Dear Neighbors, Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and 2024 is off to a great start for you and your family. A new year brings new laws, and on January 1st, 2024, several new laws took effect. A few highlights include the 10% boost in funding we approved for Eastern Carver County and Minnetonka school districts, expanded coverage for breast cancer diagnostic testing, criminal background checks on all firearm purchases, and extreme risk protection orders, or “red flag” laws, and more. A comprehensive list of all summaries of the new laws have been provided by the nonpartisan office of House Public Information and can be accessed here.  It's been a rewarding year serving Chanhassen and Chaska since I was sworn in at the State Capitol. I’m particularly grateful we passed meaningful legislation to help not only curb gun violence, but also suicides. As I speak to veterans in Carver County, many have expressed concerns around mental health challenges related to their service, especially with PTSD. While we’re making steady progress in improving health care access for the brave women and men who have served, extreme risk protection orders can also be a useful tool to help prevent suicide and more tragedy. I’m looking forward to continuing to enact new strategies that help improve mental health outcomes and save more lives.  You’re Invited: Pre-Session Town Hall MeetingOn Wednesday, January 24 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. I'm hosting a town hall meeting ahead of the legislative session, which is slated to begin on February 12th. I’m pleased to share that we'll have House Speaker Melissa Hortman joining us! Registration is required and more details will be shared ahead of the 24th with constituents who sign up. You can RSVP here. I’m looking forward to seeing our neighbors, meeting new residents, and hearing directly from our Chanhassen and Chaska community members.  Carver County News It was great to be with our Carver County Commissioners today at the 2024 legislative breakfast to listen to priorities, input, and questions. I appreciate these opportunities to partner with the county in a constructive dialogue so we can deliver the best results for residents and families. There’s plenty of work to do to address our mental health crisis, labor shortages, and climate crisis, which have a tremendous impact on our communities in Carver County. Last week, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced $3.7 million in funding to improve safety and mobility at the Highway 5/County Road 11 intersection in Victoria by building a roundabout. The state funding comes from two transportation-related economic development and infrastructure grant programs, one of which we funded in our bonding bill. You can read more in my press release here. Keep in TouchPlease continue to contact me anytime at rep.lucy.rehm@house.mn.gov or 651-296-5066. Due to technological constraints, replies to this email won’t reach me. Email and phone are the best way to connect. Please also feel free to follow me on my Facebook page for more updates from the Capitol and our community. Thank you for the honor of serving our Chanhassen and Chaska neighbors at the Capitol. In community, Lucy  |