Legislative Session is Over, How Did We Do?

The legislature has adjourned for the 2016 session and as you likely have heard they worked right down to the deadline. The heart-health policies we have been working on celebrated some big wins and a few disappointments. Take a minute to read our recap below. Stay tuned for possible special session to address some of the issues the legislature failed to reach agreement on—transportation, bonding, and other issues.

The Wins

STEMI System of Care – We have built a system of care for the most time sensitive type of heart attack, a STEMI. The new legislation authorizes the MN Department of Health to designate STEMI Receiving Centers and requires all EMS services in the state to have current triage and transport protocols for STEMI Patients. As a result of this success the state’s 5.4+ million residents, including those 8,000+ individuals who suffer a STEMI each year, will now be more likely to receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place, regardless of where they live in the state. This legislation has been a long time in the works and is now law thanks to your support and actions!

Strengthening Physical Education – We strengthened physical education this year by requiring new/updated PE standards and grade-specific benchmarks which were adopted as part of the supplemental budget bill (HF2749). Standards and benchmarks had not been updated since 2004! Much has changed since then to focus PE on physical fitness rather than competitive sports. This is a great win for Minnesota’s kids—stronger PE=healthier, happier, academically successful kids!

Good Food Access Fund – When we launched this campaign last fall, we hoped to build awareness about healthy food access with legislators this session, but ended up striking a serious chord for policymakers and stakeholders who want to see healthy food access addressed ASAP! The Senate language establishing the program, with $250,000 in one-time funding, was included in the supplemental budget bill under the Agriculture Article (HF2749). This small infusion of funds and establishment of the program in state statute will provide significant momentum to fully fund the Good Food Access Fund in 2017 (we are seeking $10 million per year for the fund). Stay tuned for more ways you can help keep this campaign moving forward and make it top of mind for lawmakers in the coming months.

Still in the Fight

Safe Routes to School – We are seeking a $6 million investment in safe routes to infrastructure in the capital investment/bonding bill. As you may have heard, no bonding bill was passed due to a last minute breakdown in the deal. The final version of the bonding bill did include funding for SRTS—up to $6 million at the discretion of the MNDOT commissioner. Possibility of a special session to pass a bonding bill is unclear at this time, but we will keep you posted when we know more and what actions you can take on this issue.

Active Transportation – As you have heard, no transportation bill was passed this session despite very intense negotiations throughout session and strong leadership by Chairman Dibble to fight for funding dedicated to active transportation – funding for walking and biking as part of a multi-modal comprehensive transportation package. This is one of the issues that is likely to resurface if a special session is called. We will continue to work this issue and ensure that walk/bike funding is a core part of the negotiations during a potential special session and next session.

Thank you for you action this year! It is because of dedicated advocates like you that we have been so successful! Please stay tuned for ways you can continue to help during the summer and fall!