Having trouble viewing this email??View it as a Web page [ [link removed] ].






Lillie Email Banner 2023




Legislative Update February 9, 2023

Dear neighbors,

It is hard to believe we are already a month into this year?s legislative session! As your representative, it is my job is to be your voice at the Capitol. That is why I am looking forward to our *Maplewood Legislator Town Hall coming up this Saturday, February 11**th** at 11:00 am* at the YMCA Community Center (2100 White Bear Ave, Maplewood, MN 55109). I will be joined by Representatives Peter Fischer and Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger as well as Senators Tou Xiong and Nicole Mitchell to answer your questions and discuss key issues facing the legislature this session! You can RSVP on Facebook and share with your friends and family here [ [link removed] ].

townhall________________________________________________________________________

Metro Parks and Trails Delegation Meeting

On Monday, I was proud to host the Metro Parks and Trails Delegation Meeting alongside Representative Jon Koznick. It was a great opportunity for suburban members to meet and discuss funding for metro parks and trails. As Legacy Finance Committee Chair, I am dedicated to making sure that we are advocating metro-wide for these investments that are important to Minnesotans in the surrounding area!

metroparks
________________________________________________________________________

House Floor Votes

Last week, the House passed the Drivers Licenses for All [ [link removed] ] bill, which restores legal driving privileges to our undocumented neighbors. This years-long effort is led by a broad statewide coalition of immigrant-led organizations, unions, immigrants? rights advocates, and community-based groups. I was proud to vote in support of the bill!

The House passed a bill designating Juneteenth as a state holiday [ [link removed] ] last week. Juneteenth is observed on June 19th and marks the date in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to ensure the last enslaved people in the United States be set free, more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. We also passed the ?Restore the Vote? [ [link removed] ] Act, a bill that puts Minnesota in line with 21 other states that restore the right to vote to individuals convicted of a felony once they are released from incarceration, rather than their completion of a sentence, including probation. This bill helps correct racial disparities and reduces recidivism by helping Minnesotans reconnect to their communities after they have paid their debt to society.

Finally, this Monday we passed a bill to increase funding for our Attorney General?s office [ [link removed] ] to help counties prosecute complicated criminal cases. I was proud to vote for this bill, which was supported by our Attorney General, county attorneys, and the communities and victims looking for justice. We also passed legislation to boost funding for the state?s public defenders [ [link removed] ]?who currently are suffering from understaffing and pay equity issues when compared to public prosecutors. Minnesota is constitutionally obligated to provide legal representation to those who cannot afford it, and this bill makes good on that promise.

________________________________________________________________________

Legacy Committee Update

One-third of proceeds from the Legacy Amendment go to protecting enhancing and restoring our clean water?including drinking water sources. Last Wednesday, the Legacy Finance Committee, which I chair, heard a presentation from the Clean Water Council on all the great work that they do to protect our natural resources. We were joined by former legislator and current administrator of the council Paul Gardner who walked us through how those funds are used throughout the state.

This week, the Legacy Committee heard a presentation by the Parks and Trails fund, which receives about 14 percent of Legacy funds to enhance our wonderful parks and trails across the state, including in our district!

legacy
________________________________________________________________________

Keep in Touch!

If you have any questions, ideas, or feedback, please don?t hesitate to email me [email protected] or give me a call at (651) 296-1188.?

Sincerely,?

Leon Lillie
State Representative






Representative Leon Lillie

365 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

Phone: 651-296-1188
Email:[email protected]
Website:?[link removed]
Legislative Assistant: Madisyn Priestley 651-296-5486







To unsubscribe, visit the?Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. If you have questions or experience technical difficulties with this subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota House DFL ? 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. ? Saint Paul, MN 55155 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]