Passage of the PRO Act

Dear Neighbors,

Week three of session has been incredibly productive as the House DFL continues to fulfill our promises to Minnesotans. Our state is facing several critical issues and we are taking action on all of them to meet the needs of our residents. We are united in purpose and action and will continue to act quickly to improve our state.

To stay informed with my day-to-day activity be sure to follow my newly created official Facebook page here. Also, be sure to invite your friends and neighbors to subscribe to my updates here.

It is a great honor to serve as your State Representative. I will work hard to represent you and our community to the best of my abilities!

Passage of PRO Act

As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision, the House passed the PRO Act which protects Minnesotans’ right to contraception, the right to carry a pregnancy to term, the right to abortion, and guarantees the right to privacy for personal reproductive health decisions. It also prevents interference by anti-choice politicians who seek to enact or defend medically unnecessary barriers to comprehensive reproductive health care. We heard loud and clear that Minnesotans want their reproductive decisions to be between them and their doctor. I’m proud we were able to enshrine this undeniable right into state law.

The companion to the PRO Act, which repeals unconstitutional, outdated, and burdensome laws that deny reproductive freedom and autonomy, passed its first committee and will continue to work through the process.

Tax Conformity was Signed into Law

Last week, Governor Walz signed the federal tax conformity bill into law. This bill will make several changes to bring Minnesota into conformity with federal tax law resulting in over $100 million in tax cuts for families and businesses while simplifying future tax filings. The fact we were able to get this critical bill out the door in the second week of session is a testament to our commitment to efficient and smart governance. I look forward to continuing this momentum for the remainder of the year as we look to make this a historically productive session.

Other Critical Bills

There are many important bills moving through the House right now, here are a few especially critical ones you should be aware of:

• 100% Renewable Energy: We must take climate action now to guarantee the future of our next generations. This bill passed its first hurdle on Wednesday.
• Conversion Therapy Ban: No one should be forced into ‘therapy’ which calls into question their very identity and existence. Read about this bill here.
• Earned sick and safe time: every worker deserves the right to take the time they need to rest and recover when they are sick, or to spend time with loved ones after a major life event. This much needed bill passed out of its first committee this week.

Other bills making their way through the process include legalization of adult-use cannabis,

allocation of over $300 million in federal funds for state infrastructure projects, equal rights amendment, driver’s licenses for all, voter protection and restoration of the vote. We are hard at work showing that the government can work well, and it can work quickly.

Stay in Touch

Please feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.josiah.hill@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-4124. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here, and follow my Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent our community. Please stay in touch!

Sincerely,

Josiah Hill, District 33B
415 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155