Improving Minnesota CommunitiesLocal Government Aid for the City of Baldwin (HF 1016) This bill is about supporting the City of Baldwin and specifies how much support the State Gov can offer. It’s important we help our communities grow and prosper and this is a step in the right direction. House File 1016 ensures Baldwin receives adequate support from the State. I am still in the process of getting a hearing scheduled and will let you know when we land on a date. St. Francis Bonding Project (HF 1056) This bill supports the city of St. Francis by providing funding support to improve its water and sewer infrastructure along Highway 47. These upgrades will enhance public services, support local growth, and ensure safer, cleaner water and sanitation for residents. The hearing for this bill is scheduled for Tuesday and I’m optimistic we can get this done. Legislation to Keep an Eye onHF 56 - Flexible Funding for Schools This legislation creates a Safe Schools Aid program to enhance school safety and support services, focusing on physical safety, mental health services, and crime prevention. It ensures that schools have access to flexible funding for security measures, school resource officer services, and mental health professionals, promoting a safer and more supportive learning environment. The bill also supports cybersecurity enhancements to protect students and school systems. By repealing the Student Support Personnel Aid, it reallocates resources to a broader approach, aiming to improve school climate, student well-being, and academic outcomes. The goal of this legislation is to create safer, healthier schools that lead to better academic outcomes. HF 22 - Parental Rights This bill establishes a "Parent's Bill of Rights" that ensures parents maintain oversight of their children's education, healthcare, and well-being, protecting their ability to make informed decisions. It strengthens parental involvement by guaranteeing access to school and medical records and providing the right to consent to medical treatments and other important decisions. This bill is necessary to safeguard parental rights, prevent government overreach, and ensure that parents are not denied or coerced out of their rights in raising and caring for their children. The bill also prohibits coercing children to withhold information from their parents, which reinforces the importance of parental authority in shaping a child's upbringing while respecting the legal boundaries of abuse and neglect. Standing Against SF 1596 (“Assault Weapons" Ban) Thank you to the many constituents that brought Senate File 1596 to my attention. I want to make it clear that I do not support this bill. It is flat out bad legislation that, besides being unconstitutional, would have negative consequences for Minnesotans. The language is broad and includes vague definitions of "semiautomatic military-style assault weapons.” This would unfairly target firearms commonly used for hunting or sport, criminalizing law-abiding gun owners overnight. The buyback program would do nothing to address the root causes of gun violence and would be an inefficient use of taxpayer money. The bill fails to account for the fact that the vast majority of gun violence in Minnesota involves handguns, not rifles, meaning it would have little to no impact on crime prevention. The penalties for violating the transfer ban are harsh and would impose unnecessary legal and financial burdens on responsible gun owners, further complicating the issue without providing any real solutions. It is my hope that poorly thought-out legislation like this never reaches the House Floor. |