If you couldn’t make it, I hope you can make it to a town hall meeting this Saturday, May 3rd at 11:30 a.m. at Rosemount Middle School. This will be a great opportunity for us to connect face-to-face and discuss the issues that matter most to our Rosemount, Apple Valley, and Eagan neighbors. We’ll provide updates on our budget bill progress and answer your questions about state government and policy matters affecting our district. All community members are welcome to attend.  Our budget work continues in the Minnesota House. We still have a several House budgets left to pass, but here is a nonpartisan breakdown of the ones we’ve passed so far: I’m excited to announce that ISD #196 has been selected to receive $30,000 in funding through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Farm to School and Early Care Grants program! This statewide grant will allow our schools to purchase fresh, locally grown and raised foods from Minnesota farmers. This means healthier, more nutritious meals for our students while supporting local agriculture and our regional economy. The Farm to School initiative creates valuable market opportunities for local farmers while improving the quality of meals served in our schools and early care facilities. Our students will benefit from fresher ingredients and gain a deeper connection to where their food comes from.  Thank You for Visiting the CapitolIt has been truly wonderful to see so many of you visiting the State Capitol this session. Whether you came with a school group, advocacy organization, or just stopped by to say hello, these visits remind me of why I do this work. Your stories, concerns, and ideas directly inform my work as your representative, and I'm grateful for every opportunity to connect with constituents. Your presence there makes our government stronger and more responsive.  Great meeting recently with students from St. Joseph's School in Rosemount!  I had the honor of meeting these compassionate and dedicated constituents advocating for more suicide prevention strategies we should consider at the state level. May is Mental Health Awareness Month; I remain firmly committed to supporting comprehensive mental health legislation that serves all Minnesotans. Important REAL ID ReminderAs we approach the end of May, I want to remind everyone about the upcoming REAL ID deadline. Starting May 7, standard driver's licenses will no longer be accepted for domestic air travel or entering certain federal facilities. If you haven't updated to a REAL ID or Enhanced ID yet, I encourage you to make an appointment with your local DMV as soon as possible. To learn more about what documents you'll need to bring and how to schedule an appointment, visit MNDRIVEINFO.org or call 651-297-3298.  Staying ConnectedIf you ever have a question, concern, or just want to share your thoughts, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at rep.john.huot@house.mn.gov or give me a ring at 651-296-4306. My door is always open, there's always time for a conversation with neighbors. Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving Rosemount, Apple Valley, and Eagan neighbors in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Hope to see you on Saturday! John |