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This is the second time this summer that I’ve written to you in the wake of a tragedy due to gun violence. Words cannot express how devastated I am to do so.
Like many of you, we send our kids off to school every morning where we expect them to learn in a safe and supportive environment. We all expect them to come home to us at the end of the day, and this week, two families experienced the unimaginable, 17 more families must begin a long road to recovery, and all of the Annunciation families and community must navigate complex trauma that these kids will carry.
We can’t accept this status quo. We cannot accept a world where people face the threat of gun violence in their day-to-day lives. We must take political action to make a safer future for our children and communities.
Most of this newsletter was prepared before the tragedy at Annunciation. In pain, we must take action, and for elected officials, that requires continuing work on the things that matter most. Since special session adjourned, I’ve continued meeting with constituents and community leaders, advocates, and my colleagues to plan for the 2026 legislative session. Below, you can read about how I’ve been continuing that work in the interim.
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This week marks the 20-year anniversary since New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. I was among the evacuees from the storm, and I reflect on that experience and the time since in this article I wrote for the Star Tribune.
Last month, I visited with DECA students from Westonka High School about the law I authored last term to require school districts to adopt policies for cell phone usage in schools. We talked about the benefits of limiting cell phones in schools, both short term and long term. It’s heartening to see students, who may of whom had conflicting feelings about this law, support the mission for student digital wellbeing that it sets to achieve.
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As the House co-chair of the Civility Caucus, fostering relationships across the aisle has always been a high priority of mine. Last month, I participated in the Minnesota Legislative Exchange program through the Citizen's League. I spent the day with my Republican colleague, Rep. Bernie Perryman, in her district up in St. Cloud.
I enjoyed the opportunity to spend the day learning about the business, community, and infrastructure of the city, and driving around getting to know Rep. Perryman. Programs like these are increasingly essential in building bridges and trust across party lines and directly impact our ability to function as a legislature. Grateful for the opportunity to participate and looking forward to hosting Rep. Perryman in our district in the coming months!
I recently attended the August meeting of the Criminal & Juvenile Justice Information and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Advisory Group meeting. I was thrilled to be appointed to this Advisory Group, which provides an opportunity to meet regularly with criminal legal system stakeholders and the BCA to discuss the state of public safety and juvenile justice in Minnesota. This month’s focus included a presentation by the Department of Corrections on the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act (MRRA), which we passed in 2023. This bill implemented smart sentencing reforms that take into account how people spend their time in prison rather than just how much time they spend. Data shows that programs like this work -- incarcerated Minnesotans who successfully engage with rehabilitation are % less likely to reoffend and 35% less likely to be reincarcerated. In addition to enhancing public safety, the MRRA is structured to result in increasing cost-savings as we incentivize early release through rehabilitation. We know that institutional change can be difficult, but we should never let that stop us from adapting and improving, as the MRRA sets out to do as it ramps up. I’m excited to see it in action.
In 2023, two laws establishing and strengthening paid leave were signed into law. Earned Sick and Safe Time is now in effect, and Paid Family and Medical Leave goes into effect on January 1, 2026. It's important for employers to stay on top of the latest requirements. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has a handy toolkit for employers available on their website with all the latest information.
Do you know a high school student interested in State Government? The House Page Program application window has opened and is accepting applicants now! This is an amazing opportunity for young people to spend a week learning about the legislative process and seeing it firsthand. I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet with the House Pages and answer their questions and share insights about the legislative process and public service. Learn more and apply here.
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The Great Minnesota Get Together has come to a close. This year's State Fair felt different as we continue to mourn the loss of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. My colleague Rep. Athena Hollins created a beautiful piece of crop art to commemorate Melissa and her impact on Minnesota. I was grateful that Rep. Hollins invited her House colleagues to place several seeds so that this work of art could reflect our collective outpouring of appreciation for Melissa’s legacy.
Rep. Hollins isn’t the only one who is honoring Melissa this way. MPR published a great write up about a few other pieces that honor her and her legacy.
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Unfortunately, due to technological restraints, replies to this inbox won’t reach me. If you have questions, ideas, or feedback that you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Email me at [email protected] or call (651) 296-4331. Also, you can follow my official State Representative Facebook Page.
Sincerely,
Sandra Feist
State Representative
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