I hope this email finds you well! House committees are wrapping up their hearings as the final committee deadlines approach next week, which is when House finance committees, except for Taxes and Capital Investment, need to have their final budget bills passed out of their committees. Supplemental budget bills will then make their final stop in Ways and Means before they are up for a vote on the House floor. As this final committee work is happening, we will be spending more time on the House floor passing policy bills.
This week I also had three of my own bills up in committees. On Monday, I had a bonding bill considered for St. Louis Park that invests in improvements to the intersection of Oxford and Louisiana. The project would rehabilitate the roads, create walkability and connection to transit and trails, and mitigate pollutants before they run off into the Minnehaha Creek Watershed. I was joined by Mayor Nadia Mohamed and City Engineering Director, Deb Heiser.
On Tuesday, I had a bill up in House Education Finance that provides flexibility for school districts in their food service accounts to purchase lunchroom tables. Universal meals is popular and with more students eating meals at school, they need more capacity. That same day I also had a bill up in Taxes that would provide non-profit childcare centers who rent their space a break on their property taxes in the form of a state funded renters credit. Currently, non-profit childcare centers who own their facility receive a property tax exemption. Thank you to the Director Marcy Dearking from Kid Zone Early Learning in Hopkins and Director Kylie Cooper from Rise Early Learning Center in St. Louis Park from testifying on this bill!
Floor Action
On Monday, the House passed the Elections Policy Bill, which focuses on improved voter access and election transparency. It targets policy areas where the state can improve voter turnout and ensure that if voting is restricted, voters have a means of redress.
We also approved the Public Safety Policy Bill on a unanimous vote. The bill continues our comprehensive approach to public safety and crime prevention with support for victims, criminal justice reform, policy modernization, and more.
Yesterday, the House passed a?Labor Policy Package?that includes provisions to strengthen the minimum wage, ban shadow non-competes, and increase pay transparency. We also passed a?K-12 Education Policy Bill. This bill prioritizes policies to improve the experiences of students in Minnesota schools while also making sure the state is measuring and holding schools accountable for academic outcomes. Finally, we advanced bills stabilizing Minnesota’s Disaster Assistance Contingency Account and allowing photos of hunting and fishing licenses to count as proof of license.
Combatting Junk Fees
Last night I proudly voted in favor of two pieces of legislation that will protect Minnesota consumers from deceptive and unfair business practices by?ending junk fees?and?requiring ticket price transparency.
Junk fees are any type of fees or charges that are separate from the list price and not always listed separately. The average Minnesota family pays over $3,000 annually on junk fees that increase prices without a tangible benefit to the consumer. We are all familiar with buying a ticket to a concert, sports game, or other event and seeing extra “service” and “convenience” fees added that provide no additional value to consumers. DFLers are passing legislation to require fair, transparent ticket prices and other important protections for consumers.
Connected to Community
Days on the hill are starting to slow down as we near the end of the legislative session, but I was fortunate to visit with folks who work in small businesses that focus clean energy. It was a great conversation on what we can do to help keep our environment healthy and sustainable for the next generations of Minnesotans and beyond.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions or input. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Thank you for the honor of serving our Hopkins, Edina, and St. Louis Park neighbors in St. Paul.
I hope you are having a great week and enjoying the sunshine and what is starting to feel like a true Minnesota spring.
On Tuesday this week, the legislature gaveled back in from the brief legislative recess to observe Easter. In the House Education Finance Committee, I presented HF 5237, the Governor’s K-12 Education Finance bill for the 2024 legislative session. This bill contains a one-time funding increase for the Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) for technology costs, expands voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) programming in 2025, makes technical and clarifying changes to last year’s laws, and adds an administrative set aside on Head Start funding.
It is customary for the Chair of a Committee to introduce the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s bill proposal and then present it to the committee for discussion. Now that we have committee targets, our House Education Finance Committee will start to put together the final House Education Finance bill from the bill proposals we heard in committee. Our budget target is $43 million in one-time investments from the supplemental budget, which means that we will be looking at proposals that do not have ongoing funding.
On Thursday, the House began passing policy bill packages in major issue areas. These bills build on the work of our historically productive 2023 session that focused on improving the lives of Minnesotans. The House passed two policy bills supporting our Departments of Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs, which passed with unanimous support!
We passed a higher education policy bill that includes the clean energy sector in our Workforce Development Scholarship Program and expands support in higher education for students who have a disability. We also passed an early education policy bill focused on strengthening our pre-kindergarten and school readiness programs. Finally, we passed a transportation policy package that improves road safety, DVS wait times, child passenger safety, and consumer protections.
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota House of Representatives Photography
Transgender Day of Visibility
We recognized Transgender Day of Visibility at the end of March. I’m proud that Minnesota is a state that accepts all people for who they are. I will always fight to make Minnesota a safe and welcoming state where everyone can live as their authentic self.
Connected to Community
While we have been spending long hours in committee and on the floor, there was still time to meet with a few constituent groups that were here at the Capitol this week. Meeting and speaking with constituents from our community is the best part of this job. This week, I was grateful to have had the chance to meet with folks from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Housing First Minnesota, and the Karen Organization of Minnesota.
The Karen Organization of Minnesota
AFSCME
Keep in Touch
Please continue to reach out anytime with input, questions, or to let me know how I can provide assistance. I can be reached at 651-296-9889 or rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Thank you for the honor of serving our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors at the Capitol.
Dear Neighbors, I hope you’re having a great week! With week five in the books of the legislative session, the policy deadline is around the corner. By Friday March 22, a bill that originates in a policy committee must be passed through each committee that has jurisdiction and move to either the floor or to a finance committee when the bill also includes a cost. By April 14, all bills in a finance committee must make their way to the Ways & Means Committee. House and Senate leadership are working on budget targets along with the executive branch. We hope to have those soon so that our finance committees can finalize their work.
A big thank you to all of the District 46 constituents who attended our Town Hall Meeting in St. Louis Park on Tuesday. We covered several topics and had a lot of great questions. Your input is the foundation of our work in St. Paul and I appreciate your input and suggestions. If you couldn’t make it, you’re welcome to watch a recording of the meeting here.
Here’s an update from the Capitol:
With the policy deadline around the corner, this week has been extremely busy and we can anticipate many late night committees next week to wrap up legislation. The House Bonding bill will continue to take shape and will likely be the last item we get across the finish line before our constitutionally required date to adjourn on May 20.
On Monday this week, the Minnesota House passed bipartisan legislation to combat price gouging, specifically for services utilized by a community after damaging storms. Minnesota’s most costly disaster year to date, 2022, had over $6 billion in damage. There was also over $3 billion of damage in 2017 and 2023 as more extreme weather events happen more often. The increased frequency of damaging weather events provides more opportunities for bad actors to drastically price gouge when cleaning up after a weather event, and DFLers are taking action to combat this immoral and costly practice.
On Thursday, the House approved my bill to adjust state K-12 forecasted funded programs to match the updated February 2024 budget forecast. The biggest changes in this bill are related to the overwhelming popularity of universal school breakfast and lunch programs, which DFLers enacted in 2023. Participation in the universal school meals program surpassed the initially anticipated increase by more than 20% and breakfast participation was an even larger increase. We made bold investments in our students last year, and the need for this bill speaks volumes to the successes we’re already seeing with implementation. We are committed to continuing meeting these basic needs of students so they can thrive in and out of the classroom.
Committee Action
A huge thank you to the media advisors and student journalists who testified in the House Education Policy on legislation I’ve been carrying for several years. The bipartisan New Voices bill allows students the freedom to express themselves and hone their critical thinking skill without the fear of censorship. It is more important than ever before for our students to learn media literacy and communication skills that they can carry with them in whatever path they take after high school.
Student Journalists and Media Advisors testify for the New Voices bill.
This week, I also had two other bills heard. One that would provide increased funding for our intermediate and cooperative schools who take care of some of our most vulnerable students (HF4333). This would enable cost savings for the home districts they collaborate with. It was brought to me by Intermediate District 287 which serves Hopkins, Edina, and St. Louis park along with nine other school districts in the west metro.
Superintendent Marcy Daud, Intermediate District 287
The other bill is for Hopkins Vail Place that has served folks living with mental illness in the west metro region for 40 years. Vail Place provides access to critical needs like housing, mental health support, and job training funded by federal, county, and state dollars. Vail Place is also a clubhouse model that provides a place where those with mental illness can grow in community in a space to call their own. Members run the clubhouse which provides space to build job skills, cook meals together, and join in activities with their peers. HF4514 provides one-time money to enable demonstration projects in three different clubhouse locations. There is also one-time money to have the Department of Health use the data from the demonstration models to create a Medical Assistant reimbursement for the service provided. The cost to provide clubhouse services to one person for an entire year equals a three day stay in a critical care psychiatric bed. This is a program that provides efficient and effective intervention and prevention services.
Vail Place partners testify on a bill to expand the clubhouse model.
Federal Assistance for Small Businesses Affected by Warm Winter
Our “winter” this year has been unseasonably warm. While many of us have enjoyed foregoing winter jackets this year, the low precipitation we’ve experienced this winter has had a real economic impact on small businesses that rely on snow and winter tourism. Federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available due to the ongoing federal drought declarations affecting 81 Minnesota counties. Small business owners should apply here for assistance as soon as possible.
Connected to Community
This week, I had the opportunity to meet with Superintendents from Grand Rapids, Princeton, and our very own St. Loius Park. I also met with constituents advocating on behalf of different organizations at the Capitol including: affordable housing, Hunger Solutions/Second Harvest, Physical Therapists, MN Land Title Association, and MN Bike Alliance.
Affordable Housing Day with Bring it Home
Hunger Solutions/Second Harvest
MN Bike Alliance
Physical Therapist Day
MN Land Title Association
Friday, I started the day visiting students at the Junior Achievement North and ended the day taking a tour of the newly opened Rise Early learning Center in St. Louis Park. I was grateful to see firsthand the good work both of these organizations are doing for the learners in our communities. And of course, I forgot to take pictures when I toured Rise Early Learning because it was too much fun watching the kids play and explore in their incredible classrooms and the outside space.
Students finish in the classroom experience with a day at Junior Achievement North’s St. Paul site, with financial literacy hands-on learning experience in a town center model.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to keep in touch at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions or ideas. I appreciate hearing from you!
I hope you’re having a great week and enjoying the sunshine. We’ve just wrapped up week four and we’re moving along swiftly and efficiently with the legislative process. Bills are being heard in committee, moving to the floor, or being laid over to be included in part of a bigger package. We have been hearing individual bills on the House floor as well. We received the February forecast this week. These are the numbers that let us know if there will be money to supplement the larger state budget that we set last session. Finance committees now wait for leadership in the House and Senate to meet, along with the Governor’s office, to set those supplemental budget targets our committees may have a chance to spend.
Thank you to all who continue to participate in our Community Conversations! The last Community Conversations in March will be held tomorrow, March 9th in St. Louis Park at 12:30 p.m. Here are the details below:
Our District 46 Team is also hosting a town hall meeting next Tuesday, March 12th at 6:00 p.m. at St. Louis City Hall in the council chambers. As always, this event is free, nonpartisan, and open to all constituents. I hope to see you there!
Here’s an update from the Capitol:
House and Floor Action
On Monday, the Minnesota House passed comprehensive legislation to require a statewide standard of the basic training required for School Resource Officers. To minimize harmful, disparate engagements between SROs and students, the legislation also expressly prohibits SROs from being used to deliver discipline for violation of school policies. As chair of the House Education Finance Committee, I was glad to contribute to the bipartisan work that went into fine tuning this bill because all of our kids deserve to be safe at school.
On Thursday, we passed legislation to fund 101 projects across our state that protect our wildlife, water, air, and soil. We also advanced legislation fine tuning bills dealing with the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families and the Department of Direct Care and Treatment.
Forecast Adjustment to Account for the Popularity of Universal Free Meals
On Wednesday, the Minnesota House Education Finance Committee approved legislation to adjust state formula funded programs to match the updated February 2024 budget forecast. The biggest changes in this bill are related to the overwhelming popularity of universal school breakfast and lunch programs which lawmakers enacted in 2023. Participation in the universal school meals program surpassed the initially anticipated increase by more than 20%. The adjusted forecast bill is on its way to the House Ways & Means Committee and then on to the House floor where I will present it for passage.
Today, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Cindy Long came to Minnesota to celebrate the 4.3 million more breakfasts and 4.5 million more lunches that were served to Minnesota students last fall than in the same period in 2022.
Committee Work
On Tuesday this week, the House Education Finance committee held a day dedicated to student voices. We heard from several youths in various school districts about the positive impacts of our historic 2023 Education Budget. You can watch a recap of our meeting here. In the Education Committee this week, along with a variety of bills, we also heard an overview of the great work the Career and Technical Education Consortiums are doing across the state to make sure our students have access to career exploration and opportunities to start along the pathways to those careers.
EMT Training/Paramedic Scholarships Available
DFLers are working to address the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) statewide shortage. One of these initiatives that I supported funds a one-time appropriation of $3 million will provide up to 600 scholarships of $5,000 each starting Fall 2024 to be awarded by June 30, 2026. If you or anyone you know might be interested in this opportunity to serve the public and give back to the community, you can find eligibility information here.
Connected to Community
A big thank you to Sergeant Jepson with the Edina Police Department for the ride along last Friday night! We spent from 6 p.m. to midnight together and I was very impressed by her professionalism, as well as her commitment to the community of Edina. Thank you for all you do!
Students, School Boards, and Administrators Visit the Capitol
There was a tremendous turnout at the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD) Day on the Hill! At their morning kick-off meeting, I had a chance to speak with student leaders, school board members, and administrators from across the state to thank them for helping shape public education policy in Minnesota. I was excited to see such a large presence from Edina Schools who brought dozens of students who are part of their Legislative Action Coalition to meet with their legislators. I also had a chance to connect with students, schoolboard members, and Superintendents from Hopkins and St. Louis Park. And finally, a group from the Duluth School District here for Duluth Days.
This week I had the pleasure of meeting with several constituents and organizations representing various advocacy groups, including Rare Disease Council, PACER Center, National Kidney Foundation, Minnesota Association of College Admission Counselors, Carpenters Union, and Minnesota School Social Workers. I also had a chance to catch up with folks here with the City of St. Louis Park and Hopkins to talk City issues. It was quite a busy week!
Keep in Touch
Please continue to reach out anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions or input. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Thank you for the honor of serving our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors at the State Capitol.
“Children deserve to see themselves reflected in their school environments, whether in their teachers or in the curriculum they are learning from,” said Rep. Youakim. “Last session we made a substantial investment in continuing to ensure more teachers of color are in the classroom, helping current and future generations to thrive.”
Rep. Youakim is being recognized for her unwavering support over the years for the Increase Teachers of Color Act, and for including the proposal in the historic 2023 Education Budget Bill as Chair of the Education Finance Committee.
Happy March! I hope this email finds you well and enjoying the first day of our Meteorological Spring (although it’s felt like spring for some time!).
A big thank you to everyone who continues to turn out for our Community Conversations! Hearing from you and being able to connect in the community is the best part of this work. My next Community Conversations in March will be held on March 6th and March 9th. Here are the details below:
Our District 46 Team is also hosting a town hall meeting on Tuesday, March 12th at 6:00 p.m . As always, this event is free, nonpartisan, and open to all constituents. I hope to see you there!
Budget Forecast Shows Minnesota is on the Right Path
On Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget officials released a new economic budget forecast showing Minnesota’s economy is growing and our long-term budget outlook is stable. We are in a strong position to weather unforeseen challenges down the road.
We are growing the middle class through jobs with good pay, benefits, and working conditions, so Minnesotans can build better lives. Our economic outlook is a testament to the strength and resiliency of Minnesotans, and we will continue to manage our state’s finances in an effective, responsible manner while being responsive to challenges facing people and communities across the state.
Floor and Committee Action
This week, the House met on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday to procedurally move bills from different committees and introduce new bills. You can find the new bill introductions here.
In the Education Finance Committee, which I chair, we heard a variety of bills to invest in our student and teacher success. We also heard a bill I am carrying to increase investments into the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR system), which we included in our education budget last year.
Presenting my legislation to support the BARR System in schools.
On Thursday, I was proud to stand with approximately 1,000 teachers in the Capitol Rotunda as they rallied for fair pensions. Minnesota teachers go above and beyond to shape a positive experience for our students when they’re learning and growing. They deserve a secure retirement and I look forward to continuing this conversation.
On Friday, I toured the Edina Early Childhood Center and visited with their Director, Leah Byrd, ECSE Director Emily Cory, and Anne Marie Leland who is the Director of Community Education & Strategic Partnerships. They are all doing incredible work serving our youngest learners, as well as the adults in the students’ lives!
On Friday afternoon, Rep. Larry Kraft and I visited a HealthPartners dental clinic site. The coordinated care they have with HealthPartners physicians is an incredible model! Thank you Dr. David Louis, Dr. Arpana Narang, and Clinic Manager Kayla Johnson for the information and the visit.
Minnesota’s Presidential Primary
Minnesota’s Presidential Primary is coming up on Tuesday, March 5 for our major political parties, and early voting is already open. Learn more, including your polling location, from the Secretary of State’s website.
Child Tax Credit Reminder
If you haven’t filed your 2023 taxes yet, don’t forget about claiming the new Minnesota Child Tax Credit! This is available to all Minnesotans, including those who file with ITIN numbers.
If you have questions or need help, don’t hesitate to contact my office.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Small Business Environmental Zero-Interest Loan Program
Small businesses can reduce on-site air emissions, clean up contamination, or generate less waste by applying for the MPCA Small Business Environmental Loan program. The program offers zero-interest loans up to $75,000 to tackle these high-impact projects. You can learn more and apply here.
Connected to Community
This week, I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet with several constituent groups, advocating on a variety of issues for their “Days on the Hill”. I met with our Fire Chiefs and officers from Hopkins and St. Louis Park to talk about their needs around safety and pensions. On Youth Day on the Hill, I met with the amazing students from the Future Farmers of America (FFA). And, I met with the student board from MyHealth who talked to me about banning flavored tobacco. There was a wonderful visit with a CPA from our community that talked about the need for more CPAs in the workforce. Finally, I had the chance to meet with a dentist from St. Louis Park for Dental Day on the Hill who talked about workforce needs and access to quality care.
These meetings are rewarding and I appreciate seeing familiar faces and meeting new neighbors at these events.
Grateful for our Fire hometown heroes and all they do to keep us safe.
FFA Day at the Capitol.
Great visit with the student board of MyHealth to talk about banning flavored tobacco.
MNCPA Day at the Capitol.
Congrats, Edina Girls Hockey!
Kudos to the Edina Girls Hockey team for clinching the 2024 Championship for its fifth Class AA state title. This win is a reflection of your hard work and determination.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions, input, or to let me know how I can help. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Thank you for the honor of representing our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors at the State Capitol.
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