Legislative Update- February 3, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

This is a friendly reminder to join me for a virtual “Coffee with John” this Saturday at 10:00 a.m.! I’m excited to share that Senator Greg Clausen will also be joining us. Submitting questions in advance is encouraged, and you may do so by emailing them to my legislative assistant Sydney Spreck at Sydney.spreck@house.mn.

Here’s the Zoom information for the meeting:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/93471201032?pwd=ejBOTGhjNzllVlYyM2pQRFp1Z1ZKdz09

Meeting ID: 934 7120 1032

Passcode: 501954

You can also join us via telephone by calling 312-626-6799 and entering the meeting ID and passcode when prompted.

Looking forward to seeing you online this Saturday!

Here's an update from the Capitol:

Relief and Recovery Legislation to Assist Minnesotans

Various bills to help Minnesotans weather and recover from the pandemic have been introduced and are moving through the committee process. Here’s a glimpse at some you may be interested in:

• Ensuring 100 hours of paid emergency leave for essential workers;
• Protecting the health and safety of Minnesotans who work in meat and poultry processing plants;
• Providing a MinnesotaCare public option;
• Allowing workers to accrue earned sick and safe time.

There are just a few proposals my colleagues and I are working on to help our neighbors get through these challenging times. I welcome your feedback on these proposals, and any others, anytime.

Under New Proposal, Notaries Public Could Perform Civil Marriages

The ongoing pandemic has made it difficult for couples to plan their nuptials, including finding someone who can or is willing to officiate their wedding. I've sponsored legislation to help address this by allowing notaries public to officiate civil marriages. You can read more about the bill here.

Adult-Use Cannabis Measure Introduced

Some of my House colleagues introduced a plan to safely and responsibly legalize adult-use cannabis in Minnesota. The legislation would create a regulated cannabis market while addressing legitimate concerns around youth access, public health, and road safety. Please know that as I’m reviewing this legislation, I’m carefully considering all these concerns. I think it’s important to weigh the pros and cons, especially for our veterans with PTSD, and other Minnesotans with health conditions who have benefited from the medical cannabis program in our state, but cannot continue treatment due to the cost. Your input is welcome on this important issue.

Keep in Touch

Please continue to keep in touch on the issues important to you. I can be reached at rep.john.huot@house.mn or 651-296-4306. Don’t hesitate to let me know how I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

John