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Spring is the season of renewal, and we?re building on the good work of last year, delivering on our shared values; improving access to affordable health care, drinking water, good paying jobs, and public services for our residents, and more. We?re nearing the end of the legislative session and continue to pass strong policy solutions and investments to keep our Plymouth and Medicine Lake communities moving forward.??
While lawmakers set a full two-year state budget in 2023, we have the capacity now to invest some of our budget surplus to address pressing challenges facing our state. Here are some nonpartisan recaps of the supplemental budget bills we?ve passed off the House floor:
- A broadly bipartisan bill investing $240 million in our outdoors, clean water, parks and trails, and cultural heritage from Legacy Amendment funding.
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- A K-12 Education bill that boosts resources for the READ Act to improve literacy, deliver new mental health resources for students, and enhance support for teachers.?
- An Environment and Natural Resources bill with new investments in tree planting, improving air quality, holding repeat polluters accountable, and tackling solid waste and recycling.
- A Children and Families bill that reforms our child protection system and builds on historic investments in economic support for families, food security, and emergency shelter.?
- A Transportation, Labor, and Housing bill that invests in railroad safety and public transit, enhances worker rights and safety, improves housing stability for renters and seniors, and funds homelessness prevention.
- A Pensions and Retirement bill with bipartisan support, which prioritizes educators? retirement security, improves our pension systems? health, and strengthens the benefits retirees can expect.
- A State and Local Government bill I had the honor of assembling with colleagues as the committee chair, which will continue to modernize our IT systems in state government.
- A bipartisan Elections bill that includes provisions to increase local government funding to support election administration and infrastructure and improve clarity on local election investments.?
- A bipartisan Jobs budget bill that invests in all corners of Minnesota through employment and training programs to help workers succeed in today?s economy.?
Gun Violence Prevention
We?ve also passed a slate of public safety bills that will reduce gun violence in Minnesota and save lives. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the United States, per the CDC, and it's time that we take action to make our state and communities a safer place to live. The successful measures we passed in the House require the safe storage of firearms, require the report of missing firearms, crack down on straw purchasing, and ban binary triggers. Everyone deserves the freedom to be safe at school, work, the grocery store, place of worship and I?m proud to have voted for each one of these critical measures.
 I always appreciate meeting with members of Moms Demand Action on Gun Violence from our community.
Statehood Day
This Saturday, May 11, 2024, Minnesota celebrates 166 years of statehood. The Minnesota State Flag and Seal approved by the State Emblems Redesign Commission early this year will become the official state emblems. This is a culmination of months gathering input from and engaging with Minnesotans to find consensus on a flag and seal that represents the best of all of us.?
 My colleauges and I are excited to have our new legislator lapels with the updated state seal!
Upcoming Community Events
Plymouth?s Summer Beaches and Bonfires
Summer will be here before we know it! The City of Plymouth is kicking off the free Summer Beach Series with the Beaches and Bonfires event, set for 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 23 at East Medicine Lake Park, (1740 East Medicine Lake Blvd.).?
Bark in the Park
One of my favorite family-friendly events in Plymouth, Bark in the Park is back this year on May 18 at 9 a.m.-noon at the Hilde Performance Center, (3500 Plymouth Blvd.).?
 Throw Back Thursday: Bark in the Park, 2021.
The free Bark in the Park event features dog products and pet supply vendors, dog rescue organizations, photo opportunities, balloon artist, face painter, caricatures, pup pools for four-legged friends to cool off and other activities.?
More information on both events, and more, can be found on the City?s website.?
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime at [email protected] or 651-296-5511 with questions, input, or ideas. I appreciate hearing from you!?
Take care and have an excellent Mother?s Day weekend.
Ginny Klevorn
State Representative?
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