It’s finally beginning to feel like spring! I hope this email finds you well and enjoying the sunshine. Yesterday evening, we passed the House tax bill which contains historic tax cuts and slashes child poverty and income disparities. I'm pleased to share I was able to secure funding to provide a building materials sales tax exemption for the future enhancement of the Chanhassen Civics Campus. Kudos to Chanhassen Mayor Elise Ryan and Laurie Hokkanen for their hard work and advocacy at the Capitol.  Lawns to Legumes Applications are OpenApplications are now open and being accepted through June 30 of this year for Lawns to Legumes grants, which reimburses Minnesota residents up to $350 for establishing new pollinator habitat in their yards. The aim is to increase habitat for at-risk pollinators in residential settings. You can find more information, including how to apply, here.  Since we’ve returned from the Spring Recess, committees have wrapped up and our work has shifted to long days and nights on the House Floor, discussing, amending and passing legislation. So far, we’ve completed approved our Higher Education, Legacy, Environment and Clean Energy, Housing, Veterans, Elections, State and Local Government, K-12 Education, Agriculture, Transportation, Early Childhood, Labor and Jobs, Human Services, Health Finance, and Public Safety budget bills. Here are a few highlights I’m excited about: TransportationI’m grateful our budget makes significant strides toward a safer and healthier Minnesota; specifically with our transportation investments in roads, bridges, and pedestrian infrastructure. The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently released its 2023 roadway construction projects; these are not happening because of the extra beating our roads took due to our harsh winter this year, but have been in the queue for 6-10 years. We all deserve to be safe when we travel; if that’s driving, walking or cycling, or taking public transit. I’m glad we’re taking measures to improve Highway 7’s safety as well. Our current maintenance structure is not keeping up with the ongoing need, and I’m glad our bill aims to reverse the underinvestment Minnesota’s seen since the I-35 bridge collapse in 2008.  Public SafetyJust yesterday the House passed its Public Safety bill containing two critical gun violence prevention measures. The first bill would require criminal background checks on all firearm purchases and transfers, and the second would establish extreme-risk protection (or "red flag") orders from people who have proven to be a danger to themselves or others. All Minnesotans-civilians and law enforcement- deserve more than thoughts and prayers; they deserve to know they’ll be safe when they come home at the end of the day. Support for law enforcement and victims are central to the bill, carrying significant investments for both. Our public safety budget includes law enforcement priorities with a transformative investment for recruitment, retention, police education and training. It also makes significant investments to address and improve first responder mental health. Victims and survivors deserve access to services to that bring them justice, and our bill assists in those efforts by funding advocacy programs, housing supports, and state-paid sexual assault exams.  Honoring PrinceOn the seven-year anniversary of our beloved Prince’s death, we passed my bill to name a seven-mile stretch of Highway 5 in Chanhassen and Eden Prairie after Prince Rogers Nelson. Thank you to everyone who helped us get to this decidedly purple moment! ?????? Kudos to the tenacity of the Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway Committee and the hard work of Jennifer Witt and Minnesota Department of Transportation. I can’t wait to see those purple signs!  Keep in TouchPlease continue to reach out anytime at rep.lucy.rehm@house.mn.gov with questions or input. I appreciate hearing from you. Thank you for the honor of serving our Chanhassen and Chaska residents at the State Capitol. In community, Lucy |