Kelly Morrison , CD3 DFL

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: July 9, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Last week, the House adjourned special session after finishing up work to pass a bipartisan state budget. As the only divided state legislature in the country, and with several challenges operating remotely amid a global pandemic, I’m glad we could find common ground on strategies to help our families, students, workers, and small businesses recover from COVID-19, and stabilize our local economy so everyone in our state can thrive. Here’s an update on our work from the Capitol:

Health and Human Services Budget

With a background in health care delivery and as a member of the Health Finance and Preventative Health committees, I’ve worked extensively in this area of the budget. Our Health and Human Services budget aims to improve Minnesota’s health care system and expand access to affordable care. It invests in our public health infrastructure, strengthens behavioral and mental health services, addresses inequities in maternal and infant health outcomes, increases pay for personal care assistants (PCAs) who help people live independently, and includes several pieces of legislation I carried including increased telehealth investments, Medical Assistance (MA) coverage for enhanced asthma care services, and expanded MA coverage for post-partum care for new moms from 60 days to 12 months.

House DFL Lawmakers urge resignation of Minn. Board of Animal Health President

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls), Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul), House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley), Rep. Sydney Jordan (DFL – Minneapolis), Rep. Patty Acomb (DFL – Minnetonka), Rep. Ami Wazlawik (DFL – White Bear Township), Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL – Deephaven), Rep. Todd Lippert (DFL – Northfield), Rep. Ginny Klevorn (DFL – Plymouth), Rep. Jay Xiong (DFL – Saint Paul), Rep. Heather Keeler (DFL – Moorhead), Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL – Roseville), Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL – Brooklyn Center), Rep. Fue Lee (DFL – Minneapolis), Rep. Peter Fischer (DFL – Maplewood), Rep. Steve Sandell (DFL – Woodbury), Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL – Coon Rapids), Rep. Liz Reyer (DFL – Eagan), Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL – Spring Lake Park), Rep. Jamie Long (DFL – Minneapolis), Rep. Michael Howard (DFL – Richfield), and Rep. Emma Greenman (DFL – Minneapolis) issued the following statement calling for the resignation of Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) President Dean Compart:

“Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) poses a critical threat to Minnesota’s wild white-tail deer population, and the Board of Animal Health has the responsibility to hold cervid farms in our state accountable for their role in its spread. Unfortunately, by failing to act, the BAH and its leadership have continued to let down those who enjoy deer hunting. Worse, future generations potentially won’t be able to enjoy these cherished traditions if CWD is allowed to spread, and based on the frequency at which the disease is identified in new areas of the state, unless urgent action is taken, it almost certainly will.

“All Minnesotans deserve a healthy deer herd and comprehensive solutions to protect it. If the deer farms won’t be accountable to the BAH, and the BAH won’t be accountable to Minnesotans, it’s time for BAH President Dean Compart to do the honorable thing and resign.”

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: June 22, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this email finds you well and you had a chance to enjoy the beautiful Father’s Day Weekend.

Summer is in full swing and it was a beautiful day in Excelsior on Saturday. I got to cheer on the triathletes competing in the Lake Minnetonka Triathlon and check out the Excelsior Flea Market & Outdoor Market before special session got underway for the day. The Excelsior Flea Market & Outdoor Market is open every Saturday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. in June-August, and it’s a great opportunity to enjoy seasonal produce and find special treasures.

Rep. Kelly Morrison Update: June 11, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you had a safe and reflective Memorial Day Weekend. I was so grateful for the opportunity to join the staff and board of Groveland Cemetery, Excelsior American Legion Post 259 and friends and neighbors to observe Memorial Day and Groveland’s 150th anniversary. It was a privilege to deliver remarks to such an esteemed group.

LaMettry’s Collision Donates Car To Veteran

LaMettry’s Collision, a Minnesota-based auto body business, donated a newly refurbished vehicle to a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, according to a press release.

“It is a privilege and honor to be part of a company and an industry that is willing to invest time and dollars to make this happen. It is humbling that people from various industry entities work in harmony for what is ultimately for the common good of our community,” LaMettry’s president of operations Darrell Amberson says in the release.

Teri, a Marine veteran from Minnesota, received a Honda Odyssey that was donated by American Family, and fully restored by LaMettry’s Collision and its industry partners. Continue reading.

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: May 27, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this email finds you and yours well. With vaccination rates increasing and COVID-19 cases trending downward, a return to a normal summer is looking more and more likely.

Our work continues in the state legislature. Minnesota’s portion of the federal American Rescue Plan dollars arrived in the state in early May, which allowed House and Senate Majorities, along with the governor, to reach a bipartisan agreement on budget ‘targets’, or our general framework on May 17. Although we have officially adjourned to meet our constitutional deadline, legislators haven’t stopped working to craft the finer details of the budget. Our current timeline has us working towards a special session in early or mid-June.

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: May 15, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

I hope this finds you and yours well, and with an opportunity to enjoy the budding trees and chirping birds with spring in full bloom in Minnesota.

Budget negotiations in the Legislature are ongoing. With less than three days until adjournment, we’re working hard in the House to wrap up major bills and find compromise with the Senate on various provisions in each major area of the state budget.

As you know, I’ve been focused primarily on the environment and natural resources portion of the budget, as I’m serving as a House conferee to find a deal with my Senate counterparts. You may have seen in the news recently that Senate Majority members have indicated their intent to cut funding for state parks and closing the Minnesota Zoo if any clean cars provision is a part of final negotiations, despite a recent ruling that permits the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency the authority to implement clean car planning.

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: May 7, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

It’s been a busy week in the Minnesota House. As we near the final days of session, conference committees made up of House and Senate members are in full swing. I’ve been busy participating in the Environment Conference Committee advocating for the needs of our state and 33B communities in bipartisan negotiations with my Senate colleagues. As we approach the end of the legislative session, I am advocating for a final budget that prioritizes students, families, small businesses, and communities so we can recover from the pandemic and thrive once it’s behind us.

Safely Ending COVID-19 Restrictions

Yesterday, Governor Walz announced a timeline to end most of Minnesota’s COVID-19 restrictions. The three-step plan begins today. The final step is lifting the statewide masking requirement once 70 percent of Minnesotans who are 16 or older get vaccinated or on July 1, whichever comes first.

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: April 30, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

We’re buttoning up budget bills in the House and conference committees have begun to meet. These committees are comprised of five House members and five Senate members to reconcile differences within each major area of the budget; ie. Taxes, Education, Transportation, etc. I’m pleased to share I’ve been appointed to the Environment and Natural Resources Conference Committee. I’m looking forward to this new opportunity in the House.

We have much work to do to ensure protections for our land, water and wildlife so that they will thrive for generations to come. The House omnibus includes my bill to create stable funding to research, prevent and treat aquatic invasive species in our lakes and another to continue the popular Lawns to Legumes program.

Rep. Kelly Morrison (HD33B) Update: April 26, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

This has been a challenging and emotional couple of weeks. I hope you’ve been able to set aside time for yourself and are taking a moment to check in on loved ones. In spite of – and because of – these tumultuous times, I am more committed than ever in my role as your state representative to help bridge divides and get us on a path forward together.

As you know, we’ve been working diligently on developing a balanced two-year state budget. In the House, we’re focused on pandemic recovery for our families and small businesses, and ensuring all areas of the budget deliver opportunity for every Minnesotan to thrive.

So far, we’ve passed budget bills for the following areas:

Health and Human Services Budget

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Safely Ending COVID-19 Restrictions

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