HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE.

>> MARY: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

I'M MARY LAHAMMER.

COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY.

THERE'S DIVISION IN D.C. AND HERE IN MINNESOTA SO TONIGHT ON THE SHOW, WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE HAT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND MOMENTUM AND THAT IS HOUSING.

WE HAVE THE HOUSING COMMISSIONER AND BIPARTISAN LAWMAKERS, BOTH CHAMBERS, BOTH PARTIES HERE A LITTLE BIT LATER.

BUT FIRST STRIFE OVER SOCIAL ISSUES STARTED AM WEEK OFF AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

A BILL TO BAN TRANSGENDER KIDS FROM SCHOOL SPORTS BROUGHT NATIONAL ATHLETES TO THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> HOW CRAZY IS IT THAT YOU HAVE TO WALK DOWN THE STEPS WITH AN ENTOURAGE OF SECURITY FOR SAYING SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS MEN AND WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT.

UTTERLY INSANE.

>> I WAS ATTACKTH RATHER VICIOUSLY, TOLD THAT I AM FILLED WITH HATE AND AM A HATEFUL PERSON.

BIOLOGICAL MALES HAVE NO PLACE COMPETING AGAINST OUR GIRLS.

>> TODAY'S YOUNG ATHLETES ARE TOMORROW'S LEADERS.

[ Cheers and applause ] WHEN WE PROTECT FAIRNESS AND SAFETIED IN OUR GIRLS SPORTS, WE ARE PROTECTING THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: REPUBLICANS STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS A BILL WITHOUT DEMOCRATS, SO IT TOO FAILED WHILE THE HOUSE AWAITS A PECIAL ELECTION.

>> THE BILL DOES NOT PASS.

>> HISTORY HAS NEVER LOOKED FAVORABLE UPON ANY MOVEMENT THAT TRIES TO CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE BASED SOLELY ON THE FACT OF WHO THEY ARE.

I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT AS LONG AS I NEED TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE AS YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF AND PLAY THE SPORTS THAT YOU LOVE, JUST LIKE I DID.

>> I EALLY FOUND MY OUTLET AND MY SAFE SPACE THROUGH SPORT, THROUGH BELONGING, AND CONFUSION OF HO I M, AND WHERE I FIT IN THE WORLD.

>> Mary: MORE CONCERNS ABOUT BILLS MOVING INCLUDE A DELAY OF PAID FAMILY LOVE.

>> PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE JOINED US IN OUR BATTLE AGAINST BRAIN CANCER TWO YEARS AGO, AND WE STILL HAVE TO WAIT TEN MORE MONTHS FOR IT TO BE STARTED.

AND NOW THEY WANT US TO HAVE US START A YEAR LONGER.

WE CAN'T WAIT.

>> PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, WHICH ALLOWS FAMILIES TO CARE FOR THEIR OWN MEMBERS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND KEEP THEIR JOBS.

>> THERE IS A BODY OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THAT BAKST THIS UP.

AND I KNOW BECAUSE I CARRIED A VERY LARGE BOX FILLED WITH THESE STUDIES TO NINE COMMITTEES IN 2023.

>> ALL OF US ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CHAOS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND THE IMPACT THAT THE FEDERAL CUTS COULD HAVE.

>> MAKING SURE WE HAVE TIME TO GET THIS BILL BETTER.

AGAIN, I'M ANOTHER GOING TO TALK ABOUT REPEALING THIS IDEA.

I THINK IT IS AT THE DOOR NOW.

WE HAVE TO REALLY GET IT RIGHT.

>> Mary: AND HOUSING LEADERS ANNOUNCED A BIG BIPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.

>> TODAY WE AS A GROUP OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS STAND TOGETHER IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE THAT IS CORE OF EVERY MINNESOTA OMMUNITY, HOUSING.

>> WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS.

MINNESOTA IS A 114,000 HOUSING UNITS BELOW WHAT WE NEED.

>> WE REPRESENT URBAN, SUBURBAN, GREATER MINNESOTA, CORNER TO CORNER, AND YET WE RECOGNIZE THAT ADDRESSING OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE IS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.

>> THE CITIES ARE NOW FINALLY REALIZING, THEY'VE GOT A HOUSING PROBLEM ON THEIR HANDS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN REMEMBER, THEY'RE COMING TO US AND SAYING, YEAH, YOU'RE