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Good morning!
The Fourth of July is one of my favorite times of the summer. Communities across the state come together for parades, family gatherings, and local celebrations that remind us what makes this area such a great place to call home.
Independence Day also gives us an opportunity to reflect on the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy as Americans and to remember those who have served and sacrificed to protect them. I hope you have a safe, enjoyable holiday weekend and get the chance to spend time with family and friends while celebrating our nation's 250th year.
Ruling in Support of Our Female Athletes
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a major victory for girls' and women's sports by upholding laws in Idaho and West Virginia that reserve female athletic competitions for biological females. For many parents, athletes, and coaches, this decision affirms a principle that should be common sense: girls deserve a fair and level playing field. Across the country, we've seen growing concerns about preserving opportunities for female athletes and ensuring that decades of progress in women's sports are not undermined. The Court's ruling recognizes that protecting fairness, safety, and equal opportunities for girls and women in athletics is a legitimate and important interest, and it marks a significant step toward restoring common-sense protections for female competitors.
I am grateful for this decision and the protections it will provide for female athletes across the country.
 Trump Accounts are Live!
The Trump Administration has launched a new opportunity to help families build long-term financial security for their children through Trump Accounts. These investment accounts are designed to give young Americans a head start by encouraging saving and investing from an early age. Eligible children can receive a $1,000 federal seed contribution, and beginning this summer, parents, grandparents, friends, and employers can contribute up to $5,000 annually to help the account grow. Funds can later be used for expenses such as higher education, purchasing a home, or continuing to build retirement savings. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently encouraged families to open these accounts, noting that more than 80 corporations and potentially as many as 20 states are expected to support the program as well. For families with children age 18 and under, this is an opportunity worth exploring to begin investing in their child's future today.
Click on the photo below for more information:
 New Laws Going into Effect in July and August
Each legislative session, when laws are made and passed, there is a date set for when they go into law. Sometimes they go into effect immediately, while other times they are delayed and commonly go into effect on July 1st or August 1st. I want to highlight a few of the laws that were passed during the legislative session and went into effect this week or will be going into effect soon.
July 1st:
Anonymous Threat Reporting in Schools: Schools will begin implementing anonymous reporting systems that allow students, parents, staff, and community members to report potential safety concerns through an app, website, or hotline.
County Human Services Technology Upgrades: The state and counties will begin modernizing outdated human services systems to improve efficiency, strengthen fraud detection, and better serve Minnesotans.
February Forecast Budget Adjustments: Budget updates approved this session, including changes to education and health care funding, will take effect as the state adjusts spending to reflect Minnesota's latest budget forecast and ongoing fiscal challenges.
August 1st:
Sextortion Prevention: Minnesota is strengthening penalties for sextortion, a form of exploitation in which someone threatens to share explicit images to coerce or extort another person. The new law provides stronger protections for victims and gives law enforcement additional tools to hold offenders accountable.
Grooming Prevention: A new law creates criminal penalties for adults who engage in grooming behaviors intended to manipulate or exploit minors. The legislation is designed to intervene earlier and better protect children from sexual exploitation.
Nudification Technology: Minnesota is addressing the growing misuse of artificial intelligence by prohibiting the creation and distribution of sexually explicit deepfake images made without a person's consent. The law establishes new protections for victims and recognizes the serious harms caused by this emerging technology.
Withholding Payments to Fraudsters: State agencies will have greater authority to withhold payments to individuals and organizations suspected of defrauding public programs. The law is intended to strengthen oversight, prevent taxpayer dollars from being improperly spent, and improve accountability across state government.
This is not an exhaustive list, but just a few of the highlights. To view a complete list of new laws and their effective dates, visit the Minnesota House's searchable database at https://www.house.mn.gov/NewLaws/search.
Events
4th of July
Minnesota Made Summer Market on July 3rd from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Freedom Fun Run on July 4th from 7:30 - 10:00 am
Alexandria Farmer's and Art Market on July 4th from 9:00 am - noon
Star Storm Fireworks Show on July 4th from 7:00 - 10:30 pm
Join the motorcycle ride to benefit Lakes Area Humane Society on July 11th. More details can be found here.
Get ready for the 55th Annual Sinclair Lewis Days: Once Upon a Main Street, happening July 15–19, 2026, in Sauk Centre!
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