>> CATHY: THE HOUSE AND SENATE WERE AMONG THE ENTITIES THAT SHUT DOWN BEFORE THE BIG STORM HIT.

BUT LAWMAKERS WERE PLENTY BUSY BEFORE THEY HEADED HOME TO HUNKER DOWN.

MARY LAHAMMER HAS MORE ON A LEADING NEW LAWMAKER WITH A KNACK FOR STANDING OUT.

>> Mary: AT THE CENTER OF THE DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR ALL CELEBRATION IS MARIA ISA PÉREZ-VEGA.

YOU HAD A WHOLE LIFE BEFORE THIS PLACE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Mary: TELL US WHAT YOUR LIFE WAS.

>> I'M A RAP ARTIST, HIP-HOP PERFORMING ARTIST, YOUTH WORKER THAT WORKS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND ACTIVISM.

AND MY ART HAS BEEN MY ACTIVISM AND IT'S WHAT LED ME TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

>> Mary: YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT BY ALL OF HER FANS AND FOLLOWING AND LIST OF LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SHE'S ALREADY HEAD OF THE -- HAD AT THE CAPITOL BUT PÉREZ-VEGA IS NOW A LAWMAKER.

HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD YOU'RE REDEFINING WHAT A FRESHMAN LAWMAKER IS AND DOES?

>> I'VE HAD A FEW PEOPLE SINGING THAT SONG TO ME IN THE LAST MONTH.

>> Mary: FIRST SHE WAS CO-AUTHOR ON HE DRIVER'S LICENSE BILL IN THE HOUSE.

>> THE BILL IS PASSED AND ITS TITLE IS AGREED TO.

[ Cheers ] >> JUST FELT THE MOMENTUM OF TWO DECADES OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY FIGHTING FOR A HUMAN RIGHT AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY FIGHTING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ON OUR ROADS.

AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE JOY THAT CAME FROM THAT CROWD, MANY OF THEM WHO HAVE BEEN MY COMMUNITY AND MY MUSIC AND IN OUR LATINA, EAST ASIAN, AFRICAN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, THE IMPACT SHOWED WHY I'M IN THIS SEAT, IT'S LOVING AND IT'S MOVEMENT.

>> Mary: THEN THE SENATE PASSED THE LONG-AWAITED BILL, SENDING IT TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS SIGNATURE, DESPITE REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.

>> WE UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

WE UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO GET OUR WORKERS TO OUR JOBS.

WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.

WE CAN ALL GET ON BOARD WITH THAT.

WE KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE ILLEGALLY AND LEGALLY THAT DO DO A LOT OF JOBS.

BUT THIS BILL IS NOT THAT BILL.

>> 19 OF HOSE TERRORISTS THAT FLEW THOSE PLANES INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HAD 30 DIFFERENT STATE DRIVER'S LICENSES AND STATE .D.s, AND WHEN THEY CAME OUT WITH THAT REPORT, THAT'S WHY THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REACTED.

>> YOU RECOGNIZE THE CONFLICTS WHEN YOU SEE WHO'S REPRESENTING WORTHINGTON, WHEN YOU SEE WHO'S REPRESENTING WILLMAR, ALL OF THESE RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL TOWNS THAT ARE FILLED WITH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILDING THEM FOR OVER TWO DECADES, THAT THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THAT VOICE AS WELL.

>> JUST OUTSIDE THIS CHAMBER THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF IMMIGRANTS WHOSE LIVES WILL BE COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED BY THIS BILL.

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK.

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.

AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES WITH DIGNITY.

>> IT'S ANOTHER FRESHMAN IN THE SENATE WHO'S CARRYING THIS BILL.

>> RIGHT.

>> Mary: WHAT'S IN THE WATER WITH THE FRESHMEN?

>> WE LIKE TO CALL IT THE TRIFECTA CLASS.

AND IT'S TIME TO BE ABLE TO GIVE FOLKS ACCESSIBILITY TO SAY THAT WE LOVE THIS STATE, THIS STATE HAS BEEN GOOD FOR US IN MANY WAYS, AND IN CERTAIN WAYS THERE'S BEEN INJUSTICES, AND WE'RE HERE O MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE VOCALIZING AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THOSE DISPARITIES FOR ALL MINNESOTANS.

>> Mary: SO THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN ON "ALMANAC."

MARIA ISA, THE RAPPER, PERFORMED ON THE SHOW YEARS AGO.

OUR NEXT GUEST AS BRAINS, BEAUTY AND THE GUTH TO SING AND RAP -- GUTS TO SING AND RAP ABOUT POLITICS.

♪ THEY TRYIN' TO STOP ME MARCHIN' ♪ >> Mary: SHE DROPPED A NEW RAP ALBUM THE DAY SHE WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE.

♪ PUERTO RICO ♪ >> I WAS IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB WHEN SHE WAS THE FIRST LATINA APPOINTED AS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY WITH RUDY PERPICH.

>> Mary: PÉREZ-VEGA, WHO'S COUNTED IN THE HISTORIC NEW GLASS OF LGBTQ LAWMAKERS, ALSO SUPPORTED A BIPARTISAN BILL BANNING CONVERSION THERAPY.

>> ESPECIALLY FOR US WHO ARE A PART OF THIS QUEER CAUCUS MAKING HISTORY FROM THE HOUSE TO THE SENATE.

>> Mary: ISA IS PART OF A RECORD AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY AT THE CAPITOL.

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF CARING ABOUT OUR CHILDREN IS WHAT WE'RE CARRYING ON OUR BACKS AND SPEAKING IT HROUGH.

>> ary: AS A TOP-SCORING POINT GUARD ON THE COURT, SHE'S NOT AFRAID TO LEAD IN OFFENSE.

>> GO BIG OR GO HOME, YOU KNOW.

SO WE WANT THE GOLD.

WE WANT THE GOLD.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO PUSH AS