It was a busy week at the Capitol. This week, the House DFL unveiled our legislative package to make life more affordable for Minnesotans.
In Minnesota, you should be able to afford your life on an average salary – but right now, it’s becoming harder than ever to make ends meet. My DFL colleagues and I don’t think people should have to choose between the care they need to live, paying for food for their kids, or for their mortgage or rent. We will stand up for a Minnesota where hard work is rewarded, families have a real chance to get ahead, and communities can thrive!
Committee Work
At Thursday’s education hearing, in which I held the gavel, we heard a presentation from the Dr. Jillian Peterson and Dr. James Densley from the Gun Violence Prevention Research Center based at Hamline University. They have conducted nationwide research on mass shootings and presented their findings on the trends of school shootings. Some of the key takeaways were the evidenced based strategies to keep our schools safe including – Individual & Group Counseling, Peer Support Networks, Basic Needs Support, Social Service Connection, Mentoring Programs, Restorative Mediation, Safe Gun Storage, and Community Partnerships. You can find their compelling testimony and findings here.
We also heard legislation that provides more investments in school safety infrastructure as well as increasing the school support personnel funding stream. This is an investment that we put in place in the 2023-2024 budget to increase the number of school counselors, social workers, psychologists, and nurses in our buildings.
In the Taxes Committee this week, we heard bills regarding tax conformity, the needs of our counties, and bills that would provide individuals and communities relief from the effects of Metro Surge. In the Ways & Means Committee we heard a recap of the February Budget Forecast, as well as passing an important bipartisan bill to the floor to provide state investments after the federal government cut funds to our supportive housing programs.
Floor Action
On Monday this week, my DFL colleagues and I attempted to bring forward legislation that would require federal agents to show their faces like our local, county, and state law enforcement is already required to do. Unfortunately, my colleagues across the aisle blocked it from advancing.
Public trust and accountability go hand in hand. This is America — we don’t have secret police, and federal agents should be held to the same standards as local law enforcement. I’m very disappointed that none of my Republicans colleagues would join us in passing this legislation.
Connected to Community
Tuesday, I met with many advocacy groups and two felt tied together: The Minnesota Arts Council and Minnesota Academy of Physician Associates. The arts improve our cultural and mental health, the medical community takes care of our physical health. Thank you for bringing your voices to the Capitol!
My last meeting of the day on Tuesday was with a group of nurses from our metro hospitals and clinics. They wanted to share the need for safe staffing ratios, urged us to make sure hospitals are safe spaces, and healthcare is accessible. Thank you to the VA nurse who handed me a button honoring Alex Pretti. Nurses are amazing humans all around!
On Wednesday, I met with an incredible group of students who are on the board of MyHealth in Hopkins who are asking to keep ICE out of our schools. Thank you for bravely sharing your fears for the safety of your friends and school communities.
I also had the honor of speaking to a rotunda full of amazing social workers, met with the Laynachan’s who own Lawnagain Outdoor, AARP State President Courtney Burton, and some metro Special Education Administrators. I love meeting with constiuents groups and watching people take part in democracy by advocating for what they care about. We need their voices at the Capitol, hearing their lived experiences helps us make better policy and finance decisions.
In the last two days, I met with two groups that take care of our community’s health. Dr. Reardon, Dr. Darden, and (Dr. Will, not pictured) for visiting for MMA day and a group of Physical Therapists and PT students. Both shared ways to break down the barriers to accessing health care. Thank you for sharing your stories!
St. Louis Park Strong
Needle & Skein, the knit shop in St. Louis Park that has been making red hats to collect funds money for our neighbors impacted by ICE, has raised $700,000. Their red hat pattern was purchased from people all over the world!
Thanks to all who attended our community conversation on Tuesday! A reminder that I’m hosting two more community conversations this month. Here is what the schedule looks like:
Saturday, March 7 – Noon – 1:30 pm at the St. Louis Park Library (3240 Library Lane, St. Louis Park) Saturday, March 14 –10:30 am – Noon at the Hopkins Library (22 11th Ave. N., Hopkins)
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions or input. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Rep. Cheryl Youakim 46B – Hopkins, Edina, & St. Louis Park
It has been an emotional two weeks at the Capitol as we started the legislative session. On the first day of session, Feb. 17, we had a wonderful tribute to our former Speaker Melissa and her husband Mark Hortman who were assassinated on June 14, 2025, as well as their Golden Retriever, Gilbert.
Thank you to leadership, staff, and members who worked on the ceremony to honor the Hortmans, as well as the gathering afterwards. The day included a memorial resolution, flowers to leave on Melissa’s desk, bread and cake, and touching memories shared.
Enhancing Safety at the State Capitol
We all deserve to be safe while participating in our shared democracy. Sadly, the threat of political violence continues to loom over us. My colleagues and I have been working with the Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and Capitol Security all summer, fall, and winter to improve safety at the State Capitol for visitors, staff, and elected officials. The bipartisan Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security commissioned a comprehensive report on Capitol Security and adopted a series of recommendations to enhance safety while maintaining the open, accessible nature of the State Capitol.
Following these recommendations, Governor Walz recently issued an executive order implementing weapons screening at the Minnesota State Capitol for the legislative session. With 37 other State Capitols having some restrictions on firearms or screening, this is an overdue, reasonable step to protect the ability for Minnesotans to safely engage with and observe their state government in action. The screening process will closely resemble entering many other government buildings, as well as major sporting events and concerts. With modern equipment able to screen most individuals in just a few seconds, while bags and other large items will need to go through a scanner.
For those who have been to the Capitol previously, I understand this process represents a bit of a change, but I’m glad we’re taking action to keep Capitol visitors, lawmakers, and staff safe. Screenings will serve as a deterrent to those who attempt to bring illegal weapons into the Capitol to commit violence, intimidate people, or interfere with the orderly work of government. Additional information is available from the Department of Public Safety.
PHOTO: Andrew VonBank, Minnesota House Photography
House Committees have started to meet in full force. You can check out the house.mn.gov website’s calendar to track all the committee meetings that are happening. On Thursday, February 19, I had the gavel in the House Education Finance Committee. As the co-chair of the committee, it was important for me to have the committee spend time examining the impacts ICE has had on our students and in our schools. We heard powerful testimony from teachers, administrators, parents, and community members about the effects of Operation Metro Surge on our schools and the devastating affects learning loss our students are experiencing. You can watch the testimony at this link.
During the second week, the House Education Finance Committee heard bills regarding school safety on Tuesday, March 24. Then on February 27, when I held the gavel, we heard a report from the School Absenteeism Pilot Project that is a cohort of 12 schools we funded in 2024 to find creative and sustainable ways to tackle chronic absenteeism. We also heard from our student support personal (school social workers, counselor, psychologists, and nurses) about how current events have affected our students school attendance as well as their mental health.
Taking Action on Gun Violence
Two empty school desks sat in a corridor of the State Capitol February 24-26. They belonged to Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, whose lives were taken last August at Annunciation Catholic Church. Since this tragedy, we’ve continued to hear directly from survivors of gun violence and loved ones of those who’ve been lost, calling for action to prevent more heartbreaking losses in the future. While we’ve taken important action like expanding criminal background checks and enacting red flag laws, there’s clearly more to do.
The generation of Minnesotans currently coming of age doesn’t deserve to accept the deadly consequences of gun violence as normal. To make that goal a reality, we have to get weapons meant for war off our streets. My House DFL colleagues and I are united in seeking bold action to ban assault weapons, ban high-capacity magazines, reenact the ban on binary triggers, require the safe storage of firearms, regulate so-called “ghost guns,” and require lost or stolen guns to be reported.
We know these policies are effective in saving lives, and they are broadly supported by Minnesotans. Now, it’s up to Republicans to tell us where they stand: with Minnesotans who deserve to be safe, or the gun lobby. With a tied House, all it takes is one of them to join us to say “enough” and advance these and other key solutions that will make a difference in our communities.
Taking Action on Fraud Prevention
Every public dollar should be used for the public good — not to enrich scammers, shell companies, or criminals who exploit Minnesotans. I am furious that taxpayer dollars meant to support families, seniors, people with disabilities, and children have been stolen through fraud and abuse.
My colleagues and I have rolled out a comprehensive legislative package aimed at preventing, detecting, investigating, and holding accountable those who commit fraud in Minnesota’s public programs. I am working with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to find a path forward. Here is the link to our press conference earlier this week.
Community and Constituents
Thank you to the Municipal Legislative Commission for inviting us to your annual legislative breakfast last Friday! The discussion around housing was educational with a great discussion afterwards.
The first two weeks of session were busy ones. During the first week of session, I had the chance to meet a group of local public health administrators from Bloomington Public Health that partners with Edina. Thank you for all the work you do to make sure our communities are healthy and safe!
I had lunch with U of M Alumni students, and administrators. I attended the U of M Twin Cities for my undergraduate degree, my husband received his BA and MA at the U of M Twin Cities, two of our children attended U of M Morris for their undergraduate degrees, and our daughter attended U of M Duluth for Medical School. Not to mention the numerous siblings that we had attend the U of M. It was fun to check out the Paul Bunyan Axe with U of M Alum, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon!
That day I also had an energizing meeting with students from ISLA Spanish Immersion here for Charter School Day at the Capitol. It was fun to hear what their favorite part of attending an immersion school is, as well as their why behind the request for more school funding.
I also had the chance to meet with folks from Hennepin County Solid Waste. This department makes sure that the solid waste our communities produce is taken care of safely whether it is through recycling, reuse, or disposal.
Wednesday, I had the chance to meet with some amazing school counselors. Our school counselors help our students in so many ways from instruction on social emotional learning to coordinating educational opportunities around career opportunities and so much more in between. Thank you for all you do to make sure our students have well rounded experiences on their road to graduation!
Small Business Relief Funds & Mutual Aid Resources
Several relief funds for businesses impacted by the federal immigration enforcement surge have been established. Learn how to apply for funding if you are a business owner or support the local businesses in our community by donating. Review eligibility and apply online.
Also be sure to check out and share the following local mutual aid resources:
It’s hard to believe March is just around the corner. Here are the dates I’m hosting community conversations:
Tuesday, March 3 –6:30 -8:00 pm at Edina Library (5280 Grandview Square, Edina)
Saturday, March 7 – Noon – 1:30 pm at the St. Louis Park Library (3240 Library Lane, St. Louis Park) Saturday,
Saturday, March 14 –10:30 am – Noon at the Hopkins Library (22 11th Ave. N., Hopkins)
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions or input. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
President Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan announced late last week that Operation Metro Surge is winding down and that he anticipates that, within a week, most federal agents will leave Minnesota with many remaining during the transition period. While this is a welcomed development, I encourage our neighbors to remain vigilant exercising their constitutional rights. Actions speak louder than words, but I’m cautiously optimistic we are moving in the right direction.
A BIG thank you to everyone who turned out for our District 46 Town Hall meeting last Thursday evening. If you didn’t get a chance to attend, a recording of the town hall meeting will be available later this week here. Our discussion was lively and timely, with people sharing experiences from across the community. There was a lot of concern expressed about how to recover from the federal occupation – from our businesses to our students in school as well as putting policies in place to protect Minnesotans in the future.
If you couldn’t make it, I’m still hosting a series of Community Conversations across the three communities in our area. The next event will happen on Saturday, February 21 – 10:30 am to Noon at the St. Louis Park Library (3240 Library Lane, St. Louis Park).
And if you’re looking ahead to March, here are the dates I’m meeting with constituents for the next round of Community Conversations:
Tuesday, March 3 –6:30 -8:00 pm at Edina Library (5280 Grandview Square, Edina) Saturday, March 7 – Noon – 1:30 pm at the St. Louis Park Library (3240 Library Lane, St. Louis Park) Saturday, March 14 –10:30 am – Noon at the Hopkins Library (22 11th Ave. N., Hopkins)
The Legislative Session Begins Tomorrow
The 2026 legislative session is slated to begin tomorrow. Governor Walz recently issued an executive order effective February 17, implementing weapons screening at the Minnesota State Capitol, following the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security (ACCAS). This recommendation was based on an independent security assessment commissioned by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Screenings will serve as a deterrent to those who may wish to bring illegal weapons into the Capitol to commit violence, intimidate people, or interfere with the orderly work of government.
The economic impacts of ICE on our state and Twin Cities has reached far and wide and will require a robust recovery response. I’m encouraged to see Governor Walz announce this week a bipartisan proposal for a $10 million one-time emergency relief fund aimed at Minnesota businesses that have been impacted by the occupation. We as Minnesotans have been through significant challenges, natural disasters, and a global pandemic, but the onslaught of federal agents in Minnesota is unprecedented. Many segments of our economy will need to recover from our small businesses to our restaurants as well as housing and food stability. We will also need to help our students and schools recover from interruptions to the learning environment. You can read more about the initial small business proposal from the Governor by clicking this link.
We will also need to help our students and schools recover from interruptions to the learning environment. A key focus of mine as the House DFL K-12 Education Finance Committee Chair will be working through the realities of the learning loss and mental health struggles of our kids, and the impact of significant absenteeism due to the disruptions caused by ICE and federal immigration agents.
My colleague Representative Sydney Jordan, who serves as the DFL Chair on the Education Policy Committee has already introduced legislation to ban ICE from Minnesota schools. ICE has created a presence of fear of anxiety in our students and has made it impossible for some students to attend schools. Our first hearing in the House Education Finance Committee will be presentations and testimony from teachers, administrators, parents, and other student support staff regarding the effects of the Metro Surge Operation on our students and schools. I’m looking forward to digging in and working on bipartisan relief to get our kids back on track and thriving academically and emotionally.
I was glad to join the Association of Metropolitan School Districts for their annual legislative breakfast on February 6 to hear more about these concerns. It’s always nice to hear from education leaders, MDE Commissioner Willie Jett, and my fellow legislators. Shout out to St Louis Park Supt. Dr. Hines and School Board Chair Cox.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to keep in touch on the issues important to you at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Thank you for the honor of serving our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors at the State Capitol.
Community connection matters now more than ever. Throughout my time serving you, I’ve prioritized creating spaces where we can come together—when people from diverse backgrounds share their viewpoints, it strengthens our democracy and builds a better tomorrow.
I hope you can join me for a community conversation in February. The dates and locations are:
Wednesday, February 4 – 6:30-8:00 pm at the Hopkins Library (22 11th Ave. N., Hopkins)
Wednesday, February 11 – 6:30-8:00 pm at Edina Library (5280 Grandview Square, Edina)
Saturday, February 21 – 10:30 am to Noon at the St. Louis Park Library (3240 Library Lane, St. Louis Park)
These are extraordinary times. Federal agents remain deployed in our state, and Minnesota continues to mourn the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, along with numerous forced removals across the region. Among them is 5-year-old Liam Ramos, currently detained in Texas with a fever and refusing to eat. He belongs at home with his mother.
Locally, I’m proud of the action our communities have taken to peacefully protect our neighbors. We care for each other and have our neighbors’ backs, always, even if it’s easy to look away. We all deserve to be safe.
Thank you to Gillah, the owner of Needle & Skein, for hosting an incredible Protest Knit Along recently. There were 65+ folks in two rooms knitting red hats with their neighbors and raising money for families in need. Rep. Larry Kraft and Mayor Nadia Mohamed could not be prouder of our community!
Almost 300 people showed up to a beautiful candlelight vigil for Alex Pretti and Renee Good at the Hopkins clocktower. Thank you to all who helped organize it and who showed up to be in community! It was a heartfelt tribute to two beautiful souls that were brutally taken too soon.
Last Friday I toured the ICA food shelf and learned about the increased outreach they are doing with our schools including their Hopkins Strong initiative with the Hopkins Education Foundation. It’s great to see the work they are doing to keep our neighbors in need fed. Consider dropping off a donation if you can.
This week, we had a press conference with educational leaders, teachers, principals, and essential school personnel to discuss our concerns about ICE’s interference in our school system. Teachers assisting with food distribution are being surveilled, and students are experiencing severe anxiety and trauma.
Our schools must remain safe havens for children—places where they can learn and thrive. These spaces should also protect the dedicated staff members who work tirelessly for our students’ success.
You can read more about the press event from this MinnPost coverage by clicking this link.
Credit: MinnPost Photo/Deanna Pistono
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions or input. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
On January 24, we had another shooting by Federal law enforcement that killed a Minnesotan. Alex Pretti, a 37 year-old Minnesota citizen and ICU nurse, was in his community when an ICE action unfolded. He went to the aid of a woman who an ICE agent shoved to the ground. Alex, that woman, and another bystander were maced by an ICE agent and then six ICE agents tackled Alex Pretti to the ground and shot him multiple times.
I am not going to post multiple views of the video here, you can view them on multiple local news stations. They are disturbing and heartbreaking to watch. What is even more disturbing was the reaction an hour after from federal officials calling Alex Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and launching into a smear campaign that we have seen before. All of this the day after over 10,000 Minnesotans marched peacefully through Minneapolis in below zero temperature to ask federal officials to stop “Operation Metro Surge”.
That evening, communities across the state held candlelight vigils to light up the darkness we are facing right now. To come together in community. Because, that is what we do. Minnesotans live through long, cold winters, we take care of our neighbors, and we love our communities. We also know the truth when we see it. Believe your eyes and stay strong. The world is watching and I am proud of Minnesota for meeting this moment.
Recent Comments