Lieske: Giving Minnesotans a say in the flag debate
Friends and neighbors, Thursday on the Senate Floor I supported a motion to immediately bring up for a vote a bill that would give Minnesotans a voice on the new state flag and seal designs.…
Gruenhagen: Teachers should be able to intervene to prevent destruction of school property
Friends and neighbors – For months now I have been highlighting the Democrats’ misguided 2023 school resource officer (SRO) law that has jeopardized teacher and student safety. To recap: Last session, Democrats and Gov. Walz…
Senator Bruce Anderson’s legislation to address business fraud receives committee hearing
Friends and neighbors, This week marked the Minnesota Legislature’s first and second committee deadlines. Each year, lawmakers introduce thousands of bills, but far fewer receive enough support to become law. Deadlines are in place to ensure bills…
Senator Westrom: Senate GOP propose bill to put local schools back in charge of funding and waive new mandates for three years
On Tuesday, March 19, Senate Republicans presented a bill to give local school districts more options with state funding. “Our schools are being crushed by the costly and unfunded mandates that were passed by Democrats…
Senator Dornink: Getting back to bipartisanship
Friends and neighbors, I am writing to you as I prepare for Thursday’s committee hearing. At this point in the session, we are hearing omnibus bills, which are large bill packages made up of numerous…
Senate Democrats overwhelmingly vote to block bill increasing penalties for illegal gun purchases by straw buyers
ST. PAUL – Today, Senator Julia Coleman (R-Waconia) made a motion on the Senate floor to move SF 733 from committee, where it has sat for nearly a year, to the Senate’s General Orders, making it eligible…
Housley bill enhances healthcare infrastructure – addresses critical needs in local hospitals
This week the Senate Health and Human Services committee heard legislation authored by Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater) that seeks to address infrastructure needs of smaller hospitals. The bill’s language would allow hospitals with a licensed…
Howe bill looks forward to America’s 250th Anniversary
This week Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) brought forward a bill that looks ahead to the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution. This legislation creates a commission that will focus on outreach throughout the state that…
Senate GOP proposes bill to put local schools back in charge of funding and waive new mandates for three years
Watch the press conference On Tuesday, March 19, Senate Republicans presented a bill to give local school districts more options with state funding. Many schools across the state are facing budget shortfalls since the funding…
Jasinski bill to help more Minnesotans obtain their CDL receives first hearing
Legislation aimed at helping more Minnesotans obtain commercial driver’s licenses to fill critical workforce shortages got its first hearing Wednesday in the state Senate’s transportation committee. The bill co-authored by Sen. John Jasinski (R-Faribault) would…
Senator Rasmusson’s legislation to help more Minnesotans obtain their CDL successfully receives a hearing
On Wednesday, March 13, the Senate Transportation Committee heard legislation, authored by Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls), to help more Minnesotans obtain their commercial driver’s license (CDL) and enter high-demand and high-paying careers. SF 4169 would remove a…
Pratt responds to Governor’s supplemental budget
Yesterday Governor Walz announced his supplemental budget, which spends over $225 million in fiscal years 24-27. Included in this number is an increase in spending of $26.6 million in FY 25-27. This will increase the structural…
Kreun responds to Governor’s supplemental budget
Yesterday Governor Walz announced his supplemental budget, which spends over $225 million in fiscal years 24-27. Included in this number is an increase in spending of $26.6 million in FY 25-27. This will increase the structural…
Koran: SRO Fix and Local Update
Friends and Neighbors, I had the opportunity to meet with many local organizations this week at the capitol complex! From social services and educators to medical groups and trade unions, I met with as many…
Sen. Lang responds to Walz proposal for $16 million in EMS funding
Senator Andrew Lang (R-Olivia) released the following statement responding to Gov. Walz only including $16 million for Emergency Medical Services in his supplemental budget: “This summer we heard how rural communities are struggling to find…
Senator Dornink presented legislation to empower more educators to become Special Education licensed teachers
On Wednesday, March 13, the Senate Education Policy Committee heard legislation authored by Senator Gene Dornink (R-Brownsdale) to make it easier for teachers to transition to a Special Education specialty. This legislation, SF 4219, modifies the Special Education (SPED)…
A Solution to the SRO Issue
Last year, the Education Omnibus bill contained controversial language that fundamentally changed the way School Resource Officers (SROs) were able to operate on school grounds. It caused a lot of concern for schools and law…
Creating a Zero Tax Bracket
I’ve authored an important bill that I want people to be aware of. As we know, families are struggling with inflation – costs everywhere keep rising, and instead of addressing those concerns, policies keep getting…
Jasinski: A back-door gas tax increase on Minnesotans?
Friends and neighbors, The Senate Transportation Committee recently held a hearing on a controversial new bill that would adopt so-called “Clean Transportation Fuel Standards” in Minnesota. In layman’s terms, this legislation would grant the Minnesota…
Senator Westrom: Democrat proposal to ban egg hatching in Minnesota schools is a bad-hatched idea
What came first, the chicken or the egg? If certain Democrats have their way, our students will never know. A bill introduced this session, SF 4702, seeks to ban the hatching of all birds in Minnesota…