February Policy Update

The short legislative session kicked off on February 11. Staff at MICAH have been extra busy. Former Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger and Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) Executive Anne Krisnik joined Sue Watlov Phillips and Patti Whitney-Wise in a round of key meetings with legislators on the Lead Safe Homes bill (HF 1007/ SF 1798).

Since the bill passed in the House last year, we have focused our attention on the Senate. Remarkably, we were able to include Senator Hall (R-Dakota Co) as the chief author (with help from Senator Little and the South Chapter members of MICAH) and Senator Abeler (R) co-authored. All have pledged to work hard to get us that needed hearing this year. The Attorney General, Keith Ellison, also pledged his support. See the fact sheet on our Lead Safe Homes bill and call your Senator to support this important bill!

In other news for the month, H4A held their kick-off on February 18, with awards to legislators for their work in 2019 and Lt. Gov Peggy Flanigan addressed the group about pushing hard for the $500 million in bonding to create and preserve affordable housing in Minnesota. The room was packed and energized. The next morning the $500 million housing bonding bill was heard in the House Housing Finance and Policy Division Committee with another full room showing support. The bill passed without objection to the Capitol Investment Division Committee.

On February 20, JRLC held a first ever Faith Leaders Housing Summit, which MICAH helped support. Over 90 pastors and lay leaders heard from Governor Walz, housing experts and legislators about the urgent need for affordable housing

This short session is moving fast and we need your voices!
Join us on March 11 for the Homeless Day on the Hill. You can register here.