Happy March! I hope this email finds you well and enjoying the first day of our Meteorological Spring (although it’s felt like spring for some time!).
A big thank you to everyone who continues to turn out for our Community Conversations! Hearing from you and being able to connect in the community is the best part of this work. My next Community Conversations in March will be held on March 6th and March 9th. Here are the details below:
Our District 46 Team is also hosting a town hall meeting on Tuesday, March 12th at 6:00 p.m . As always, this event is free, nonpartisan, and open to all constituents. I hope to see you there!
Budget Forecast Shows Minnesota is on the Right Path
On Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget officials released a new economic budget forecast showing Minnesota’s economy is growing and our long-term budget outlook is stable. We are in a strong position to weather unforeseen challenges down the road.
We are growing the middle class through jobs with good pay, benefits, and working conditions, so Minnesotans can build better lives. Our economic outlook is a testament to the strength and resiliency of Minnesotans, and we will continue to manage our state’s finances in an effective, responsible manner while being responsive to challenges facing people and communities across the state.
Floor and Committee Action
This week, the House met on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday to procedurally move bills from different committees and introduce new bills. You can find the new bill introductions here.
In the Education Finance Committee, which I chair, we heard a variety of bills to invest in our student and teacher success. We also heard a bill I am carrying to increase investments into the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR system), which we included in our education budget last year.
Presenting my legislation to support the BARR System in schools.
On Thursday, I was proud to stand with approximately 1,000 teachers in the Capitol Rotunda as they rallied for fair pensions. Minnesota teachers go above and beyond to shape a positive experience for our students when they’re learning and growing. They deserve a secure retirement and I look forward to continuing this conversation.
On Friday, I toured the Edina Early Childhood Center and visited with their Director, Leah Byrd, ECSE Director Emily Cory, and Anne Marie Leland who is the Director of Community Education & Strategic Partnerships. They are all doing incredible work serving our youngest learners, as well as the adults in the students’ lives!
On Friday afternoon, Rep. Larry Kraft and I visited a HealthPartners dental clinic site. The coordinated care they have with HealthPartners physicians is an incredible model! Thank you Dr. David Louis, Dr. Arpana Narang, and Clinic Manager Kayla Johnson for the information and the visit.
Minnesota’s Presidential Primary
Minnesota’s Presidential Primary is coming up on Tuesday, March 5 for our major political parties, and early voting is already open. Learn more, including your polling location, from the Secretary of State’s website.
Child Tax Credit Reminder
If you haven’t filed your 2023 taxes yet, don’t forget about claiming the new Minnesota Child Tax Credit! This is available to all Minnesotans, including those who file with ITIN numbers.
If you have questions or need help, don’t hesitate to contact my office.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Small Business Environmental Zero-Interest Loan Program
Small businesses can reduce on-site air emissions, clean up contamination, or generate less waste by applying for the MPCA Small Business Environmental Loan program. The program offers zero-interest loans up to $75,000 to tackle these high-impact projects. You can learn more and apply here.
Connected to Community
This week, I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet with several constituent groups, advocating on a variety of issues for their “Days on the Hill”. I met with our Fire Chiefs and officers from Hopkins and St. Louis Park to talk about their needs around safety and pensions. On Youth Day on the Hill, I met with the amazing students from the Future Farmers of America (FFA). And, I met with the student board from MyHealth who talked to me about banning flavored tobacco. There was a wonderful visit with a CPA from our community that talked about the need for more CPAs in the workforce. Finally, I had the chance to meet with a dentist from St. Louis Park for Dental Day on the Hill who talked about workforce needs and access to quality care.
These meetings are rewarding and I appreciate seeing familiar faces and meeting new neighbors at these events.
Grateful for our Fire hometown heroes and all they do to keep us safe.
FFA Day at the Capitol.
Great visit with the student board of MyHealth to talk about banning flavored tobacco.
MNCPA Day at the Capitol.
Congrats, Edina Girls Hockey!
Kudos to the Edina Girls Hockey team for clinching the 2024 Championship for its fifth Class AA state title. This win is a reflection of your hard work and determination.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions, input, or to let me know how I can help. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Thank you for the honor of representing our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors at the State Capitol.
I watched the news coming out of Burnsville on Sunday with a heavy heart. Our Police, Fire, and EMS departments in our communities are families who care for each other as they care for us. That sense of community is being shown by an outpouring of grief and support from across Minnesota. My deepest condolences go out to the family, loved ones, and colleagues of the heroic first responders who protected the young children and mother by responding to the call. I am especially grateful for our public safety teams in our communities of Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina as well as the team that protects us at the Capitol.
On Monday, legislators representing the Burnsville area delivered remarks and asked for a moment of silence, which you can watch here.
A big thank you to everyone who turned out for our Community Conversations! Hearing from you and being able to connect in the community is the best part of this work. My next Community Conversations in March will be held on March 6th and March 9th. Here are the details below:
Town Hall Meeting
Mark your calendars! Senator Latz, Rep. Kraft, and I are hosting a District 46 Town Hall Meeting on March 12 at the St. Louis Park City Hall Chambers (5005 Minnetonka Blvd.) from 6:00-7:30 p.m. I hope you can make it and please share the information with neighbors who may be interested in attending. Everybody is welcome!
Floor and Committee Work
The legislature continues its work. We had floor sessions on Monday and Thursday this week and committees met to hear various bills. On the House floor on Monday, we passed a tax fix bill to make sure that working and middle class Minnesotans receive the full benefit of the 2023 Tax Act. The Senate passed the bill as well and it is headed ot the Governor’s desk for his signature. In the House Education Finance Committee, I held a hearing to highlight the investments for our schools that we prioritized in our two-year state budget. This included several presentations from urban, suburban, and rural school districts. All expressed gratitude for being able to hire more teachers with the increase on the formula, provide more mental health support to students, and the overwhelming support and demand for universal school meals. You can watch a recap of our committee hearing here.
Connected to Community
I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet with several constituents advocating with various organizations on issues important to them. These included Minnesota Care Expansion Lobby day, Occupational Therapy Day, and meeting with a group of Rotarians from across the state. Hearing from Minnesotans advocating for what they care about is one of the best parts of this job. I also had the opportunity to talk with a group of students from our Alternative Learning Centers who not only did a good job advocating for their schools, but had some great questions.
I finished the week meeting with a group of Chiropractors to discuss barriers to care, heard from an amazing group of aspiring teachers on how we can help them make it into the classroom, and celebrated U of M Alumni Day with Goldie.
I was sad to learn of news that our neighbor, Nikki Storebo, a long time Mount Olivet Adult Day Center employee and advocate for our disability community, passed away this week. Nikki started her journey with MORA over 11 years ago, first as a Program Coordinator, then worked her way up to her role as Senior Quality Enhancement and Program Director. Nikki supported MORA in so many ways, but I knew her as a tireless advocate for those she worked to support. When I toured MORA, I had the chance to see Nikki in action and was so inspired by her advocacy of and leadership in advancing disability rights and funding for services. May her memory forever be a blessing.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions, ideas, or input. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Thank you for the honor of representing our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors at the State Capitol.
St. Paul, MN– House Education Finance Committee Chair Cheryl Youakim (DFL-Hopkins) has earned and received a legislative award from the Minnesota School Psychologists Association for her advocacy and support of school psychology.
“Our school psychologists are an integral part of supporting the needs and well-being of our students, ” said Rep. Youakim. “It is an honor to receive this recognition from the Minnesota School Psychologists Association. Last year, we took overdue steps to improve the ratio of school psychologists, counselors, social workers, and nurses to students in our schools. We also made investments in getting our students the mental health support they need in and out of the classroom. Investing in comprehensive mental health resources is not an expense, it’s an investment in the future, ensuring every student has what they need to thrive.”
The Minnesota School Psychologists Association proactively supports the needs and well-being of all children, youth, families, and communities through advocacy, education, and research; and to promote the delivery of comprehensive, effective, and ethical school psychological services.
Happy Friday! The MN 2024 Legislative session has begun and I’m excited to continue this work with our community and Rep. Larry Kraft who represents the other half of Senate District 46.
After the historically productive 2023 Legislative Session, DFLers remain committed to improving people’s lives and building a Minnesota that works better for everyone. In 2024, we will continue working side by side with our neighbors and community members. Together, rooted in the values we all share, we will work to lower the cost of living, deliver economic security for working families, and ensure everyone has the tools they need to thrive.
To that end, I’d love to see and hear from you at an upcoming community engagement event. On March from 6:00-7:30 pm, Senator Latz, Rep. Kraft, and I will hold a district town hall meeting at St. Louis Park City Council Chambers.
I am hosting one more community conversation this month on Saturday, February 24 from 10:30-noon in Hopkins. Everyone is welcome to attend these nonpartisan gatherings for a productive dialogue. I will also be hosting two more Community Conversations in March, dates to come.
Session and Committee Work
We started the week at the Our State Our Future conference which is an annual tradition setting a bipartisan and productive tone for the session to come. This year’s theme involved the importance of early childhood care and education.
Our first week of session consisted of several floor sessions. I’m honored to continue to serve in the role of House Education Finance Chair, and we spent our meetings this week going over the implementation of our historic investment in schools across the state. The Minnesota Department of Education has been a steadfast partner with helping ensure these dollars are directed to school districts and distributed appropriately. Students deserve a quality education and quality services, and the DFL majority delivered historic funding for our schools last session to make sure our kids have the resources our kids need to succeed. But you cannot turn around twenty years of underfunding in one session, we still have work to do this session to stabilize our school district’s funding streams.
Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award & Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol
On Friday, I was also honored to receive an Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award from the Coalition to Increase Teachers of Color and American Indian Teachers in Minnesota. This coalition has been working on increasing teachers of color in our classrooms all over the state so that our students can see themselves in those who are teaching them. They have been doing incredible work growing and diversifying our teacher workforce!
Friday was Black Entrepreneurs Day as the Capitol, and I had the pleasure of meeting M. Ann Pritchard of MAMP Creations. She is an author, artist, and actor. She creates unique gifts with positive messages.
Murdered & Missing Indigenous Relatives Day of Remembrance
On Wednesday we honored Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Day of Remembrance. Members of the Native American Legislative Caucus in the House took a moment to reflect on this day, its importance, and held a moment of silence. You can watch the remarks here.
Connected to Community
DFL lawmakers held a press conference this week to promote a bill to require health care insurance coverage for infertility treatments. Fox 9 covered the event and you can read more here. I also had the opportunity to meet with constituents from RESOLVE, an organization that supports folks struggling with fertility. I am a proud co-author of the legislation that was proposed last year and hope we can get it across the finish line this session.
Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to volunteer with my fellow Edina Morningside Rotary members at Bridging. This amazing organization has been serving families since 1987, by providing household goods and furniture to those who are getting stabilized in housing. They accept donations of gently used household goods and furniture, as well as monetary donations, at their site in Bloomington. They have an extensive list of what they accept on their website, so if you are decluttering, downsizing your home, or need a place to donate a gently used couch, check them out!
I had great conversations with our school counselors at the Capitol for their advocacy day and folks advocating for childcare affordability! A big thank you to school counselor Carolyn Berger and Angela Sandoval from Rise Early Learning for all you do for the kids in our communities!
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.
Thank you for the honor of serving our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina residents at the State Capitol.
I hope your February has been enjoyable. I’m looking forward to some snow and seeing the new Minnesota Department of Transportation snow plow fleet in action! Over 35,000 Minnesotans submitted their ideas and winners have been selected. Here is your Class of 2024 Minnesota MNDOT Snowplow Fleet.
The 2024 legislative session begins on Monday, February 12 at noon. Although the work hasn’t stopped since we adjourned in May, I’m excited to be back at the Capitol to build on and continue to make progress for our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors.
A great way to stay updated on our work in the House is via the Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services, which offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. You can subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website. You can also watch live hearings through the posted hearing on the calendar and recording hearings thru the individual committee links. If you are ever interested in coming to St. Paul and watching a hearing, you can reach out to our office about details or utilize this link to get some of your questions answered.
Thank you to everyone who joined our recent Community Conversation in St. Louis Park. I’d love to connect with you to hear what your priorities are for this session at my next Community Conversation, which is Saturday, February 24 at Hopkins Library.
Here’s an update from the Capitol:
New Child Tax Credit & Filing Assistance in Minnesota
With our nation leading Child Tax Credit, families will save up to $1,750 for each dependent. Democrats are aiming to cut child poverty by one third with this rebate. You can claim the tax credit by filing a 2023 income tax return. The $1,750 credit is for each child 17 years old and younger. For all tax filers, this credit begins to phase out at an income level of $35,000 and fully phases out at a maximum of $90,750 for a family with four children. Check out if you’re eligible here:https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/child-tax-credit
Most taxpayers who are eligible to claim the new Child Tax Credit are also eligible for free tax preparation assistance. I’ve been pursuing efforts to further study what a statewide free tax preparation program could look like in Minnesota. Currently, over 170 sites offering free tax preparation assistance are now open to help those filing income tax and property tax refund returns. Sites are staffed by certified volunteers and offer in-person and virtual options with most being open through April 15. You can find income requirements and qualifications for free tax preparation on the Child Tax Credit webpage.
Please share this information with your friends, neighbors, and hold on to it when you’re filing for your taxes.
Minnesota Values Project Survey
Almost seven years ago, the Minnesota House DFL started the Minnesota Values Project (also known as MVP) as a partnership between Minnesotans, elected officials, and organizations to create a shared vision for the future of our state. Working together, we’ve strengthened our communities by improving education opportunities, making affordable health care a reality, and increasing economic prosperity for all Minnesotans.
Through this project, we have facilitated hundreds of meaningful conversations with people across Minnesota about their priorities. We’re continuing this work and want to engage with as many Minnesotans as possible. Looking ahead to the 2024 legislative session, we’re looking to hear more perspectives and feedback from Minnesotans. As part of this effort, you’re invited to take the new Minnesota Values Project survey.
The survey only takes a few minutes, and as we build a shared vision for our state, your input is crucial in this process. We look forward to hearing from you. In addition to taking this survey, as always, don’t hesitate to contact me with your feedback or if I can ever be of assistance.
Connected to Community
I always enjoy opportunities to connect with our local school boards, city councils, and other community leaders to learn more about local needs.
We had a great conversation at the Edina City Council work session on Wednesday evening. It is always wonderful to hear about all the work our amazing public servants are doing!
Thank you to the Association of Minnesota School Board Association and the Minnesota School Board Association for the breakfast, conversation, and the chance to see friends excited to talk about funding our public schools!
This year’s informative and creative State of the City Hopkins put on Wednesday evening included food from local restaurants and “Parks & Rec” characters delivering the highlights in city programs, services, and development projects. I especially loved Heidi Garrido as Leslie Knope.
I was glad to join the St Louis Park Mayor, City Council, and staff along with Rep. Larry Kraft, Senator Ron Latz at a recent city work session. It is always helpful to hear about legislative priorities and to partner with our cities to enhance our community!
I had the opportunity to meet with Edina school leaders at their Legislative Action breakfast! Superintendent Dr. Stacie Stanley kicked it off and handed it over to amazing students and schoolboard members to walk thru their priorities. Thank you all for your advocacy for public education in our community!
Yesterday evening, I served on an Education Panel in Shakopee with my colleague Rep. Brad Tabke and House Education Policy Chair Rep. Laurie Pryor to recap our historic education budget and to hear their thoughts on implementing changes and answering any questions they had.
I was honored to have recently earned an award from the Minnesota School Psychologist Association. I am so incredibly grateful to the hard working school psychologists in our schools and doing so much for our students’ wellbeing and health!
Stay Connected
Please continue to contact me anytime with input, ideas, or questions 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 representing our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina communities at the State Capitol.Have a great weekend!
Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe we’re already two weeks into 2024. I hope the new year is off to a great start.
A new year means new opportunities to gather at one of my Community Conversations in our community! The first one was last Saturday at the Hopkins Public Library. Constituents from all parts of the district joined in a great discussion around a variety of education topics, healthcare access, needs of our veterans, and much more. All Hopkins, Edina, and St. Louis Park neighbors are welcome to attend any event they are interested in. Here are the upcoming dates and locations:
Hopkins Public Library:
Saturday, Feb. 24 from 10:30 a.m. – Noon
Edina Public Library:
Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Wednesday, March 6 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
St. Louis Park Library:
Wednesday, Feb. 7 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Saturday, March 9 from 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
New Laws
New laws also took effect at the beginning of the year. These include the historic investments we made in public schools and students, taking action to address gun violence, making significant progress in tackling climate change, enacting Paid Family and Medical Leave, providing free college for families earning under $80,000 a year, protecting reproductive freedom, and so much more.
Earned Sick and Safe Time is also a big win for workers across the state, especially for hourly workers who may not currently have access to paid sick time. This new law requires employers in Minnesota to provide employees one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, capped at 48 hours each year. An employee is anyone who works at least 80 hours in a year for an MN employer and is not an independent contractor.
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry has helpful information, including how sick time can be used here.
2024 Session
The 2024 legislative session will get underway on February 12th. The latest state economic forecast shows a stable budget and an economy that continues to grow. We’re building a strong middle class together, and economic security for working families is critical to our Minnesota’s shared success. DFLers in the House, Senate, and Governor recognize Minnesotans continue to face rising costs for essentials like child care, food, housing, and health care. We are committed to addressing these needs and making life easier for folks. You can follow our work in committee or on the House Floor on the MInnesota House’s nonpartisan Public Information website.
Connected to Community
At the end of December, I had the opportunity to tour the new addition of the St. Louis Park Emergency Program facility. Their mission is to strengthen the community by responding to the basic emergency needs of individuals and families. A big thank you to Derek Reise for the tour and for the incredible work you all do for our community!
It’s been a wonderful opportunity to sub in our local public schools. Recently, I subbed at Concord Elementary in the Edina school district. The substitute teacher shortage is definitely felt and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to see firsthand the work being done in the classroom and to see how our students’ academic, and social and emotional learning needs are being met.
St. Louis Park’s new mayor, Nadia Mohamed, and I had a chance to connect with a group of wonderfully engaged St. Louis Park folks at The Elmwood. Thank you for all the great conversation!
On Tuesday morning, I was honored to be inducted into the Edina Morningside Rotary Club by President Dr. Afira Hassan and President-Elect Bocar Kane! Thank you to the club for the warm welcome. Rotary’s mission of “Service Above Self” is something that is close to my heart. Check out emrotary.org for more information about the club.
On Tuesday, I also joined Senator Alice Mann and Senator Ron Latz in welcoming the Senate Capital Investment Committee to Edina to hear about the city’s Grandview Crossroads project. Mayor Hovland, Fire Chief Slama, City Manager Scott Neil, and Engineering Director Chad Milner put together a great presentation!
On Friday morning, I attended the annual Hopkins Legislative Action Coalition’s legslative breakfast. The Hopkins LAC is a group of parents, students, and school board members who help advocate for increased investments in Hopkins Public Schools. The delicious breakfast was served by Hopkins High School students who are part of the culinary ProStart team and students also spoke on the growing career and technical pathways the school has been developing over the years. Thank you to the school board, school administration and staff, and the parents for sharing their experiences and thoughts with the legislators who represent the Hopkins Schools!
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9889 with questions, input, or if you need any assistance. Email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Thank you for the honor of representing our Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina neighbors in St. Paul.
Recent Comments