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Dear neighbors,
Earlier this month, I was sworn in to serve the people of Oakdale, North St. Paul, and Maplewood in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Representing you is an honor, and I’m grateful that our community has trusted me with this humbling responsibility. I am ready to work with you and for you to make our community, state, and world a better place.
Most of my colleagues and I took the oath of office via Zoom this year. We’re working remotely to keep legislators, staff, and Minnesotans safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I’m excited to continue serving as Chair of the Legacy Finance Committee this session. I’m also serving on the Capital Investment Committee, the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee.
District 43 Town Hall
Sen. Chuck Wiger, Rep. Peter Fischer, and I are holding our first town hall of the year next week! We hope you can join us to share your thoughts and discuss the 2021 legislative session. To participate, please visit my Facebook page on Saturday, January 30 at 9 a.m.
Vaccine Distribution Update
214,050 Minnesotans have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including more than 9,400 Washington County residents and 19,400 Ramsey County residents. As you may have heard or seen in the news, the vaccine is being administered in phases. Health care workers and long-term care residents will be the first to receive it, followed by essential workers, those 65 or older, and those with underlying health conditions. If you’d like to stay updated throughout the vaccine distribution process, Minnesota’s new Vaccine Data Dashboard is a great resource.
COVID-19 Business Assistance
The Minnesota Department of Revenue recently issued $67.3 million in COVID-19 Business Relief Payments to nearly 4,000 restaurants, bars, gyms, and similar businesses. These payments were part of the bipartisan assistance package that the Minnesota House and Senate passed in December.
Businesses that didn’t receive a payment but think they meet the program criteria can contact the Department of Revenue through an online inquiry process. The inquiry process will be open until Friday, February 5. An additional round of payments will be made after that date for businesses that qualify.
The legislation we approved last month also delivered funding for Minnesota’s counties to set up local grant relief programs. Washington County, which received $5,058,997 for this purpose, has begun accepting applications from local businesses and non-profit organizations. You can find more information and apply here.
How to Follow and Participate in the Legislative Process
There are plenty of opportunities for Minnesotans to follow and participate in the legislative process. All public hearings and floor sessions are broadcast on the House live stream channels, and House Public Information Services will continue providing nonpartisan news. You can follow their page on Facebook or subscribe to Session Daily to receive updates from the Capitol. I’ll continue to send these emails, and you can follow my official Facebook page for more frequent updates.
Please help and look after each other as best you can in these difficult times. Feel free to share any questions, ideas, and feedback you may have and let me know if I can be of assistance. You can reach me at rep.leon.lillie@house.mn or 651-296-1188.
Sincerely,
Leon Lillie
State Representative
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