Legislative Update
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It’s been a busy week at the Capitol as we’ve moved forward on several important bills aimed at improving the lives of everyday Minnesotans. Whether it’s making college more affordable, fixing our roads, supporting veterans, or ensuring fair elections, we’ve worked hard to pass smart, balanced policies that put our communities first.
Below are some of the highlights from this week’s floor votes:
Higher Education
The Higher Education omnibus bill passed this week keeps overall funding flat while addressing a major shortfall in Minnesota’s State Grant program. Instead of adding new spending, we reallocated funds by eliminating waste, including defunding underused programs and pulling back dollars from entities that simply don’t need taxpayer help. Key provisions include:
- $36 million in savings redirected to student grants.
- Eliminated funding to overpriced programs
- Cut unnecessary spending while preserving critical student support.
This is the kind of responsible approach Minnesotans expect, living within our means while making sure students still have a path forward.
Transportation
Minnesotans rely on roads, not empty rail cars. That’s why our transportation bill invests in the infrastructure people actually use, while pulling back on expensive, failing transit projects.
This bipartisan bill:
- Saves taxpayers money by delaying or canceling mismanaged projects like the Blue Line extension.
- Reinvests $99 million into ready-to-go road projects and long-term highway improvements.
- Ensures electric vehicles pay their fair share for road maintenance.
- Boosts safety with bridge repairs, anti-DWI provisions, and pedestrian improvements statewide.
It’s a win for commuters, job creators, and rural communities alike.
Housing
As a member of the Housing Committee, I’m proud of our work to shift the focus from one-time subsidies to long-term solutions. The housing bill prioritizes construction and infrastructure without adding new entitlement programs or political pet projects.
Highlights:
- 60% of funding went to building, increasing housing options for Minnesotans.
- $10 million for workforce housing to help rural communities grow.
- No new tenant mandates or named grants — just investment in what works.
Housing stability starts with supply, and this bill builds toward that goal.
Veterans
We passed a strong veterans bill that honors those who’ve served and strengthens the support systems they need:
- Expands mental health resources to combat the tragic rise in veteran suicides.
- Provides pension credit fairness for National Guard members activated for state emergencies.
- Honors Gold Star and Blue Star families with a new memorial at the Capitol.
As someone who cares deeply about our service members and their families, I’m proud to back this legislation.
State Government and Elections
Minnesotans deserve confidence in their elections. That’s why this year’s election bill includes key reforms to improve transparency, ensure fair party representation among election judges, and protect ballot security.
Key reforms:
- Requires party balance wherever ballots are counted.
- Secures voting equipment with password and key safeguards.
- Bans voting in cannabis facilities and tightens absentee ballot procedures.
- Clarifies chain-of-custody rules and ensures ballot integrity across the state.
This bill is about protecting the process so that every Minnesotan, no matter their party, knows our elections are secure and fair.
Eliminating Rigid Deadlines for Student Safety Training
In addition to these budget bills, we also passed a smaller education bill this week that helps give schools more flexibility in how they deliver active transportation safety training, which teaches kids how to safely walk or bike to school.
Previously, state law set strict deadlines for when this training had to be completed, regardless of when a student enrolled. Schools were required to deliver the training within a few weeks of the school year starting, which created challenges for administrators and teachers, especially when students transferred mid-year.
This bill simply repeals those deadline requirements, allowing schools to continue offering the training without being boxed in by arbitrary timelines. It doesn’t eliminate the training itself; it just removes red tape so schools can do what makes sense for their students and schedules.
It’s a small but practical fix that puts trust back in our local schools.
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Moving Minnesota Forward
This session, we’ve stayed focused on real solutions that reflect Minnesota values: fiscal responsibility, fairness, and practical support for the people who need it most. As I mentioned, some bills still have some provisions to be worked out, including the Education Committee's bill, which we can dive into next week.
Until then, have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the spring weather.
Sincerely,
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