State of the State and HCMC Update

State of the State and HCMC Update

Dear Neighbors,

We’ve made it to Friday. It’s been a busy week at the Minnesota Legislature.

Despite being tied in the House, we are passing handfuls of good, bipartisan bills through the House Ways and Means Committee (on which I sit) and off of the House floor. Although with that progress comes deep frustration as we’re getting blocked on solutions that desperately need action like: gun violence prevention, more mental health support for our students, and delivering economic aid for families and businesses impacted by ICE. It is also important to pass a robust infrastructure bill will create more local jobs, and help jump start our economy. There seems to be some movement and bipartisan support to make that happen.

On Tuesday, Governor Walz gave his last state of the state address. He emphasized the importance of restoring civility to continue the good work for Minnesotans. It was great to have Hopkins Council Member Heidi Garrido join me as my guest. You can read the governor’s full remarks here.

State of the State Address

With just over two weeks left in session, the House Ways and Means and the Taxes Committees have kept me busy. I sit on both of these committees and we will be wrapping up the bulk of our work this week. You can see below the stack of bills we heard in the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday. I also thought you would appreciate the little token our House Taxes Co-Chairs gave us Thursday to memorialize our work together this session.

Rep. Youakim taxes photo

 

Rep. Youakim taxes

With the House being tied, just by being officially scheduled for a floor vote, most of the bills that reach this point have already proven to have the bipartisan support necessary to pass. Last week, we passed broadly bipartisan legislation that toughens penalties for impersonating a police officerbans nudification technology, and strengthens the ability of agencies to stop payments to program participants when fraud is suspected.

Progress continued this week with the passage of a bill regulating HOAsbanning predictive market wagering, and our Housing Committee’s tenant-landlord relations bill, which passed unanimously. There are several smaller bills that also passed this week brought by individual members and others that help clarify existing laws.

Connected to Community

As the session is winding down, we are not getting as many groups visiting the Capitol. But on Monday I had a special treat, seeing our local firefighters at the Capitol. Thank you Hopkins Fire Chief Wenshau and Deputy Fire Chief Odden as well as Edina Fire Chief Slama for stopping by!

HCMC Update

Thursday, I sat in on a meeting with Hennepin County legislators to get an update on the work being done to stabilize Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), the state’s largest safety net hospital and trauma one center. Legislators met with medical providers and hospital administrators from HCMC. Many of you have written me about the importance of keeping HCMC open. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and we are working hard to make something happen before we adjourn. This one of the top bipartisan priorities.

Rep. Youkaim with Fire Chiefs

Keep in Touch

As bills are progressing through the final weeks of session, there are a lot of moving parts. I may not be as responsive to your emails regarding individual pieces of legislation. But please know that I read each of your emails and take your thoughts to heart as we hear final bills on the House floor. 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.

Have a great weekend!

Cheryl Youakim Signature

Rep. Cheryl Youakim
46B – Hopkins, Edina, & St. Louis Park

Floor Action, Committee Work, & Constituent Visits

Dear Neighbors,

We made it to Friday. It was a busy week with a flurry of activity to meet our committee deadline for policy bills to advance. We will be on a brief break before we come back to work on bills that include funding before the April 17 budget deadline.

Floor Activity

On Monday, we unanimously passed legislation off the House Floor to repeal César Chavez Day amid a lengthy investigation into his involvement in the sexual abuse of young girls.

If you’ve been following the local news, you may have seen coverage of the Governor/House Republican school voucher standoff. As I mentioned in my last email newsletter, my education co-chair Kresha publicly threatened to block all other legislation if the GOP didn’t get their main priority passed, which prioritizes aid to nonpublic schools.

Unfortunately, on Wednesday, in what should have been a short, procedural floor session to continue advancing bills, my Republican colleagues lived up to their promise and made a motion to go end session and go home. All but four GOP House members voted to go home without fraud prevention solutions and without finishing our work on bipartisan bills that have passed off the House floor.

They voted to go home without relief for our small businesses, restaurants, or renters from the federal actions. To end session without stabilizing our food shelves after SNAP cuts or help for those who will be losing their insurance coverage. And without passing legislation to protect our schools, hospitals/clinics, or places of worship from unfettered federal agents.  I was very disappointed to say the least, and I’m glad some of my Republican colleagues used common sense and voted no with all of my DFL colleagues.

Voting to Protect Minnesotans

Equally frustrating was when my DFL colleagues and I brought three common-sense bills forward — two on gun safety and one to keep ICE out of schools without a judicial warrant. Instead of honest debate, the other side simply blocked us. This motion would simply have allowed the bills to be placed on the General Register so that they could be brought up on the House floor for further discussion and amendments.

In the years I have been here, I’ve never seen a good bill pass without some back-and-forth. Shutting that down — especially with grieving parents watching and our students experiencing the level of trauma and learning loss that they are— is unacceptable.

School security upgrades and increased mental health supports for our students still need to be part of the discussion, but we also need to limit access to dangerous guns to keep our kids safe. I’m asking my colleagues across the aisle: come to the table and work with us. The people of Minnesota deserve better than this.

I spoke during the debate on the bill on prohibiting ICE from staging on school grounds or entering our schools, unless they have judicial warrant, to describe the undue stress their actions have put our students, teachers, and administrators.

Committee Work

This week in the House Tax Committee, staff presented the results of this year’s Tax Incidence Study which showed that Minnesota has the second most progressive tax structure in the country.

Tax burdens by type

Minnesotans at all income levels (except the lowest one) pay about 12% of their income in state and local taxes, with more affluent taxpayers paying mostly income taxes while lower income households pay proportionately more in sales and property taxes. We also heard a bill including extending the funding to counties to build affordable housing and a variety of other bills that were laid over for future consideration

In the Ways and Means Committee we voted to send the majority of those bills to the House floor and then another one back to the Commerce Committee where it will reside for final action.

In the Education Finance Committee this week, when the GOP had the gavel, they brought back up a bill that would require the Governor to opt-in to a tax credit for school vouchers. It was a tied vote, with all DFL members voting no and all GOP members voting yes, so the bill will remain in the Education Finance Committee. We also informationally heard a few bills that would have made changes to PSEO.

On Thursday, when I had the gavel, I presented the K-12 forecast article bill. This bill, of whom I am the chief author, adjusts the funds that go to our schools to the February forecast numbers. I am happy to report that the bill was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee with a unanimous voice vote. I also presented a bill on a proposed structure for student mental health grants to organizations that work with youth outside the school day and in the summer. Organizations that get young people physically active, away from technology, and making connections with their peers could apply for these competitive grants through the Minnesota Department of Education. The bill had a positive reception, but I would like to work with some more stake holders so we laid the bill over for further conversation.

During that committee time, we also heard a bill on ways to retain our teachers and one to create an interagency council on student attendance so that folks are not working in silos as we try to find ways to keep kids in school.

Constituent Visits

Monday started out with a visit from Minnesota Association of Clinical Oncology regarding the need to reform prior authorization, so that cancer patients have timely access to important care. After committee and before session, I met with a dedicated group of social service workers to discuss their priorities for their clients, constituents advocating the importance of access to reproductive care as well as Maxine Maxon and others with SEIU to talk about fair wages and workload in hospitals.

Cheryl Monday meetings

 

I had the chance to meet with constituents visiting the Capitol Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday on a variety of issues. Sue Dorkin from Mount Olivet Rollings and I talked about clear expectations and standards for waivered services and continued services for those living in their own homes. I had an update on the great work that Children’s First is doing in St. Louis Park and Hopkins and meet with their partners at the Education Partnership Coalition. The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees were at the Capitol on Wednesday, and I had a great conversation with constituent Sarah Merkus who works in cybersecurity for the MNIT within the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Thursday was Disability Day at the Capitol, Thursday, I had a visit from the folks at Vail Place advocating for continued for the amazing clubhouse model they run in Hopkins, Minneapolis, and Ramsey County.

youakim constituent meetings on Tues.-Thurs.

Keep in Touch

Please continue contacting me anytime 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 neighbors at the State Capitol. Next week, legislators are on Easter/Passover/Eid recess. However you may celebrate, I wish you a restful holiday.

Cheryl Youakim Signature

Rep. Cheryl Youakim
46B – Hopkins, Edina, & St. Louis Park

Eid Mubarak, Making Minnesotans Lives More Affordable, & Minnesota Uninsured Rates Rise

Eid Mubarak, Making Minnesotans Lives More Affordable, & Minnesota Uninsured Rates Rise

Dear Neighbors,

Spring has finally sprung. I hope you get a chance to be outside this weekend! To our neighbors celebrating, Eid Mubarak!

Eid

We’re nearing the halfway point of the legislative session. Next week on Friday, we have our first and second committee deadline. This is a point in our work where each bill that contains policy must have gone through the committee process in each body (the House or Senate) to advance either to the floor or to a finance committee if there is also a cost.

On Monday this week, we attempted to pass legislation to release existing funds for emergency rental assistance. These funds would be paid directly to landlords after the tenant applies through the current rental assistance structure. Operation Metro Surge has wreaked havoc on our local economy, not just in the Twin Cities, but especially in the western suburbs. In fact, a group of Suburban mayors, including mayors from Hopkins, Edina, and St. Louis Park, have joined together to ask for state assistance for the overtime and additional resources our local cities have had to provide to keep our neighbors safe.

On the Floor this week, the House passed $9 million dollars to be directed to Minnesota’s supportive housing providers who were impacted by harmful federal cuts. This is another example of the feds leaving us as a state to step up to provide emergency gap coverage. We’re doing the best we can with a modest state budget, but with the rate of uninsured in Minnesota climbing to the highest level in 6 yearsan average gas price now more than 80 cents higher than one month ago$160 billion in federal tariffs taken from Minnesotans, rapidly rising energy costs, we’ve got to do more to expand our state economy and grow Minnesota’s shrinking middle class. You can read more about our Affordability Plan here.

Helping Minnesotans Afford Their Lives

In the House Education Policy Committee, I had a bill up (HF 4176) that was brought to me by an education advocacy group called Ed Evolving. They have been working on clarifying and streamlining the statutes around site-based governed schools. This is a law currently on the books that allows districts the flexibility to be innovative at the school site level and still provide the required academic instruction that aligns with the statewide standards. Dr. Georg Nolan, Principal at Gatewood Elementary in the Hopkins School District, came and testified in support. Dr. Nolan spoke on their innovative outdoor classroom program they want to continue and how this legislation could provide stability to do that. The committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in an House Education Policy bill.

Rep. Youakim presenting her bill

In other education related news, House Education Policy Chair Sydney Jordan (DFL-Minneapolis) and I (as well as other legislative colleagues) had the opportunity to meet with a large group of teachers who were at the Capitol to advocate for a more robust statewide insurance pool for all educators who work in schools; teachers to paraprofessionals. Our school districts are getting hit by increasing insurance and prescription drug costs and a statewide pool could help ease that burden. This is the start of a longer conversation, but the hope is to pass a bill this session to gather data from school districts on their plans and coverage so that we can make an educated decision when we build out a solution.

Teacher insurance

Minnesota’s Uninsured Rate Rises

A new report shows that the uninsured rate in Minnesota is rising rapidly. This is a direct result of massive cuts to health care coupled with the ongoing affordability crisis. If the uninsured rates continue to rise we will see huge consequences for our state. For starters this means fewer people getting the care they need, leading directly to more harm. But beyond that we will see a huge financial strain on our healthcare system; just look at HCMC for a vision of what the future holds if we continue to underinvest in health care.

insurance

 

Child Tax Credit Reminder

If you’re still working on your 2025 taxes and have children, please don’t forget about the Child Tax Credit! It is NOT automatic. So far this year, more than 154,000 tax returns have claimed the Child Tax Credit, benefiting over 318,000 children across Minnesota. Families are receiving an average credit of $2,669. The credit is estimated to reduce child poverty by up to a third in Minnesota, making it one of the most impactful investments DFLers protected amid federal cuts. Learn more about eligibility here.

Connected to Community

It was a shorter week up at the Capitol with the Thursday Eid break, but there was still an opportunity to meet with constituent groups! On Monday, I met with constituents who were from the Food Group and Great Twin Cities United Way, which are both part of a larger organization called Hunger Solutions. These groups work to stabilize food access in our communities from working with food shelves to supporting the passage of universal free school meals.

Hunger Solutions

I also had the opportunity to talk with a constituent who visited the Capitol to talk about nuclear energy and on about the CPA priorities.

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.

Cheryl Youakim Signature

Rep. Cheryl Youakim
46B – Hopkins, Edina, & St. Louis Park

Naming MN Solar Garden after Melissa Hortman, Americorps bill in Taxes, constituent visits, and more.

Naming MN Solar Garden after Melissa Hortman, Americorps bill in Taxes, constituent visits, and more.

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you had a chance to enjoy Minnesota’s “false spring” and are ready for round two of snow! I have one last March Community Conversation this Saturday from 10:30 am – Noon at the Hopkins Library before the snow flies. Hope to see you there!

Rep. Youakim March Community Conversation schedule

 

It’s been a busy week at the Capitol.

This week, the Minnesota House unanimously passed legislation renaming the Community Solar Garden Program for Speaker Emerita, former Energy Committee Chair, and our friend, Melissa Hortman.

Melissa’s work on solar and clean energy helped build Minnesota into a nationwide leader in climate policy, renewable energy, and created thousands of green energy jobs. One of her proudest achievements was the community solar garden program, which helps more people reap the rewards of our clean energy grid.

The Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program will stand as a tribute to her legacy as Minnesota’s ‘godmother of solar,’ and I was honored to vote Green on this bill.

Rep. Youakim's Green Button on the House Floor

In committee this week, we had a full agenda with lots of lively debates. One of these took place in the House Education Finance Committee, of which I am the DFL co-chair. My GOP counterpart held a hearing on a bill that would direct public funding to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGO’s) for education scholarships/vouchers and other educational costs. The bill had little to no oversight of these SGO’s, provides a $1 for $1 credit that is not available to Minnesotans when they currently donate to any other non-profits, and directs money to non-public schools who are not obligated to follow the same state requirements our public schools are.

Our Minnesota constitution requires us to fund our public schools where 880,000 students (90%) attend. Currently, our public schools our asking us for increased investments in a variety of areas from student mental health to special education funding. This proposal does not provide any of that. Yet that did not stop my House GOP colleagues from holding a press conference where they stated that they would not allow any K-12 funding to pass out of committee unless the Governor opts into the federal school voucher bill. You can read more about the legislation and the topic by clicking on this Minnesota Public Radio article link.

In the Taxes Committee, we heard a bipartisan bill I’m authoring to expand income tax exemption for AmeriCorps Volunteers. Currently, state law allows an income tax subtraction only for educational service awards earned through AmeriCorps National Service. HF 3792 would expand that benefit to include stipends and living allowances received by a wider group of volunteers — specifically those serving in AmeriCorps VISTA, the Civilian Community Corps, and AmeriCorps Senior programs. You can watch video of the hearing at this link.

Rep. Youakim presenting her bill in committee

Photo Credit: Andrew VonBank, Minnesota House Photography

Connected to Community

At the end of last week, Rep. Larry Kraft and I had a chance to meet with Cancer Action Day advocates from our district to learn more about the urgent need for more cancer screening access. Early detection saves lives. Rep. Kraft shared his stash of homemade ice cream with us, as well.

Rep. Youakim cancer screening constituents

Thank you to St. Louis Park and Edina Superintendents, school board members, and staff that visited the Capitol on Monday to advocate for our students and the supports they need in our schools!

Rep. Youakim and St. Louis Park School Board

Tuesday I met with an amazing community educator from St. Louis Park, a small but mighty group advocating for accessible health care, and an owner of a day care in St. Paul for child care day. The highlight was connecting with Betsy Holmgren on the need for access to Alzheimer’s treatments! We had a chance to share with each other our personal experiences of family members with Alzheimer’s.

Rep. Youakim and her Tuesday meeting with constituents

Wednesday I had the chance to meet with a dedicated team from Teach for America. I also connected with some wonderful Adult Basic Education teachers. I finished the day with the amazing Hopkins Councilmember Heidi Garrido at the Capitol advocating for our community.

Wednesday meetings with Rep. Youakim and constituents

I started out Thursday speaking at the Children First Breakfast and hearing from their amazing Youth for Change students. I then presented a bill in Taxes to exempt AmeriCorps stipends from income tax. Finally, Rep. Julie Greene and I met with dedicated folks from Moms Demand Action for sensible gun violence prevention before we headed to floor session.

Rep. Youakim with constituents during her Thursday meetings

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.

Stay safe this weekend with the coming snow!

Cheryl Youakim Signature

Rep. Cheryl Youakim
46B – Hopkins, Edina, & St. Louis Park

Constituent Visits, Affordability Agenda, & Gun Violence Prevention

Constituent Visits, Affordability Agenda, & Gun Violence Prevention

Legislative Update from Rep. Youakim

Dear Neighbors,

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!

Helping Minnesotans Afford Their Lives

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!

Rep. Youakim and Arts advocates

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!

Rep. Youakim and nurses

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.

Hopkins Health Students

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.

Constituents with Rep. Youakim at the Capitol

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!

MMA and constituents with Rep. Youakim

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!

You can watch the Kare11 Story at this link.

Community Conversations

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:

Community Conversations

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.

Cheryl Youakim Signature

Rep. Cheryl Youakim
46B – Hopkins, Edina, & St. Louis Park

Remember Speaker Emeritus Hortman & First Two Weeks of Session

Remember Speaker Emeritus Hortman & First Two Weeks of Session

Legislative Update from Rep. Cheryl Youakim

Dear Neighbors,

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.

Flowers on Melissa Hortman's Desk

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.

Weapons screening process

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.

Education advocates testifying

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.

School desks with photos of Harper and Fletcher, candles, backpacks, a volleyball, and markers/crayons

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.

Gun Violence

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.

MLC breakfast

 

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!

Rep. Youakim with constituents

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!

Rep. Youakim with SOS 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.

Rep. Youakim with students

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!

Capitol visitors

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:

St. Louis Park Emergency Program

ICA Food Shelf

VEAP Food Shelf

March Community Conversations Schedule

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.

Cheryl Youakim Signature

Cheryl Youakim
State Representative