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Dear Neighbors, 

After taking some time away from work this summer to spend with my newborn baby, and to process and grieve the events of political violence and the loss of my colleague, it has been nice to get back to reconnecting with our community this fall. Last month, I joined Minneapolis city council members at the Seniors Fair, and spoke about the work we can do at the state to make sure our communities are meeting the needs of our multigenerational residents. I also had a chance to shadow the TRIP agents on the Blue Line light rail train who are working to keep our public transportation safe. If you have upcoming events you’d like me to attend, please reach out to my office as we are busy filling our calendar for the rest of the year.

SM1

SM2

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Healthcare and Government Shutdown

This summer, Trump and his Republican allies ended the premium tax credits that helped lower the price of health insurance for working families. Now, the “deal” coming out of Washington that reopened the federal government does nothing to make health care more affordable. Premiums for many Minnesotans in the private market are expected to rise by as much as 50%. Farmers, small business owners, and older adults will face the biggest impacts. In recent days, not only did Republicans refuse to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing, but they did so while putting low-income families at dire risk of hunger by fighting against SNAP food assistance payments, using hungry children as a political hostage. Thankfully, in Minnesota, Governor Walz allocated $4 million in emergency funding to food shelves to support families during the shutdown, and we were able to fully allocate SNAP funds for the month of November.

I’m grateful for the DFL members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation, including our Senators Klobuchar and Smith, and Congresswoman Omar, who have stood firm in the fight to make healthcare more affordable. Our healthcare system is broken, and Republicans keep looking out for profits for billionaires rather than what’s best for patients. Here in Minnesota, DFLers have worked to expand coverage and make vital medications more affordable, but until we eliminate corporate profit motive from our healthcare system, prices will only continue to rise. House DFLers will continue fighting to fix this system and make healthcare affordable for all Minnesotans.

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Success with Speed Safety Cameras

Last month, Minneapolis launched its traffic safety camera pilot program at five high-risk intersections in Minneapolis. These cameras are carefully placed only near schools and intersections with a history of serious crashes, aiming to prevent injuries and save lives. I believe traffic safety cameras have the ability to save lives, and that’s why I was the lead author on the bill to pass the pilot program in 2024.

Initial data shows speeding is down at camera locations across the city in the program’s first month. 

Comparing data from the pilot’s first month to analysis conducted prior to the program launch, City staff found: 


* Across all five camera locations over the first month of operations, the rate of drivers recorded traveling 10 or more miles over the speed limit was reduced by 30 percent compared to the rate prior to installation.  

* Across all five camera locations over the first month of operations, the rate of drivers recorded traveling 20 or more miles over the speed limit was reduced by 76 percent compared to the rate prior to installation.   

* The vast majority of drivers - 98 percent - are not violating the traffic laws 

These positive initial results can only be attributed to signage and initial warnings sent out. Results in other cities with traffic safety camera programs have shown further reductions in unsafe speeding as more people receive warnings and citations are issued. 

You can learn more about how the program works and the strict safeguards in place to protect drivers’ privacy and ensure accountability by visiting the program website here [ [link removed] ].

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Paid Family Medical Leave Starts January 1st

I wanted to provide you with an important update on one of our biggest legislative accomplishments from the last few years, Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act [ [link removed] ] which starts on January 1st, 2026.

This is arguably our most impactful wins for families that came out of the DFL’s 2023-2024 legislative trifecta, and one that strengthens the social safety net we all rely on. The Paid Leave program ensures you won’t have to risk a paycheck just to look after yourself, care for a newborn, or tend to a loved one.

While it was passed in 2023, we’ve been using the time between to make sure this program is rolled out correctly, to reach out to Minnesotans and businesses and ensure everyone is on the same page with this new program. Republicans decided to spend this year's legislative session trying to repeal this hard-fought progress before families could even benefit from it, but even in a tied House, Democrats managed to fend off the attacks and preserve Paid Leave.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has come out with a helpful toolkit for this new program, which you can find here [ [link removed] ]. I highly encourage you to check out the resources available as we get closer to the program’s rollout. 

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Roof Depot Update 

Thank you to all the concerned neighbors who have reached out to my office about the Roof Depot project. As many of you know, I have been a strong supporter of the Roof Depot vision, and helped secure capital investment funding in 2023 to move the project forward. Additional funding for the project was included in a 2024 end of session bill that didn’t pass due to time constraints. 

Unfortunately, last session the project was not able to secure the final funding needed, due to no local projects being included in the bonding bill. Since then, I have been in close contact with the city and EPNI to find a path forward. While the current purchase agreement has expired, representatives from the project continue to meet with the city to see if a new agreement can be reached, and I am fully supportive of those efforts. 

Here is a statement released last week by EPNI and the city on their progress: "“Both parties acknowledge the impending deadline for the purchase agreement on the former Roof Depot property. While the City remains prepared to close, because the State legislature was unable to deliver the $5.7 million, it is unlikely EPNI will be able to meet the terms of the current agreement. We have met several times and appreciate the City and EPNI’s willingness to negotiate about the future of this site. Both parties are engaged in the process to develop a possible new agreement.”"

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Cedar Avenue Reconstruction and Open House Event

SM3

Hennepin County and Minneapolis are working on long-awaited safety and mobility improvements in our district along Cedar Avenue (County Road 152) between Lake Street and 42nd Street. This stretch of Cedar is home to families, small businesses, and heavily used transit and biking routes. It is also a street that has been known for safety concerns. The goal of reconstruction is simple: make it safer, easier, and more comfortable for everyone to get where they need to go.

Hennepin County is planning to reconstruct this portion of the road starting in spring 2028 and continuing through fall 2029. This is an important opportunity to rethink how the corridor can better serve neighbors—whether you're walking, rolling, biking, driving, or riding transit.

You’re invited to an upcoming open house today to share your ideas and priorities:

*Thursday, November 20**4:30–6:30 p.m.**40th Street Park (formerly Sibley Park)**1900 East 40th Street, Minneapolis*

You can also share your thoughts about what the future of Cedar Avenue could look like by taking this survey. More information and the survey can be found here [ [link removed] ].

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Transparency and Data Center NDAs

Some have reached out with concerns about reports that, in recent years, local officials across Minnesota have signed nondisclosure agreements during negotiations with private companies interested in building data centers in Minnesota. I share those concerns about transparency.

During the 2025 legislative session, House DFLers on the Energy Committee worked to place commonsense limits on the use of NDAs for data centers and other resource-intensive projects. Unfortunately, we were not able to reach consensus on these provisions during final budget and policy negotiations. I expect this discussion to return in the upcoming session.

Shrouding these proposed projects with secrecy is so alarming because large-scale data centers themselves create enormous environmental impacts. These facilities require significant, continuous energy and often have extremely high daily water demands. Depending on the technology used, some of this water may not be safe to return to wastewater or groundwater systems, potentially straining Minnesota’s water resources and our ability to ensure clean, safe drinking water.

For these reasons, I believe any proposals for new data centers must undergo rigorous, case-by-case evaluation and should only proceed after successfully completing environmental review. I appreciate everyone who has reached out. Your input helps guide this work at the Capitol, and I’ll continue advocating for transparency and responsible stewardship of our shared resources.

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Update on the Legislature and Session

Special elections to fill Districts 47A and 64A House seats have been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, per writs of special election issued by Gov. Walz. My colleagues Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger and Rep. Kaohly Vang Her resigned their seats November 17 to take new offices. Primary elections would be December 16 if needed. 

While the legislature may look a bit different when we reconvene Feb. 17, 2026, I’m excited to join my new colleagues in fighting for a Minnesota where everyone can thrive.

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Keep in Touch

Please continue to reach out anytime if you need assistance or have questions at [email protected] or 651-297-7087. You can also follow my Facebook page [ [link removed] ]. 

In community,

Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura

Minnesota House of Representatives






Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura

5th Floor, Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar St.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

Phone: 651-296-0173
Email: [email protected] "(replies to this newsletter are not monitored)"
Website: www.house.mn.gov/63A [ [link removed] ]
Legislative Assistant: Boon Xiong, 651-296-2585







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