provisions to fill vacancies for school board seats without holding special elections, allowing partisan council members to appoint the replacement without input or a vote from the public. This article contains the Minnesota Voting Rights Act, which would impose significant cost increases to localities that would normally be handled by the state. Article three is also problematic because it would change redistricting laws to count convicts who are incarcerated not where they are currently residing in jail. This has huge implications including how the new district lines would be drawn, and where funds may be allocated.
 Message of Peace
I wish my Muslim friends Eid Mubarak! For my friends unfamiliar with the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, it is a joyous family event culminating the holy month of Ramadan and breaking of the fasting observed daily during the lunar month with a sumptuous meal. What is wonderful about America and Minnesota is our collective tolerance and support of
each other’s religious traditions and views. After having served in a variety of Muslim countries from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Bosnia to Afghanistan over my military career, I was enriched by each unique celebration. As we ponder our own holy days whether Passover, Easter, Eid al-Fitr or another, we share the desire for Peace, Shalom and Salam.
Please Contact Me
Please continue to reach out if I can be of any assistance to you. You can reach me by phone at 651-296-4244 or by email at rep.mark.wiens@house.mn.gov.
Have a great weekend!
Mark
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