Tim Walz in MN legislative records

On Drugs: Treatment options for fentanyl addiction & opioid crisis

Opioid overdose deaths, along other substance-related deaths, have increased significantly over the past two decades. The Minnesota Department of Health reported 54 overdose deaths in 2000, and 678 in 2020. In Minnesota, Native Americans and African Americans are twice as likely to die from opioid-related overdoses than white people.

Despite the deadly consequences of substance use, only one in ten people with a substance use disorder receives treatment. To prevent more tragic deaths, we must do more to combat substance use and educate and provide treatment to all those who need it.

In 2019, I signed the Opiate Epidemic Response bill: Minnesota now raises funds from prescribers, drug manufacturers, and distributors to fight the opioid crisis.

The Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction Subcabinet is established.
The purpose of the Subcabinet is to identify opportunities that support access to treatment options or addiction-related services.

Source: Minnesota voting records: Executive Order 22-07 Apr 7, 2022

On Energy & Oil: Climate change is complex problem & existential threat

Climate change is an existential threat that impacts all Minnesotans and our ability to thrive. Communities, farms, and industry face more frequent extreme weather events that threaten the infrastructure that we rely on to connect all parts of our state, cause undue economic stress, and place our communities and environment at risk.

The duties of the Governor's Advisory Council on Climate Change and Subcabinet are as follows:

Climate Mitigation and Resilience Policy and Strategy Development.

Identify policies and strategies that the State may adopt to meet the economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions goals of the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act and achieve 100% clean energy by 2050.

Identify policies and strategies that will enhance the climate resiliency of Minnesota's natural resources, working lands, and communities.

Consider how climate change mitigation and resilience policies and strategies can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy waste. Source: Minnesota voting records: Executive Order 19-37 Dec 2, 2019

On Environment: No net loss of prairie pothole wetlands & all wetlands

Wetlands provide important benefits to Minnesota by protecting and preserving surface water and groundwater, providing for natural storage and retention of flood waters, adding to Minnesota's ecological diversity [and more].

Over 80% of the State's original prairie pothole wetlands have been drained and over 60% of the State's total original wetland base has been drained, filled, or otherwise diminished. It is in the public interest to protect the functions & values of wetlands and to restore lost wetland functions.

Protect, enhance, and restore the quality and extent of Minnesota's wetlands to the fullest extent of their authority in accordance with the goal of "no-net loss" of wetlands in the State.
Improve the effectiveness of the State's wetland and related water resource protections.
Coordinate implementation of wetland and related water resource regulatory and restoration programs with federal and local agencies.

Source: Minnesota voting records: Executive Order 19-17 Apr 1, 2019

On Jobs: Vetoed minimum wage for rideshare drivers

Gov. Walz today issued Executive Order 23-07, commissioning a study and convening a working group of drivers, riders, rideshare companies, members of the disability community, and labor to issue recommendations for rideshare legislation next year. The Governor also issued a veto of the rideshare legislation in its current form.

"Rideshare drivers deserve fair wages and safe working conditions. I am committed to finding solutions that balance the interests of all parties, including drivers and riders," said Governor Walz. "This is not the right bill to achieve these goals. I have spent my career fighting for workers, and I will continue to work with drivers, riders, and rideshare companies to address the concerns that this bill sought to address."

To allow time to find solutions that balance the interests of all Minnesotans, Governor Walz vetoed Chapter 65, House File 2369 as passed by the Minnesota legislature.

Source: Minnesota State voting records Chapter 65, House File 2369 May 25, 2023

On Social Security: Establish Council on Age-Friendly Minnesota

There are one million older adults in Minnesota and that figure is growing rapidly. In 2020, the number of older adults in Minnesota over age 65 will exceed the number of children under age 18. Older adults may face challenges related to financial security, housing, transportation, health care, employment, and social service needs. In addition, thousands of direct support workers and the estimated 650,000 family and friends who provide unpaid caregiving are struggling to meet the ever-increasing demand for care.

Elevate the voice of older adults in developing the vision and action plan for an age-friendly state.
Identify opportunities for, and barriers to, collaboration among state agencies responsible for public-private partnerships.
Catalyze age-friendly work at the local level
Establish a statewide framework to tap into the potential presented by our aging communities and elevates aging across all of Minnesota.

Source: Minnesota voting records: Executive Order 19-38 Dec 11, 2019

On War & Peace: Support Ukraine; withdraw investments from Russia & Belarus

On March 4, 2022, I signed Executive Order 22-03, condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine and supporting the people of Ukraine by requiring that state agencies terminate existing contracts with Russian entities and refrain from entering into future contracts with Russian entities.

On March 7, 2022, I called on the Minnesota Legislature to act to withdraw state investments in Russian businesses and institutions. This week, the Legislature passed a bill to withdraw state investments from Russian & Belarusian entities. MN Laws 2022, Chapter 43, codifies the directives in Executive Order 22-03. As a result of this codification into Minnesota law, Executive Order 22-03 is no longer necessary.

I urge all people in Minnesota to support their Ukrainian neighbors and donate to organizations supporting Ukrainian humanitarian efforts. I also urge Minnesotans to support our fellow Russian Minnesotans, many of whom are horrified and alarmed by the Russian government's aggression toward Ukraine.

Source: Minnesota voting records: Executive Order 22-06 Apr 1, 2022

On Families & Children: Place children at the center of government

Children unite us. They are our future, and the overall wellbeing of our state depends on the success of our youngest Minnesotans. To ensure Minnesota is a top place to live, our state needs to focus on preparing the next generation of Minnesotans to work and lead in a rapidly changing world.

Today race, zip code, and income are too often determinants of opportunity. Our systems have not led to equitable outcomes for our children--especially our children of color. For these reasons, I order that:

The Children's Cabinet is charged with ensuring that every Minnesota child, no matter their race or zip code, are prepared to participate in the state's future workforce.
The Children's Cabinet will utilize a results-based accountability lens in four priority areas:

Healthy beginnings (beginning with the prenatal period)
Child care and education (beginning with early childhood)
Mental health and well-being
Housing stability for children, youth, and families

Source: Minnesota voting records: Executive Order 19-34 Aug 7, 2019

The above quotations are from Legislative voting records for Minnesota House and Senate. Click here for other excerpts from Legislative voting records for Minnesota House and Senate. Click here for other excerpts by Tim Walz. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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Page last updated: Aug 18, 2024