| Friends and Neighbors,
As the 2026 session begins, thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. I appreciate your interest in staying informed about the work I am doing, the issues impacting our district, and the decisions being made at the Capitol. |
Remembering Speaker Hortman |
| This session marks the first in twenty years without Melissa Hortman in the Chamber. Returning to the Capitol without Speaker Hortman is difficult to put into words, her presence will be deeply missed. As we begin this session, we carry forward a renewed commitment to serve our districts and all Minnesotans with the same dedication and purpose she exemplified. |
Local Chambers and Minnesota’s Economy |
| Last week, I had the privilege of kicking off the 2026 session at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Session Priorities event. It was great to engage in meaningful discussions with the Waconia Chamber of Commerce, the SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce, and local leaders as we worked together to set shared goals for the 2026 session. The bottom line: businesses in Minnesota feel overregulated, overtaxed, and overburdened. |
Highway improvements in Waconia |
| Thanks to some traffic-minded constituents and Waconia Mayor Tim Litfin for coming to the Capitol to talk about highway improvements in Waconia last week!
It was great to hear their ideas directly and talk about solutions. Since being elected, I’ve fought hard to bring $$$ back to our district for critical infrastructure projects: - $20 million for Highway 5 improvements - $25 million for Highway 212 - $10 million for the 82nd Street project That’s $55 million in transportation investments delivered directly to our district, and I will continue working hard for Carver County’s infrastructure needs. |
Local Charter Schools visit the Capitol |
| I would like to thank the local charter school students for visiting the Capitol! As the Republican Lead Policy, strong, safe schools are my top priority. This year, I’m focused on keeping dollars in the classroom, making schools safer, and improving student achievement.
This week I introduced a bill to increase funding for school safety by double, including public, private, charter, and Tribal schools. And we found a practical way to fund it without taking any money from the classroom. I always appreciate students sharing their voices with me. |
Minnesota First |
| This week, I introduced a legislative package that will strengthen school safety, improve affordability and reduce costs for families, fight fraud in state government, and upgrade clean water infrastructure in Waconia.
My number one priority is to put Minnesotans first. Students deserve a safe environment to learn. Families need a break from high government taxes. Minnesotans have to regain trust that state government is using their tax dollars wisely. Residents in my district expect clean water. With all the political noise right now, my sole focus is to help Minnesotans, and these bills do it in a practical way. My bills target safer communities, help families afford everyday life, hold government accountable, and make sure residents in my district have safe, reliable drinking water. Here’s a brief overview of them: SF3925 – Doubles school safety funding from $38 to $72 per pupil, marking the first increase in per-pupil safety funding in a decade. SF3923 – Reduces tab fees for older and newer vehicles. For vehicles first registered in Minnesota before November 2020, it drops from 1.54% to 1.145% of the base value; for those registered on or after November 2020, it drops from 1.575% to 1.18%. For example, the owner of a $30,000 vehicle would save about $118.50 on tab fees each year, and would see real savings each year with the depreciation schedule. SF3922 – Empowers legislators to hold agency leadership accountable for fraud by allowing them to request the removal of state agency or department heads, with required public proceedings within 30 days of a formal complaint. SF3564-- Appropriates $5 million for a grant to the city of Waconia to build a new water treatment facility, increasing capacity for safe drinking water. |
Looking Ahead |
| We are continuing to gain momentum here in Saint Paul as committee hearings are starting to run longer and the Revisor’s Office is sending more and more bills our way for signing. No major legislation has come to the Senate floor for a vote yet, but stay tuned. I will continue to keep you updated in future newsletters.
Also, my March open office hours are coming up on March 21st from 10 a.m. -12 p.m. Please stop by to grab a cup of coffee and discuss the issues that matter to you most. As always, if these times do not work for you, please reach out to my office to schedule a virtual meeting, phone call, visit to the Capitol, or another in district date to connect. |
On a fun note |
| It is a true delight to see the incredible talent and athleticism coming from our district showcased at the Winter Olympics, highlighted by the outstanding gold medal winning performance of the Women’s Hockey team, including Chanhassen native Rory Guilday. Her dedication and success on the international stage are a source of pride for our entire community. |
| Sincerely, |
| Julia E. Coleman
Minnesota Senate, District 48 |