Friends,
The Legislative Session is off to a great start. We’ve made progress on tax relief, I’ve co-authored a number of bills, and two counties in our community will benefit from grants to increase broadband internet access. Below is my weekly update. Enjoy the long weekend!
Tax Conformity to Gov. Dayton’s Desk
Last week the House unanimously passed our tax conformity bill, which not only saves Minnesotans time and hassle but also gives Minnesota taxpayers $21.7 million in tax relief, and on Thursday of this week we learned that the Minnesota Senate passed an identical bill meaning it will soon be on Governor Dayton’s desk for his signature. In other words, tax relief is coming quickly for thousands of Minnesotans.
My bills
I have signed on to co-author a number of bills that address many of the concerns for our community. Here are a couple of them:
- HF 167 is a bill to repeal the buffer law that put onerous requirements on farmers and landowners across greater Minnesota.
- HF 143 is a bill to allow counties to institute a “no net gain” policy for land purchased by the DNR. The DNR already owns far too much land and this will give counties a way to prevent further purchases without selling of land already owned within the county.
Broadband Grants
Two counties in our district received grants to help bring high-speed internet to Greater Minnesota. Hubbard and surrounding counties will receive $1.74 million while Lake of the Woods County is part of two grants totaling $1.3 million to expand broadband access. For our area, new high-speed internet will be brought to over 1,100 homes and 82 businesses as well as improving opportunities for business development, health care, and education.
These grants are part of GOP-led efforts to bring broadband to unserved rural areas. $32 million of the $35 million in grants statewide were targeted towards areas that lacked any access to high speed internet.
Lake of the Woods County School District also received a separate grant to provide high speed wireless internet on school buses. With many students spending upwards of two hours a day or more on school buses, the access to high-speed internet will allow them to work on their homework on the ride home. The grant of $49,480 will also provide the school district with mobile hot spots that students can check out to have high-speed access at home.
Please continue to stay in touch to share your thoughts and ideas on the bills heard in committee and in session. You can schedule a time to meet with me in my office any time by calling my Legislative Assistant at (651) 296-5366, or share your thoughts via email by emailing me at rep.matt.grossell@house.mn.
Thank you and have a great weekend,
Matt Grossell
State Representative District 2A