Legislative Update January 17, 2023
Dear Neighbors,
Thank you once again for giving me the opportunity to represent you here at the State Capitol! On January 3, the Minnesota House of Representatives convened in Saint Paul for the start of our 2023 legislative session. Since then, my colleagues and I have been working hard to hold public hearings on legislation to move this state forward. I am optimistic about our future and ready to get to work!
I am proud to say the House worked quickly to pass a bill updating Minnesota’s tax code into conformity with federal law–which has already been signed by the Governor! This will result in over $100 million in tax cuts to a wide range of Minnesotans while simplifying future tax filings. This efficient and unified action is just the beginning of an effective legislative session under House DFL leadership. By passing this bill within the first two weeks of the session, the Department of Revenue will be able to incorporate these measures in time for this year’s tax filing season. I was happy to vote in support and encouraged that the legislation passed unanimously on a vote of 132-0!
Committee Assignments
I am honored to announce that I was again appointed this session to serve as chair of the Legacy Finance Committee. It has been incredibly rewarding to serve as chair and I am excited to do so again this session. As Minnesotans, we care about our great outdoors, clean water, arts, and culture and I am ready to work putting together the best possible Legacy Amendment bill in 2023!
In addition to serving as chair of the Legacy Finance Committee, I will also serve on the Capital Investment Committee, Rules and Legislative Administration Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee. This session, as always, I will focus on being our community’s voice at the Capitol. You can find the full committee rosters here and find upcoming committee hearing postings here.
Legacy Finance Committee Hearings
The Legacy Finance Committee will hold its first hearing for the 2023 session this Wednesday, January 11th at 10:30 am. At our first meeting, the committee introduced legislator members and staff and then heard presentations on the Legacy Funds' current balance as well as a presentation from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council— a council established to provide recommendations to the legislature on how to use funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund.
The Legacy Finance Committee will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 10:30 am-noon in State Office Building room 200. Additionally, hearings will be recorded and live-streamed or posted afterward on the committee webpage which you can find here.
Legislative Session Underway
Last fall, Minnesotans delivered a united state government with DFL majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate, while reelecting Governor Tim Walz. I’m incredibly proud of the bipartisan accomplishments we were able to deliver these past few years, but too often Republicans stood in the way of the meaningful changes Minnesotans deserve.
In our first week of session, our House and Senate leaders unveiled the legislative priorities to move Minnesota forward. My colleagues and I are ready to work hard, work together, and work quickly to deliver on the issues that matter most to Minnesotans.
To be clear: this isn’t an exhaustive list of everything we’re looking to accomplish, but these priorities represent our shared values as Minnesotans and ways we can make our state work better for everybody.
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