Legislative Update – February 13, 2023

Legislative Update – February 13, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

The Minnesota House has a fantastic High School Page Program which helps young people get a first-hand look at how the legislative process works. Students spend a week on the House floor working with the Chief Clerk’s office, engaging with legislators, and even doing mock committee meetings where they learn how to legislate! I was glad to meet with Mynah Dhingra from Wayzata High School and learn about her experience with the page program.

Plymouth Town Hall

I am looking forward to sharing some updates from the capitol with you at our Plymouth Legislator Town Hall coming up this Saturday, February 18th at Plymouth City Hall (3400 Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth, MN 55447). I will be joined by Representative Ginny Klevorn and Senator Bonnie Westlin to answer your questions and discuss key issues facing the legislature this session! You can RSVP on Facebook and share with your friends and family here.

House Floor Votes

My colleagues and I have been working hard to pass legislation to make Minnesotans’ lives better. In the past month, we had monumental floor votes on the following legislation:

• Legislation to unlock $315.5 million in federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
• The 100% by 2040 bill, a landmark piece of legislation that will help our state address climate change head-on and prepare for a carbon-free future.
• Drivers Licenses for All legislation restores legal driving privileges to our undocumented neighbors that were suspended in 2003.
• A bill designating Juneteenth as a state holiday.
• We passed the “Restore the Vote” Act, a bill that puts Minnesota in line with 21 other states that restore the right to vote once you are released from incarceration.
• A bill to increase funding for our Attorney General’s office to help counties prosecute complicated criminal cases.
• Legislation to boost funding for the state’s public defenders—who currently suffer from understaffing and pay equity issues compared to public prosecutors.
• A bill to provide an investment of $5 million for food shelf programs in light of record numbers of visits to food shelves last year.

This is just the beginning of the work that we are doing here in Saint Paul to help people in our district and around the state! I am proud to be a “Yes” vote on these important bills.

Stay Connected!

To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.ned.carroll@house.mn.gov or 651-296-3869, and I will be happy to help!

Sincerely,

Ned Carroll
State Representative