Spotlight: How Intergovernmental Relations advocates for Hennepin County
03-13-2025
The state capitol in Saint Paul buzzes with energy as voices from across the state gather to share their ideas at Minnesota’s seat of government. Among them are Hennepin County’s Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) team who advocate for the county at the state and federal levels.
From infrastructure improvements and affordable housing to climate, energy and public safety initiatives, IGR pursues the county’s legislative priorities to benefit all those who call Hennepin County home. These priorities are directed by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in partnership with departments.
“We’re the experts at how the legislature operates,” said Intergovernmental Relations Director Liz Young. “We work diligently to understand the needs of Hennepin County to effectively advocate for residents at the Capitol.”
Watch video here: Spotlight series- Liz Young
Promoting our core values
“The county’s core values are embedded into everything we do,” said Young. “We hear stories from county staff about the need to serve residents better than the current systems allow. We’re mindful of how our work impacts residents in an equitable way to ensure we’re removing barriers that prevent residents from accessing what they need.”
In the last two years, IGR contributed to the passage of several pieces of legislation, including:
- Pathway Home Act Extended the fiscal cliff on homelessness response and increased state funding for a variety of homeless services (2023)
- Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction ActRequires corporations and retailers to pay for the recycling or disposal of packaging (2024)
- African American Family Preservation Act and Child Welfare Disproportionality ActPromotes family stability by establishing standards to prevent arbitrary removal of children from their families and improve permanency outcomes, including family reunification (2024)
County priorities
Since 2023, IGR has helped advocate for the county’s legislative priorities in three main categories:
- Homelessness response: Supporting safe and stable housing for all individuals and families
- Healthcare access: Ensuring access to high quality and culturally responsive health care
- Solid waste management: Moving closer toward our goal of a zero-waste future
Young encourages staff to contact IGR if there’s something happening at the legislature that may impact their work. “Every line of business has an IGR contact,” she said, “so reach out because we want to be able to advocate for you and your programs.”
Read Hennepin County’s 2025 State Platform or learn more about IGR’s important work at Intergovernmental Relations – SharePoint Home. Contact IGR at IGR@hennepin.us.