News – Page 84 – Minnesota Senate Republicans

March 24, 2022

Duckworth Bill Protects Victims of Trafficking, Passes with Unanimous Bipartisan Support

Senator Zach Duckworth (R-Lakeville) presented legislation today that establishes juvenile court guardianship for at-risk youth in Minnesota. The legislation ensures that at-risk juveniles, many of whom have been victims of trafficking, have access to guidance, financial assistance,…

March 24, 2022

Senator Limmer champions legislation to address organized retail crime

ST. PAUL, MN – “In 2020, 75% of retailers saw an increase in organized crime, and I authored my bill in response to this drastic surge,” said Senator Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove). “Currently, 34 states have already defined…

March 24, 2022

Ruud authors bill to renew Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

Senator Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point) has authored legislation that renews Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). Enacted in 1988 with the support of 77% of Minnesota Voters, this ENRTF became a constitutionally dedicated…

March 23, 2022

Senator Julia Coleman champions legislation to provide high school students a clear pathway to enter skilled careers

ST. PAUL, MN – Senator Julia Coleman (R-Waconia) recently introduced a bill to create a special designation for programs that provide students with clear pathways to seamlessly transition from high school to a career in skilled work…

March 23, 2022

Kiffmeyer: Nuclear Power: Affordable, Clean, and Renewable Energy for Minnesota

Friends and neighbors, We live with nuclear power in our back yard and know the benefits and that it has many advantages but few drawbacks. Nuclear is a zero-emission, carbon-free clean energy source. In fact,…

March 23, 2022

Key Ruud bill funds shooting sports facilities

Senator Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point) presented legislation in the Environment Policy Committee that seeks to increase funding for the Shooting Range Improvement Grants program.The Department of Natural Resources currently offers Shooting Range Grants, as a…

March 22, 2022

Newman: Time for attorneys and prosecutors to get tougher on crime

On March 15, a St. Paul woman was found dead by first responders after she had been set on fire. The culprit was a 47-year-old man who was supposed to have been civilly committed due…

March 22, 2022

Housley bill calls for financial sanctions against Russia and Belarus—passes through Committee, heads to Senate Floor

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in February, Senator Karin Housley (R-Stillwater) today presented legislation in the State Government committee that divests Minnesota’s state pension fund from Russia and Belarus, and…

March 22, 2022

Limmer responds to last-minute public safety proposal by Senate DFL

ST. PAUL, MN – Senator Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) released the following statement in response to the Senate DFL’s last-minute proposal on public safety. The Senate has been in session since January 31, and the first…

March 22, 2022

Senator Osmek Co-Authors Legislation to Increase Judicial Transparency and Hold Minnesota Judges Accountable

On Monday, legislation to increase judicial transparency and hold Minnesota judges accountable started to move through the Senate. The bill, co-authored by Senator David Osmek (R-Mound), would require the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to develop…

March 22, 2022

Senator Julia Coleman Introduces Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill to Expand Access and Support Minnesota Families

Watch the Press Conference (ST. PAUL, MN) – Senator Julia Coleman (R-Waconia) recently introduced a paid family and medical leave proposal to expand access and provide tax incentives to businesses that offer the benefit to their employees. Representative…

March 21, 2022

Senator Rarick & Colleagues Submit Letter to the University of Minnesota Leadership Regarding Cut Sports Programs

Following a recent hearing on the cuts made to specific sports programs at the University of Minnesota in the Senate Higher Education Committee, I joined 29 of my colleagues to send a letter to the…

March 21, 2022

Senator Koran Presents Legislation to Increase Judicial Transparency and Hold Minnesota Judges Accountable

On Monday, Senator Mark Koran (R-North Branch) presented legislation to increase judicial transparency and hold Minnesota judges accountable. The bill, SF 3356, would require the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to develop and maintain a publicly…

March 21, 2022

Senator Julia Coleman and Representative Jordan Rasmusson Introduce Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill To Expand Access And Support Minnesota Families

Watch the Press Conference (ST. PAUL, MN) – Today, Senator Julia Coleman (R-Waconia) and Representative Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) introduced a paid family and medical leave proposal. The proposal expands access and provides tax incentives to…

March 20, 2022

Jasinski: Keeping health insurance costs in check

It wasn’t all that long ago that Minnesota’s health insurance market was on the brink of collapse thanks to MNsure. Remember those days? Every year there were double-digit premium prices, and a lot of families…

March 18, 2022

Senator Bruce Anderson’s News from the Capitol – March 18, 2022

Friends and neighbors, This week at the Capitol, my colleagues and I in the Senate passed legislation to extend our state’s successful reinsurance program for another five years. This extension will allow insurance rates in the individual market…

March 18, 2022

Senator Dahms Video Statement on Rural Broadband Investments

Senator Gary Dahms (R-Redwood Falls) released the following video statement on new investments in Rural Broadband. The Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee last week passed a bill that would invest $110 million in broadband development. Watch…

March 18, 2022

Legislative Update from Senator Ruud

Here are a few happenings in St. Paul… Protecting Families from Higher-Health Care CostsIn 2016 insurance premiums for the individual market increased by double digits, as high as 49%, due to changes from the Affordable…

March 16, 2022

Duckworth, Senate Pass Extension of Successful Reinsurance Program—Protecting Families from Rising Health Care Costs

This week, Senator Zack Duckworth (R-Lakeville) joined in the Senate’s bipartisan passage of legislation that extends Minnesota’s successful reinsurance program for another five years, securing stable insurance rates in the individual market for Minnesota families. In 2016 insurance premiums…

March 16, 2022

Pratt bill seeks to alleviate supply chain issues and reduce wait times for Commercial Driver’s License tests

Senator Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) presented legislation that allows third-party road testing for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) consistent with federal regulations and using the same criteria adopted by 20 other states. The bill states that…