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May 5, 2025
Legislative Update
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We’re entering the final stretch of session with just two weeks to go. I want to take a moment to share some good news about the work we’ve been doing to keep government accountable, support our communities, and make smart, responsible investments. While there are still a few bills that need some more work, we were able to pass several bills on the House floor last week, including:
Higher Education
This year’s higher education bill keeps overall spending flat while fixing a major shortfall in the State Grant program. We found $36 million in savings by cutting unnecessary and redundant programs and redirected it to students who need it most. Instead of growing government, we’re supporting students while respecting taxpayers.
Transportation
Minnesotans rely on roads, not empty train cars. Our bipartisan transportation bill pulls back money from failing transit projects and puts $99 million into ready-to-go road and bridge upgrades across the state. It also includes funding for pedestrian safety, anti-DWI enforcement, and ensures EV drivers are contributing to road maintenance.
Elections
This year’s elections bill strengthens oversight and reinforces trust in our voting system. It ensures party balance at polling places by requiring counties to request more GOP judges when needed and allows parties to name alternates. The bill bans voting in cannabis facilities, secures voting equipment with password protections, and guarantees election judges from both parties are present during key voting moments. These are common-sense reforms that protect ballot integrity and uphold fair elections.
Veterans
We’re also delivering for our veterans. Our bipartisan veterans bill expands mental health resources to combat suicide, provides pension fairness for National Guard members called up for state active duty, and funds a new Capitol memorial to honor Gold Star and Blue Star families. These are real changes that support those who’ve served.
Winona Area Public Schools Visits the Capitol
Taking a break from the legislative action last week, I had the pleasure of meeting students from Winona Area Public Schools who came to learn about the legislative process. Their thoughtful questions and genuine interest in how government works were a great reminder of why we do what we do. I’m always glad to see the next generation getting involved.
 Looking Ahead
We had a pretty good week getting things done for the people of Minnesota, but some bills still need some work before they can pass. These include Energy, Health, and Education. Education will be interesting. An agreement had been reached, and the bill passed through the Education and Ways and Means Committees before some members failed to recognize the signed deal and stopped the vote in the Rules Committee. The bill isn’t dead, but there will be some interesting conversations to be had. More on that next week.
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