Friends and neighbors,
Despite disruptions brought on by last week’s snowstorm, things are back up and running and moving quickly at the Capitol. Here’s an update on what we’ve been up to.
Funding Computer Science Courses in Minnesota Schools
This week, my bill to streamline computer science courses in Minnesota schools, HF 759, had its first hearing in Education Policy! From here, it will move onto the Education Finance Committee next. This bill will allow us to invest in CS programs across Minnesota by funding 3 things: a working group to streamline CS courses; teacher training, and expansion of more CS courses. I’m proud to be chief authoring HF 759 with colleagues who want to ensure that all of Minnesota’s students have a fair shake at jobs of the future.
Stabilizing Child Care and Early Learning
The House recently passed a pair of bills to support Minnesota families that provides robust investments to stabilize our childcare system and support early learning for our youngest community members. I was proud to make my first floor speech in favor of HF 150, which continues a funding stream to childcare providers so that they can stay open. The bill also expands eligibility for early learning scholarships to children under five years old.
Childcare and early learning opportunities are crucial for kids to develop, and grow, while also helping families’ secure economic stability. If a parent can’t afford daycare (if they can even find a daycare spot), they can’t join the workforce. If businesses can’t hire workers, then our economy can’t grow. This desperately needed investment in childcare and early learning will help to make sure our youngest Minnesotans get a Great Start and pay back significant dividends.
You can watch my remarks on the house floor here.
Cracking down on catalytic converter thefts
As many of you know, Minnesota has one of the five highest rates of catalytic converter thefts nationwide. We recently passed legislation to crack down on theft by prohibiting anyone from possessing a used, unattached catalytic converter unless the owner has the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the date the converter was removed from the vehicle.
Conversion Therapy
We also passed HF 16, which would ban conversion ‘therapy’ for minors and vulnerable adults. Conversion therapy is a dangerous, harmful practice that has been discredited numerous times because it has no basis in medical science. The irreparable harm from this practice can never be undone, this is why it was so important for me and my colleagues to use our authority to protect Minnesota’s children.
Expanding Tax Credits to ITIN Holders
I recently introduced legislation to expand the Working Family Tax Credit to tax-paying residents who would otherwise qualify, but do not have a Social Security number. This would allow mixed status families with children or adults who hold Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) holders to claim the credit. It was important to me to advance this policy change because the Working Family Tax Credit, as well as the Child Tax Credit are proven tools that lift children and families out of poverty.
As a friendly reminder, the tax filing deadline this year is April 18th!
Stay Connected
To stay up to date with our important work at the State Capitol, you can see the Minnesota House of Public Information Services’ nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions in the Session Daily .
You can also stay up-to-date with the latest by following my Facebook page and Twitter.
To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.liz.lee@house.mn.gov or 651-296-4277, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe.
It is an honor to serve you.
Zoo siab,
Rep. Liz Lee