Dear Friends and Neighbors,
After 14 weeks, the 93rd legislative biennium has adjourned – and certainly not the way I would have ever thought it would have! I hope you find the information in this newsletter helpful and it gives you a better understanding of what exactly happened in those final moments on the Senate floor. As the legislature transitions to the interim, newsletters will be sent out monthly to keep everyone up-to-date on what I continue to work on and how we can connect in the community.
One Party Rule Silences Minnesotans
On Sunday evening, in the final hours of the 2024 legislative session, we witnessed an appalling erosion of our institution. Under one party rule, not only has there been a failure to lead, but there has also been a blatant abandonment of the rules that are supposed to govern our legislative body. The voice of nearly 50% of Minnesotans was effectively silenced as Senate and House procedures were ignored to ram through the Democrats’ radical agenda before the deadline.
This disregard for proper legislative process is not only a violation of our representative democracy, but it was also entirely unnecessary. Democrat leaders squandered 11 critical hours on Saturday, caving to the demands of the most radical members of their party, instead of engaging in meaningful debate and seeking bipartisan consensus on issues facing our state.
This session has been marred by several egregious actions. Notably, the Democrats allowed their 34th and deciding vote to be cast by a charged felon, undermining the integrity of our legislative decisions. Furthermore, they continued the use of proxy voting, a practice initially implemented under COVID emergency orders. This practice discards 150 years of legislative tradition and skews the balance of power – granting the Democrats a super-majority-like voting strength that has not been granted to them by the voters of Minnesota.
The events of this session highlight a significant departure from the principles of fair representation and transparent governance, upon which our state was founded. It is now up to us to restore dignity to our institution and work towards delivering bipartisan solutions that truly represent the majority of Minnesotans, rather than a select few. If there had been a genuine effort to find bipartisan agreement, we could have wrapped up our work efficiently and effectively. Moving forward, it is imperative that we uphold the rules and traditions that have long governed our legislative process. We must ensure that every voice is heard and that decisions are made through transparent and fair procedures. Only then can we hope to restore the trust of the people we serve and uphold the true essence of our representative democracy.
Bills That Passed in the Senate
The below list of bills were heard on the Senate floor during the last week of session. Because a majority of them were conference committee reports, it means the Senate floor hearing was their final stop in the legislative process before it will be presented to the governor to be signed into law.
Conference Committee Reports:
SF 4097—Omnibus Commerce policy bill: Signed by governor on 5/21
HF 3438—Failure to disclose mandatory fees in advertising added as a deceptive trade practice; Signed by governor on 5/20
HF 4772—Elections; campaign finance provisions policy and technical changes provided, including elections administrations, campaign finance and lobbying, and census and redistricting; Minnesota Voting Rights Act established; deep fake use to influence elections crime modified; and reports required. Signed by governor on 5/17
SF 3492— Residential housing tenant and landlord provisions: Presented for signing on 5/22
SF 5335— Omnibus Human Services supplemental appropriations: Presented for signing on 5/22
HF 5216— Judiciary, public safety, and corrections supplemental budget bill: Presented for signing on 5/22
HF 5242— Transportation supplemental budget bill: Laid on the table on 5/19
HF 4757— Cannabis regulations modified: Presented for signing on 5/22
Special Orders:
HF 5246— Tax-forfeited lands settlement appropriation: Signed by governor on 5/18
HF 4984— A memorial resolution requesting the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve replacement of the statue of Henry Mower Rice now on display in the National Statuary Hall in the Capital of the United States: Laid on the table on 5/15
HF 5363— Minnesota Paid Leave Law provisions modifications
HF 4738— Office of Emergency Medical Services replacement of the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board establishment: Signed by governor on 5/23
HF 4024— Higher education; policy and technical changes made to higher education provisions including student sexual misconduct, student aid, student supports, and institutional registration and contract provisions; allowable uses for appropriations modified; and reports required: Presented for signing on 5/22
HF 2609— Gun trafficking investigations and firearm seizures report required by Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Violent Crime Enforcement Teams, trigger activator definition amended, and transferring firearms to persons who are ineligible to possess firearms penalties increased: Included in HF 5247
And last, but not least….
HF 5247 — Omnibus Taxation and state government operations; various provisions modified, and appropriations: Presented for signing on 5/23
Capitol Mall Design/Visitors
The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board (CAAPB) has released the Capitol Mall Design Framework for public comment. The CAAPB is inviting all Minnesotans to visit the project website and comment on the Design Framework before June 20, 2024.
While the phase 1 of this planning process has been underway since 2023, only 2,425 responses through 2 surveys have been recorded (all other sessions were informative listening sessions). The final step in this process is to present the draft Design Framework for public comment before moving into implementation of phase 1 projects. From Lt. Gov. Flannagan: “These changes represent a shared vision for the Capitol Mall, one that prioritizes accessibility, sustainability, and inclusivity.” Lt. Gov. Flannagan is the chair of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board.
For more information and to provide input, please visit the project website at https://mncapitolmall.engage.sasaki.com/
Visitors from Lakeside Elementary
On Friday, I had the opportunity to meet with 4th graders from Lakeside Elementary before they began their capitol tour. I really find it a privilege to share my experience here in the legislature with our next generation of leaders. Thankfully, it was a beautiful day to be outside and see all the wonderful variations in the stone of the magnificent building we get to call “The People’s House”.
Contact Me
Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out! I truly believe I’m a better legislator when I hear your feedback. I can be reached via email at Sen.Mark.Koran@mnsenate.gov or 651-296-5419. My Legislative Assistant, Melissa Field, is also a great resource if you need assistance! She can be reached at Melissa.Field@mnsenate.gov or 651-296-6200.
I’m looking forward to seeing you in the community soon!
Sincerely,
Minnesota Senate, District 28