Legislative Update
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we prepare for the upcoming session, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the work we’ve accomplished together and the priorities that lie ahead. Whether it’s improving education, protecting our environment, or investing in infrastructure, my focus remains on ensuring our community thrives.
This past legislative session brought both challenges and opportunities, and as a father of four, I am committed to making sure the policies we pass reflect the needs of families, educators, and students in our district.
Building Stronger Schools for a Brighter Future
Education is the foundation of our community’s future. As a parent of four children in public schools, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that well-crafted policies—or a lack thereof—can have on our classrooms. Too often, there’s a lack of humility among legislators, leading to one-size-fits-all approaches that fail to reflect the reality of what educators and students face each day.
That’s why we’ve worked hard to amplify the voices of our educators. The Boots On The Ground Bill ensures that legislators serving on education committees spend time in classrooms, gaining a real understanding of the challenges and opportunities. We’ve also championed the Student Discipline Solutions Bill, which trusts educators to maintain safe and productive learning environments while addressing safety risks with common-sense solutions.
The 62/30 Pension Bill is another critical step forward, allowing career educators to retire with full benefits after 30 years of service and at age 62. This policy supports teacher retention and recognizes the vital role educators play in shaping the future.
These bills are good places to start, but there’s more work to be done. Our schools are facing significant funding challenges, with metro-area shortfalls exceeding $300 million. I’ll continue fighting for balanced solutions that prioritize direct funding for classrooms and respect the expertise of our educators. Your feedback is essential as we work to make meaningful progress.
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Protecting Our Environment
With winter just around the corner, I encourage everyone to be mindful of how we can protect our waters during the season. This year, I was proud to author the Keep It Clean Bill, which emphasizes the importance of keeping litter and pollutants out of our lakes and waterways.
As snow and ice cover our landscape, we must remain vigilant about how our actions impact the environment. Simple steps—like using environmentally friendly de-icing methods and ensuring proper disposal of waste—can make a big difference in preserving our natural resources for future generations. Let’s work together to ensure that Minnesota’s waters stay clean and vibrant, even through the coldest months.
Town Hall
 From education to the environment, these priorities are just the beginning. There is still much more work to be done to lower property taxes, improve access to mental health care, and support our law enforcement with consistent funding. As always, my focus is on listening to your concerns and working collaboratively to address them. I’m deeply grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me to represent our community, and I’ll continue advocating for thoughtful, balanced solutions that reflect the values we share.
On that note, I will be hosting a town hall meeting at Caribou Coffee on Saturday, December 14th, from 8:30-9:30 AM. All are welcome to swing by and chat about concerns, ideas, questions, or simply just to chat. Hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
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