Legislative Update
Dear friends and neighbors,
We are holding it down here in St. Paul, continuing to fight for common sense legislation that will improve the lives of Minnesotans across the state. Despite our tied legislature, we are making some progress. I am absolutely thrilled to share that I was able to pass HF3436 off the House floor last week. I look forward to sharing more details below, thanks for reading!
School Safety Starts at the Bus Stop
So now you know that my bill, HF3436, has officially passed the Minnesota House and was signed into law by the Governor late last week. This legislation is focused on one simple but important goal: keeping children safe. By closing a dangerous gap in current law and making expectations clearer for drivers around school buses, we are taking a commonsense step to better protect students as they travel to and from school. Previously, drivers that pass a stopped school bus while kids are getting on or off could get out of paying a fine if they could make the argument that the stop arm on the front of the bus was not fully extended. Now, all vehicles must stop if the red lights are flashing, ensuring no gap in time between when the bus stops and when drivers can be legally be penalized for driving past. Ensuring the safety of our kids should always be a top priority, and I’m grateful to see this important measure crossing the finish line and officially becoming law!
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An Update on the Legislative Session
As of last Friday, our first and second legislative deadlines arrived at 5 p.m. You may be wondering what that means. Essentially, this marks an important turning point in the legislative session. From this point forward, our work begins to shift as we move closer to the end of session and focus on wrapping up remaining priorities. Since the deadlines passed, no new legislation can be introduced in either the House or Senate, and bills that have not advanced through the required committees are generally set aside for the year.
This means the focus now turns to the bills that are still moving forward. Committees will begin narrowing their attention to key proposals and any negotiations between the House, Senate, and Governor’s office will become more frequent. It’s also the time when lawmakers work to resolve differences between proposals and ensure the most important priorities are positioned to cross the finish line.
While the pace often picks up during this time, the goal remains the same: to carefully review legislation, make thoughtful decisions, and deliver responsible outcomes for Minnesotans before the session concludes.
Happy Holidays!
We have this week off at the legislature due to the upcoming Holy Week holidays. To all that celebrate, I want to wish you a peaceful and joyful Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Passover. I hope you have time to spend with friends and family during this special week.
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