Dear neighbors,

It’s good to be back at the Capitol following our Spring Break. We have returned to a full week of legislation reviewing proposed omnibus bills in each committee. We also continue to address many timely issues that affect all Minnesotans with urgency. We returned to the legislature with the urgent task of addressing the misconstrued Minnesota Supreme Court ruling in the case, State v. Khalil.

Under current Minnesota law, due to a poorly written definition found in state statute, an individual charged with sexual assault of a person that is mentally incapacitated due to consumption of drugs or alcohol, may not be found guilty if the victim is voluntarily intoxicated. Many constituents have reached out to me, expressing your dismay in this, and I am just as appalled. It is abundantly clear that we must continue to review and correct our statutes regarding rape and criminal sexual conduct. 

This week the Senate Judiciary Committee met and adopted an amendment to their Omnibus Budget Bill to include the reforms to the criminal sexual conduct statute proposed by the Criminal Sexual Conduct Statutory Reform Working Group. Senate DFLers were able to stand in solidarity with stakeholders and victims and get the full language of the recommendations added to the Judiciary’s omnibus budget. The language will move forward as a result and has a path to becoming law before the end of session.

Education Finance and Policy

This week we addressed SF 960, the Senate Omnibus Education Bill. Created by the Republican-majority, I was extremely disappointed that the as a result, the proposed collection of legislation will require significant cuts to school budgets over the next two years and ignores basic needs of schools just as the state begins to emerge from the pandemic.

For the first time in decades, the bill has zero increase to the Basic Funding Formula, the per student formula allocated to schools to educate our children. Instead, the bill is riddled with voucher schemes that could cost public schools close to $300 million by Fiscal Years 2024-2025. It unfortunately, also contains harmful policy provisions, including a requirement that discriminates against transgender students, would allow non-licensed untrained individuals to substitute teach in Minnesota classrooms, and loosens educator training and academic requirements.

Having been a teacher for 25 years, sitting on this committee this session has often been difficult and we have had to push back against bills that sought to undermine the vigorous educational standards and objectives for 21st century learners. Instead, I’ve championed legislation requiring Ethnic Studies for kindergarten through high school. Read SF 1676 to learn how this bill would enable students to learn and appreciate the rich heritage, culture, and history of our state and country, told from multiple and diverse perspectives. I am hopeful that before SF 960 moves further, we will work in a bi-partisan way so that the supports and resources are there to ensure students, teachers, and school staff thrive.

Condemning Violence against the Asian American Pacific Islander AAPI Community

Last week I shared my former House colleague, Rep. Tou Xiong’s powerful speech given on the floor of the House of Representatives. The surge of anti-Asian violence is unacceptable, and demand justice for them – whether it is in our own communities or in Georgia, or anywhere across our country. These attacks are rooted in racism, and we all must play a part in combating racism through collective action. Addressing the violence requires education by all of us and civil rights protections that protect our communities. 

This week I joined our American Indian community - Oyate Hotanin (Voice of the People), Ramsey County Attorney John Choi, Commissioner Toni Carter and other organizations and allies in a public statement against violence towards the AAPI community. The following is a brief part of their released statement.

“The only way we are going to end violent racism is to develop a community to promote equitable cooperation.

People are hurt, angry and fearful. We have asked our elected officials to stand with us as well, not to add to an old paradigm of law and order which has never created safety for us. We are calling for a transformation. It is necessary to build laws and responses that will serve as a tool of coexistence, a tool against hate.”

I continue to condemn the appalling wave of violence against the (AAPI) Asian American Pacific Islander community and was proud to stand with the beautiful diversity that is Minnesota.

Subcommittee Appointment 

It was announced today I will continue to be the Senate representative on the subcommittee for Indian Affairs Council. I have been honored to sit on this committee as your representative and look forward to continuing the government-to-government collaboration with the 11 Dakotah and Anishinaabe Tribes.

Keep In Touch

As your State Senator I aim to always be available to hear any concerns you may have and to help in any issue.

You can always contact me at:

95 University Avenue W.
Minnesota Senate Bldg., Room 2323
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-4334

All the best,

Senator Mary Kunesh