Senator Jeremy Miller legislative update: 2019 session is underway!


Greetings from the Capitol,

The 2019 legislative session is well under way, and the State Capitol is buzzing with activity again. Citizens from around the state, issue area experts, and passionate grassroots activists are scheduling meetings with legislators daily, and committees are already hearing, debating, and passing bills.

With a new session comes new opportunities. For me, that means I have taken on a new role as the President of the Minnesota Senate. It is a tremendous honor to be chosen by my colleagues for the role, and I pledge to conduct the Senate with the honor and respect that Minnesotans deserve. And while I may have a new role, my most important priority is continuing to represent the people of Fillmore, Houston, and Winona Counties. It’s truly a privilege to serve in the Minnesota Senate and I’m extremely honored to continue representing you at the Capitol.

In addition to my new role as President of the Senate, I still have a full slate of committee responsibilities. This year I will serve on the Taxes Committee, Higher Education Committee, Capital Investment Committee, and the Senate Rules Committee. You may notice that the list looks a little different than last year. The Rules Committee and Higher Education Committee are new responsibilities for this year. However, I have served on Higher Education in the past and I couldn’t be more excited to rejoin this committee, especially with Winona State University, Saint Mary’s University, and Minnesota State College Southeast all located within the district.

Finally, I wanted to introduce you to the two people who play an instrumental role in helping keep my office run smoothly.

Kayla Christensen is my Leadership Assistant. She is responsible for managing bill introductions and making sure everything is traveling through the appropriate committees. Kayla grew up in Farmington, Minnesota, and she previously worked in international patent law and museum exhibit design before working at the legislature. Kayla and her husband love spending time with their new baby, Thomas.

Kalyn Schroeder is my Legislative Assistant. When you call my office or come visit me, Kalyn will very likely be the first person you visit with. Kalyn grew up in Welch, Minnesota, and before coming to the legislature she worked with children in the juvenile court system.  In her free time, Kalyn enjoys spending time outdoors and with her dog.

Both Kayla and Kalyn worked for my Senate President predecessor, Michelle Fischbach, so their knowledge and experience will be invaluable as I take on this new role.

Recent local visits:

I had some great meetings with constituents this week. If you are planning to be in St. Paul and would like to visit, please let us know.

Senator Jeremy Miller, Shanna Quimby and Erica Barnes

Shanna Quimby and Erica Barnes stopped by the office to discuss legislation regarding rare diseases.

Senator Jeremy Miller and community leaders from Harmony

Community leaders from Harmony

If you don’t already follow me on Facebook, please give my page a Like. This is the best way to stay on top of the latest news from the Capitol or what I am working on! Visit my page here: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorJeremyMiller/.

As always, your feedback is extremely important to me and I encourage you to share your input on the issues being discussed here at the Capitol. If you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas, please send me an email at sen.jeremy.miller@senate.mn or call my Capitol office at 651-296-5649. It’s a great honor to serve as your State Senator.

Sincerely,

Jeremy