Dear Neighbors,
We’re back in the swing of things at the State Capitol! Right now, Republicans control committees, but even with their 1-member advantage, they still require DFL support to pass anything. If we return to a tie, committees would have balanced membership and DFL and GOP co-chairs.
Regardless of where this session goes, I know there are a lot of common-ground issues for us to work on together, and I’m approaching proposals from my Republican colleagues with an open mind. That said, in the short time Republicans have controlled committees, they’ve brought forward bills that try to stop paid family and medical leave, funnel your tax dollars to the wealthy, attack trans student athletes, and much more. We can work together, but I’ll never sacrifice our community’s shared values and principles.
School Bus Funding - Getting our Kids to School
Minnesota’s large geographical school districts (including Forest Lake and Stillwater) have continued to foot the bill for transportation of our kids to school due to too little state funding. This means our schools are needing to cut back on important programs and staff. I was happy that the Education Finance Committee heard my bill to fix this situation! You can read about this top priority of mine, here.
Supporting First Responders
This week the Minnesota House Public Safety Committee passed my bill that will help first responders across the state partner with a nonprofit organization that aids first responders with mental health struggles through outdoor activities. It’s my honor to carry this bill and I look forward to seeing it through the process. You can watch my presentation on this bill here.
Cold Weather Protection and Weatherization
With our sustained cold weather, I want to share a quick reminder that Minnesota’s “cold weather rule” is now in effect, which protects residents from having their electric or natural gas service shut off until April 30.
To ensure your service is safe from disconnection, you must make and keep a payment plan that you and your utility provider agree on. More information is available on the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s website.
Also, an initiative the state legislature strengthened in 2021 may help lower costs. While older homes have their charm, many homeowners needing basic home improvements like repairing windows, removing asbestos, repairing cracked foundations or siding often face challenges paying upfront for these pre-weatherization measures. Minnesotans using CenterPoint or Xcel Energy can schedule an appointment with the Home Energy Squad to visit their homes to identify low cost energy-saving solutions. Each visit is approximately two hours, and during that time, the Home Energy Squad will perform various energy-saving tests, inspect your insulation, heating and cooling systems, and water heater. Learn more here.
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
5th Floor, Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar St. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155