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Advocates excercise their people power at rally on Capitol steps. Credit: Climate Generation
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Minnesotans’ Steadfast Organizing and Hard Work Deliver Historic Progress

McKnight Foundation Leaders Comment on 2023 Legislative Session

(Minneapolis, MN – June 7, 2023) Minnesota’s 2023 legislative session concluded on May 22. Across the 74 bills lawmakers passed, a key throughline surfaced consistently: investments and policy solutions to make Minnesota a better place for everyone. McKnight Foundation leaders issued the following statements in response.

“Minnesota has shown the country what is possible when you invest in the hopes and aspirations of all people who call our state home… As we look ahead, we must continue to bridge divides and work together toward a future where all Minnesotans share in our state’s full abundance.”–TONYA ALLEN, PRESIDENT

Tonya Allen, McKnight Foundation president:

“Minnesota has shown the country what is possible when you invest in the hopes and aspirations of all people who call our state home. As a result of this year’s historic legislative session, Minnesota is on a path to becoming a more just, abundant, and creative place. From historic investments in affordable housing and artists and culture bearers, to efforts to allow more people to build wealth and share in our state’s prosperity, to measures that protect and strengthen our democracy, to nation-leading clean energy, transit, and environmental justice laws, Minnesota’s leaders delivered consequential policy solutions that will reap benefits for generations to come.”

“Minnesota is a better place and a leader because of people power. Minnesotans across the political spectrum came together to express their aspirations and values, securing broad support for policies that advance the people’s will. This progress would not have happened without the hard work of so many courageous individuals who lent their voices, resources, time, talent, energy, and passion to bring about transformative policy changes. We are deeply grateful to our grantee and community partners who worked tirelessly over many years to make these milestones a reality. As we look ahead, we must continue to bridge divides and work together toward a future where all Minnesotans share in our state’s full abundance.”

Minnesota becomes a national climate leader with transformative solutions for people and planet

Climate and Energy Advocates Celebrate on Capitol Steps
Climate and energy advocates celebrate on Capitol steps. Credit: Line Break Media

“We want to thank our grantee partners and advocates for their dedication to building a just and equitable climate and clean energy movement, and for bringing Minnesotans from all walks of life and all parts of the state together in support of policies advancing a future where our people and planet can thrive.”–SARAH CHRISTIANSEN, MIDWEST CLIMATE & ENERGY PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Sarah Christiansen, Midwest Climate & Energy program director:

“Minnesota has just made a transformational down payment on an equitable climate future for all Minnesotans. Governor Tim Walz signed the state’s largest-ever investments in transit, clean energy, and environmental justice into law—making our state a national climate leader. Minnesota will be a model for delivering economic mobility and community vitality in the transition to clean energy, improving lives and livelihoods. We want to thank our grantee partners and advocates for their dedication to building a just and equitable climate and clean energy movement, and for bringing Minnesotans from all walks of life and all parts of the state together in support of policies advancing a future where our people and planet can thrive. Their years of effort brought us to this moment. We look forward to continued partnership with colleagues in Minnesota and beyond for a rapid transition away from polluting fossil fuels, to protect our planet and improve people’s lives, especially those most impacted by the climate crisis.”

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • The transformative 100% carbon-free electricity bill commits Minnesota to a clean energy economy, increasing economic prosperity for communities, reducing energy costs for residents, and significantly lowering emissions.
  • The transportation bill—Minnesota’s most significant statewide investment in public transit in the last decade—is essential for curbing the state’s top source of climate pollution and improving the lives of Minnesotans with billions of dollars in sustained, dedicated funding to build a nation-leading transit system.
  • The environment, natural resources, climate and energy finance bill provides funding for soil health, city climate planning, electric vehicle incentives and infrastructure, electric school buses, stronger building energy codes, and matching funds to maximize the impact of federal resources.
  • There was also a strong focus on equity, with funding secured for sustainable home upgrades for under-resourced households, green banks to address financing gaps, and reducing pollution in highly impacted frontline communities.

State budget includes critical investment in artists & culture bearers to bolster community vitality

Walker West Music Academy in Saint Paul is among groups who received support for new building projects. Credit: Model Cities
Walker West Music Academy in Saint Paul is among groups who received support for new building projects. Credit: Model Cities

“Minnesota thrives when all its artists and culture bearers thrive. When we resource the artists and culture bearers who power Minnesota’s creative ecosystem, we are investing in community vitality.”–DEANNA CUMMINGS, ARTS & CULTURE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

DeAnna Cummings, Arts & Culture program director:

“Minnesota thrives when all its artists and culture bearers thrive. When we resource the artists and culture bearers who power Minnesota’s creative ecosystem, we are investing in community vitality. We are heartened to see many current and former McKnight grantee partners represented in the budget, including groups leveraging our early-stage investments to secure additional funding from the state. Many of our partners worked diligently to make sure the new budget included funding for arts and culture. We are grateful to them and look forward to ongoing partnership as we continue the work to catalyze the creativity, power, and leadership of Minnesota’s working artists and culture bearers.”

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Deep investments in Arts and Culture in Minnesota’s historic budget package will help support artists and advance a just, creative, and abundant Minnesota.
  • This new funding will multiply organizations’ impact so they can support more artists and culture bearers in leading movements and communities, sparking our collective imagination, and enriching all Minnesotans’ quality of life.

Historic progress on housing, democracy, and economic equity will advance a just, abundant future for all Minnesotans

Advocates gather in support of Driver's License for All bill at the Capitol. Credit: A.J. Olmscheid
Advocates gather in support of Driver's License for All bill at the Capitol. Credit: A.J. Olmscheid

“Leaders took tremendous steps toward ensuring everyone has a roof over their head, safe and supportive working conditions, and voice, choice, and power in the decisions that impact them. The people-centered policies passed this session are essential to strengthening our communities and driving statewide economic growth, benefiting all Minnesotans.”–DAVID NICHOLSON, VIBRANT & EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM DIRECTOR

David Nicholson, Vibrant & Equitable Communities program director:

“Minnesota made historic progress this session by prioritizing what matters most: caring for our people and our planet. With bipartisan support, we invested in people’s health, livelihoods, and communities, passed laws expanding democracy, protecting workers, made the largest affordable housing investment in state history—and so much more. Leaders took tremendous steps toward ensuring everyone has a roof over their head, safe and supportive working conditions, and voice, choice, and power in the decisions that impact them. The people-centered policies passed this session are essential to strengthening our communities and driving statewide economic growth, benefiting all Minnesotans. Together, and across our differences, we are building a Minnesota where everyone can thrive—no matter the color of their skin, who they love, or what zip code they live in. We are grateful for our grantee and community partners whose steadfast organizing and advocacy made this historic progress possible. We look forward to supporting them as they keep working to ensure every Minnesotan has a say in the decisions that impact them.”

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • This session delivered policies to strengthen our democracy, including restoring voting rights for formerly incarcerated people, establishing automatic voter registration, expanding access to drivers’ license eligibility—to name a few.
  • An unprecedented $1 billion investment in affordable housing will increase housing supply, provide rental assistance to low-income families and down payment assistance for historically excluded home buyers, and give a much-needed boost to homelessness prevention efforts across the state.
  • New laws to support workers and their families, like wage theft protections, stricter safety requirements, paid sick days, and expanded access to healthcare, will accelerate economic mobility for traditionally excluded workers.
  • Significant investments in small businesses and economic corridors in North Minneapolis, South Minneapolis, and Saint Paul neighborhoods, and funding to support small business loans and economic development opportunities for minority-owned businesses in the Metropolitan-area and statewide.
  • A $5 million infusion of loans for emerging developers to fund projects in disadvantaged communities that will increase the availability of affordable housing.

About the McKnight Foundation: The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Established in 1953, the McKnight Foundation is deeply committed to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest; building an equitable and inclusive Minnesota; and supporting the arts and culture in Minnesota, neuroscience, and global food systems.

June 2023

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