Legislative Update – May 2, 2024
Dear neighbors,
We are in the midst of long days on the House Floor, with debate stretching to just before midnight most evenings. House DFLers are passing legislation that improves the lives of working and middle class families across Minnesota. On April 24, I was glad to have Pastor David Bjorklund from Saint Mark’s Lutheran in North St. Paul visit the chamber to give the opening prayer before our House Floor session!
2024 Legacy Bill Passes the House!
This week the House passed the 2024 Legacy Budget bill with broad bipartisan support on a vote of 118-13. The bill invests nearly $240 million in Minnesota’s outdoor heritage, clean water, parks and trails, and arts and culture from the Legacy Amendment fund.
Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment provides funding for so many amazing projects throughout our state. From addressing nitrate pollution, establishing a new forest, to celebrating different cultures and history, this bill reinforces Minnesota’s strong environmental and cultural legacy.
In 2008, Minnesota voters passed the Legacy Amendment to protect and enhance our state’s outdoor heritage, clean water, parks and trails, and cultural heritage. As Chair of the Legacy Committee, I’m proud of the final bill and our strong bipartisan support on the floor this week. You can read my full press release here.
House Floor Votes
The House continues to debate and pass supplemental budget and policy bills on the floor, covering important issues such as education, labor, housing, the environment, and more. Our work this year builds on last year’s historic successes and aims to improve the lives of working and middle class Minnesotans. Recently, the House has passed:
- A K-12 Education bill that boosts resources for the READ Act to improve literacy, moves forward solutions for student wellbeing, and enhances support for teachers and student 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.
We passed 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. Also passed was a bill addressing the “kidfluencer” industry that safeguards young content creators with protections for safety, fair compensation, and future financial security.
Combatting Junk Fees
I was proud to vote for two bills that protect Minnesotan consumers from deceptive and unfair business practices by ending junk fees and requiring ticket price transparency.
When buying a ticket to a concert, sports game, or other event, Minnesotans often see extra “service” and “convenience” fees added that provide no additional value to consumers. The DFL passed legislation to require fair, transparent ticket prices and other important protections for consumers. Ending these practices is the right thing to do and will help Minnesotans plan and budget better in the future.
Keep in Touch!
If you have any questions, ideas, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to email me at rep.leon.lillie@house.mn.gov or give me a call at (651) 296-1188.
Sincerely,
Leon Lillie
State Representative