Representative Natalie Zeleznikar - District 3B

2025 Session Highlights

The 2025 legislative session was distinctive with a historic evenly divided House of Representatives. This provided an opportunity to ensure every bill passed had bipartisan support which they did. I was honored to serve on the Children and Families, Labor & Workforce, Rules, as well as the Health Committee. In addition, I was appointed to two task forces: Aging and Ambulance Services which was a fantastic opportunity to tour the state to listen, learn, and lead. I want to highlight some of the key legislation I was able to get to the finish line. My year was marked with time in our schools, touring the state correctional settings, visiting businesses, nursing homes, assisted livings, city council and township meetings and participating in as many local community events as possible. It is a honor to serve Northlanders, and get things done.

TRANSPORTATION Funding

Authored & Passed : HF 198

Duluth International Airport. Provides bonding money for the 3rd oldest airport tower in the United States to upgrade for public safety.

Authored & Passed: HF 189

Electric vehicle parity to increase annual license fee for parity with amount paid for those who pay gas tax at the pumps to ensure adequate funding source for roads and bridges.

Authored & Passed: HF 2083

Increased dollar threshold for maximum revenue in townships to alter the audit frequency saving thousands annually for townships to use for roads, brides and other necessities.

Co-Authored & Passed: HF 4

Amended and fixed the State’s ban in 2023 legislation by allowing existing vehicle keys to continue to use keys made with lead with a realistic lead standard level.

ENVIRONMENT funding

Co-Authored: HF 1120

Keep it Clean to ensure clean water with adequate local programs to prevent water pollution form garbage and human waste on lakes during winter ice times.

Co-Authored HF 1066:

Ensuring funding for local Soil & Water Districts who protect lakes and water streams from erosion and other important environmental concerns.

Co-Authored HF 2563 & Passed:

Legacy Bill funding to invest dollars in conservation, clean water, parks, arts, and cultural heritage

Co-Authored HF 1940:

Authorizing use of remediation fund to allow reimbursement for PFAS contamination for fire fighting foam needing clean up at emergency response firefighting training center.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT funding

Co-authored HF 649:

Allowing an annual open season for wolves to protect livestock and pets.

Co-Authored HF 723:

Ensuring funding for Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission.

Co-Authored HF 972:

Providing funding to update Lakewood Water Treatment plant to ensure lower usage rates for citizens in Hermantown, Proctor, Duluth and Rice Lake.

Co-authored HF 566:

Provisions to modify when to allow ATV’s on public roads.

PUBLIC SAFETY funding

Co-Authored HF 765:

Requiring aggravated sentences for violent offenders, consecutive sentences required for violent offenders, and offenders required to serve the entire announced sentence in custody.

Co-Authored HF 7:

Holding criminals accountable with minimum sex trafficking sentences, reasons for dismissing charges, increased penalties for fleeing a police officer and car jackings etc.

Co-Authored HF 13:

Eliminating a duty to retreat before using reasonable force in defense or self or others.

Co-Authored HF 1903:

Allowing Fire stations who are staffed 24 hours a day to be a Safe Place for newborn infants to be left anonymously in the safe infant device with an alarming system.

CHILDCARE funding

Co-Authored & passed: HF 1169

Providing funding for 87 counties to update an antiquated IT system called SSIS which is the software allowing county employees to assist citizens with applications, investigations and more.

Co-Authored HF 2339:

Allowing an increase income threshold to receive a child tax credit as current system requires a couple to make less than $17/hour or less than $15/hour for a single individual to receive full $1750 per child tax credit.

Co-Authored & Passed HF 1247:

Permitting aides to supervise children in childcare without a teacher present at defined start and end times of shift.

Authored & passed HF 2872:

Allowing 1 million in chidcare funding to family and center based childcare with early learning scholarships available for employees with children working in childcare to ensure financial viability with $250,000 of total allocated to oru district serving Two Harbors, Proctor, Hermantown, Rice Lake, Gary-New Duluth and 14 Townships.

EDUCATION funding

Co-Authored HF 15:

Providing funding for student and staff safety measures in each schools long term maintenance facilities plan and allowing school security system grants.

Co-Authored & Passed HF 2329:

Allowing educators to retire at age 60 instead of 62.

Co-Authored & Passed HF 2548:

Providing outdoor school learning opportunities for all students.

Co-Authored & Passed HF 1847:

Allocating funding for STEM ( Science. Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Opportuniies for K-12 in schools.

MENTAL HEALTH funding

Authored HF 2810:

Granting funding to first responders suffering from trauma and PTSD through horse therapy in our district.

Authored & passed HF2725:

Providing a healthy aging subcabinet and citizens’ engagement council and money appropriated.

Co-Authored HF 958:

Ensuring funding for medical assistance coverage of psychiatric collaborative care for mental health services.

Authored & Passed HF 2408:

Clarifying the right for all individuals to have a minimum of one support person always including during state of emergencies or pandemics in nursing homes, assisted livings, & disability group homes.

HEALTHCARE funding

Authored & Passed HF 337:

Providing funding for Greater Minnesota ambulances to ensure someone arrives timely regarding of one’s zip code.

Authored & passed HF 105:

Allowing certified nursing assistant training at Aspirus-Lakeview hospital in Two Harbors to provide training at a local level.

Authored HF 25:

Restoring a 17 year practice which ended in 2023 to fund maternity homes and pregnancy resource centers not only planned parenthood to allow three options for women and true choice. With one option, there is no choice.

Co-Authored & passed HF 2057:

Allowing funding for critical access hospitals to stabilize services in Greater Minnesota.

SENIORS & VETERANS funding

Co-Authored & passed HF 1401:

Ensuring those with dementia are added for missing person definition to allow a faster search timeline to locate the missing person.

Co-Authored HF 1472:

Eliminating the full elimination of social security state taxes for all income brackets.

Authored HF 1343:

Providing an opportunity for seniors to rent a room or two in their home for added camaraderie, and added income if desired.

Co-authored HF 194:

Allowing a higher dollar amount for property tax exemption for disabled Veterans.

BUSINESSES funding

Authored & passed HF 654:

Reversing 2023 legislation that prohibited small businesses to sell new ATV, dirt bike or snowmobile to youth under age 12.

Co-Authored HF 2113:

Protecting small employers to be required to implement new state mandates Paid Family Leave Act starting Jan 2026.

Co-Authored HF 6333:

Allowing property tax exclusion for family child care providers to increase providers with MN losing 50% of family providers.

Authored HF 2635:

Providing additional funding for the Northern Connections Center Career Technical Education vision to provide a new building for Hermantown, Proctor, an Esko for advanced trade opportunities and certifications.