Legislative Issues

​Legislative Accomplishments

Committee Assignments: Elections (Acting Chair), Education Finance, Judiciary and Public Safety

  • Secured $7 million for Chankahda Trail in Plymouth and $3.5 million for a new water system in Medicine Lake; authored/co-authored bills for tax increment financing districts for Plymouth and Maple Grove
  • Led bipartisan election and campaign finance reforms, expanded early voting and strengthened election security
  • Delivered the largest special education funding increase in Minnesota history
  • Helped pass the most comprehensive gun violence prevention bill in Senate history, including a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, which the Speaker of the House refused to take up for a vote
  • Closed domestic violence loopholes and created a clear process for removing firearms from abusers
  • Authored a clarification and enhancement of the School Resource Officer law to help provide safe environments for students to learn and thrive
  • Secured Paid Family Medical Leave and sick-and-safe time programs so Minnesotans don’t have to choose between their paycheck and caring for themselves or others in times of need
  • Strengthened government accountability through the new independent Office of Inspector General, Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act, and other reforms to stop fraud
  • Enshrined the right to abortion and reproductive healthcare in Minnesota law and strengthened protections for LGBTQ+ Minnesotans
  • Supported Driver’s License For All to keep our roads safer
  • Served on the bipartisan Capitol Area Security Commission, which provided detailed recommendations to the legislature and the Governor for security improvements to the Capitol area, including weapons screening, to ensure the safety of all visitors, staff and elected officials

Ongoing Legislative Priorities

  • Pass a Plymouth local sales tax option to provide additional funding to regional facilities located in the city
  • Continue to improve government transparency and accountability
  • Enact policies to protect our democracy, especially free and fair elections
  • Properly fund our public K-12 schools, special education and ESL services for students 
  • Pass comprehensive gun violence prevention laws to protect our kids and communities, including a ban on possessing firearms on the Capitol complex, requiring gun owners to report lost and stolen firearms, and allowing colleges and universities to regulate firearm possession on their campuses
  • Require pet breeders to provide consumer access to animal health information in Minnesota 
  • Invest in bonding and infrastructure projects that improve and maintain roads and bridges, water systems, and other state assets while creating livable wage jobs around the state

Elections

  • Strengthen transparency and campaign finance reporting for Independent Expenditure groups
  • Increase penalties for interference with or intimidation of election officials and voters
  • Provide additional funding for cyber security following cuts to CISA by Federal government
  • Protect private voter data
  • Ban scam PACS 
  • Provide funding for a contingency account for election emergencies
  • Pass the anti-bribery bill to prevent wealthy donors from buying votes

Education

  • Provide adequate funding for our public schools, including special education, ESL and support programs, to bring down class size, improve student achievement and ensure all students’ needs are met
  • Invest in teacher recruitment through additional grants and loan forgiveness programs for students attending our public colleges and universities 
  • Author and support legislation to keep schools free from gun violence

Healthcare

  • Ensure a reliable ongoing funding stream for Hennepin County Medical Center to keep its doors open for years to come
  • Pass the Health Data Privacy Act
  • Address lack of access to affordable healthcare following cuts to subsidies by Federal government
  • Protect every person’s right to reproductive healthcare and mental health services
  • Maintain equity in healthcare for Minnesotans with disabilities and increase funding for care in community-based settings

Immigration and Racial Justice

  • Hold ICE accountable for their unconstitutional actions during Operation Metro Surge
  • Curb the invasive and discriminatory use of Flock cameras by ICE and private entities
  • Confront the inequities created by racial and economic disparities and work to improve access to resources and better quality of life for all Minnesotans
  • Help and encourage employers to attract, recruit, train, and retain a more diverse workforce
  • Ensure that higher educational opportunities are readily accessible to students of all races, nationalities, and economic statuses.