Former Minnesota State Senator Jeffrey D. Hayden has joined Fredrikson & Byron’s Government Relations Group. Hayden brings the perspective of an experienced State Senator with a demonstrated history in the government administration industry to his government relations and policy work.
“We are pleased to expand our government relations practice with the addition of Jeff to our team,” said Kevin Goodno, chair of the firm’s Government Relations Group. “His background and experience are a perfect fit with our approach to providing comprehensive and high-quality state government relations services throughout the Upper Midwest.”
“Fredrikson & Byron is a government relations leader in the region, and I am excited to join the group,” said Hayden. “My depth of experience in the state’s political and policy arena will enable us as a group to continue to grow the impact our clients have at the state legislature during the upcoming session and beyond.”
Hayden’s work over twelve years as a three-term State Senator and two-term State Representative, as well as his professional background in housing policy, provide him with a deep understanding of the legislative process and relationships with key state decision makers and committees.
Hayden has been a go-to state legislator on several issues, including health and human services and equity policy and funding. As State Senator, he advocated for many policy and funding changes impacting his Senate district, issues he had been involved with long before his election to the Minnesota Senate. These issues included moving Minnesota forward in the areas of economic justice, increased access to high quality health care for all Minnesotans, addressing the educational opportunity gap and many more.
Specifically, Hayden has been at the center of important legislation throughout his time in the state legislature. He authored legislation for an increase in statewide minimum wage, continuously advocated for increased funding of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and passed a guaranteed school lunch program for all children, regardless of ability to pay. He authored the African American Family Preservation Act, which protects the best interests of African American children and promotes the stability and security of African American Families. More recently, he successfully pushed for an increase of the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), which has not been increased since 1986. In 2015, he co-chaired the Select Committee on Disparities and Opportunities to find practical solutions to Minnesota's racial disparities, which has to date appropriated well over 100 million dollars for target investments in communities of color.
While serving as a Minnesota State Senator representing District 62, he was a member of the commerce and consumer protection finance and policy, human services reform finance and policy, finance, and health and human services finance and policy committees.
He has prior career experience as a county services worker, housing advocate and nonprofit manager.
Hayden is not licensed to practice law. His practice is limited to government relations consulting, which includes state and local lobbying.
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