Legislative Update – April 2, 2025
Dear Neighbors,
The Minnesota House is tied 67-67 this session, with a co-governing agreement now in effect. House committees are rotating gavels, with DFL and Republican co-chairs setting their respective agendas and bill hearings.
I’m looking forward to coming together on the places we agree and finding compromises that move our state forward. I’m already working on multiple bills that have bipartisan support, and I’m dedicated to fighting for a responsible state budget that helps working families thrive. You can find a list of bills I’ve authored here.
Last week the Minnesota House honored the Minnesota Frost with a House Resolution celebrating their historic victory in the inaugural Walter Cup PWHL Championship! We were joined by ten amazing Frost players and Coach Klee.
As we close out Women's History Month, it was great to have these inspiring women here to celebrate the Minnesota Frost's achievement and recognize the history of other Minnesota women's sports teams like the Lynx and the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey team that have made our state so proud!
Highway 36 Improvements
In the House Capital Investment Committee, I presented a bipartisan bill funding preliminary design of a grade-separated interchange at the intersection of Highway 36 and Highway 120 right here in our district.
The bill has the support of DFL and Republican members from our region, as well as local leaders like Washington County Commissioner Stan Karwoski who testified about the important safety improvements we need to make for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians. You can watch my presentation here.
The bill will be eligible for consideration in this year’s Bonding Bill, which is a bipartisan effort to fund roads, bridges, and other infrastructure across the state. I look forward to continuing to advocate for this project as the legislative session continues.
Fraud Prevention Resources
Recently, I read a story in the Pioneer Press about a Maplewood woman who is raising awareness about phone scams and fraud after she experienced it herself. It was an important story, and I commend Lisa for sharing her experience in the hopes of educating and sparing others.
Text, email, and social media scams are becoming more sophisticated and more prevalent. If you’re like me, you probably have gotten some of these scam texts that say you need to pay a toll or confirm a payment--it's important to be skeptical of such texts. Those E-Z Pass texts are scams, and MnDOT has issued a fraud warning here with resources in case you accidentally click a link.
I want to share some helpful resources with you all on how to spot and avoid scams, and where you can go for help if you or someone you know falls victim to these fraudsters. Remember that it’s important to break down the stigma of embarrassment and report any cases so law enforcement can take any actions possible to try to recover funds or stop future scams.
Attorney General Keith Ellison has some resources on How to Spot a Scam with helpful examples and a list of common scams. If you have concerns about a particular offer or believe you are the victim of a scam, the Attorney General wants to hear from you. You may call at (651) 296-3353 (Twin Cities Calling Area) or (800) 657-3787 (Outside the Twin Cities), or submit a Consumer Assistance Request Form.
Meanwhile, here at the Legislature, we are working on bills to support the Attorney General’s work cracking down on fraud in the public and private sectors. Some proposals include stiffer penalties on Medicaid fraudsters, a fraud investigation unit within the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, fighting against employer misclassification fraud, and protecting veterans from claim sharks that seek to profit off the benefits they earned in service to our country.
SD44 Town Hall
Finally, I’d like to thank all the constituents who came out to the Senate District 44 Town Hall in North St. Paul on March 22 with me, Representative Peter Fischer, and Senator Tou Xiong!
It was great to see you all, share an update on the work of the legislature, and hear your perspective on the issues facing our district and our state.
Keep in Touch!
Unfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. 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