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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Today marks the third and final committee deadline of the session. This is a big checkpoint as we move closer to our official adjournment on May 19th. Most of the budget work within House committees has wrapped up, which means we are now shifting gears and preparing to move those budget bills to the House floor for debate and votes. Even though we have cleared some major hurdles, there is still a lot of work ahead. The final stretch of session is always fast-paced, and this year will be no different. We will be putting in long days, and likely some weekends as well, to make sure we stay on track and deliver results for the people we represent.
Next week, we will get a brief pause in the schedule for Easter. With no official legislative business taking place in St. Paul, I am eagerly looking forward to spending that time at home back in the district. I will continue to keep you updated as we move through the final weeks of session.
Ranger Party
This week, I had the pleasure of attending the annual Ranger Party in St. Paul—a long-standing tradition that brings together folks from across the Iron Range and greater Minnesota. The event was hosted by Senator Grant Hauschild, Representative Cal Warwas, Senator Robert Farnsworth, Representative Ben Davis, Representative Roger Skraba, and me. It was a great opportunity to connect with fellow legislators, staff, and community members who are all committed to the success and future of our region. We had meaningful conversations about the issues that matter most to our communities and heard directly from those working every day to make a difference. The strong turnout and shared sense of purpose were a great reminder of the pride and unity that define the Range. I’m grateful to be part of these ongoing discussions and look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of the people we serve.
 Housing Omnibus Bill
As I mentioned, today marked the third deadline of the session, meaning all budget bills had to be voted out of their respective committees. As Chair of the Housing Committee, I’ve been working closely with Co-Chair Howard to craft a Housing budget bill that reflects our priorities and meets the needs of Minnesotans. After careful negotiations, I’m proud to announce that we’ve reached an agreement on a bill that includes some great things.
Most importantly, we secured $30 million in funding specifically for new infrastructure and workforce housing in Greater Minnesota, a critical investment for communities outside the Twin Cities.
Housing is an urgent issue across our state, and it’s clear that change is needed. This bill represents a historic commitment to Greater Minnesota, securing more funding than ever before—especially when compared to the inflated budgets of previous sessions. Unlike past budgets that often concentrated resources in the Twin Cities, this year’s approach ensures that more funding will be directed toward communities that truly need it.
The work on fixing our housing crisis is far from over but this bill takes a great first step. I passed the bill out of my committee this week and it is now headed to Ways and Means.
Critical Minerals Luncheon
This week, I had the opportunity to attend the Critical Minerals Luncheon, a valuable gathering focused on the future of critical minerals and their importance to industries like technology, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. The event provided a platform for advocates, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss how the Iron Range can play a crucial role in securing these essential resources. Attendees learned about the region’s potential for sustainable mining and the vital role it can play in ensuring a strong, domestic supply of critical minerals. It was a great opportunity to highlight the Iron Range’s importance in powering the nation’s future and securing economic growth for Minnesota. Myself and Rep. Skraba along with one of our colleagues from the Twin Cities, Rep. Hemmingsen-Jaeger, worked with the Council of State Governments to bring this opportunity to Minnesota.
Veterans Day on the Hill
We welcomed veterans from across Minnesota to the Capitol this week for our ‘Veterans Day on the Hill’ event. It was a strong showing, and a valuable opportunity to hear directly from veterans about the issues they care about. I appreciated the chance to sit down with this group for a productive conversation. Thank you to everyone who made the trip to the Capitol to take part in this event. Your input helps guide our work. To all veterans across the state, thank you for your service and your continued contributions to our communities.
 Meeting with MDI
I had the chance to meet with a group from Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI) to talk about their work and organization, many of whom came down from the Range! It was great to hear from you and see how great of work MDI is doing. Thank you for taking the time to visit and meet with me!
 Happy Easter
As I mentioned earlier, we will be on break from legislative activity next week so I want to wish you a Happy Easter in advance. I hope you are able to spend time with friends and family over the next week. We are working towards the adjournment date of May 19th, so I will be back at the Capitol on April 21st for the home stretch.
Happy Easter
As I mentioned earlier, we will be on break from legislative activity next week so I want to wish you a Happy Easter in advance. I hope you are able to spend time with friends and family over the next week. We are working towards the adjournment date of May 19th, so I will be back at the Capitol on April 21st for the home stretch.
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