Legislative Update – February 16, 2024
This week marks the beginning of the 2024 Legislative Session, and I am excited to get back to work and represent our communities in Saint Paul. After the historically productive 2023 Legislative Session, I remain committed to improving people’s lives and building a Minnesota that works better for everyone.
Throughout the legislative session, I will be appearing on KYMN 95.1’s Morning Show with Jeff Johnson on Friday mornings at 7:20 am. The segments are then posted online to the KYMN site.
You can listen to this week's interview here.
Modular Housing Editorial
My monthly editorial in Northfield News focuses on housing affordability, which is a critical issue in our community. The city is currently exploring an innovative cooperative modular housing neighborhood with the working name of the "New Leaf Co-op." The current plan touts 65 factory-built homes on a 7.27-acre plot of land in Southbridge.
Northfield has a great opportunity to support this new, cooperative modular housing model that would help bring down housing costs, support working families as they start to build wealth and make our city a more welcoming place for new residents.
Projects like this could become a model around the state on how we address the “missing middle” of affordable housing and rebuild the middle class. I’m looking forward to continuing to advocate for this project and looking for new ways to support our community at the Capitol.
Elections Committee Bill Presentation
I was ready to hit the ground running in our first week back at the legislature and present my bill to increase polling places on college campuses in front of the Elections Committee on Wednesday. The legislation would require an additional polling place for at least one day on college campuses if requested by the college administration or student government.
This bill would help ensure more college students can cast a ballot, maybe for the first time, and would apply to Carleton and St. Olaf colleges right here in Northfield. I was glad to have folks from Students United and students from the University of Minnesota in the committee to testify in support of the bill! You can watch the full hearing here.
File for the Child Tax Credit!
Nearly 300,000 Minnesota households are eligible for the nation-leading Child Tax Credit the DFL passed last year! With our Child Tax Credit, families will save up to $1,750 for each dependent. Democrats are cutting child poverty by one-third with this rebate.
You can claim the tax credit by filing a 2023 income tax return. The $1,750 credit is for each child 17 years old and younger, with no limit on the number of children.
Minnesota families: If you qualify, file your taxes to make sure you claim the benefits available to you. More information, including qualification criteria, is available here: https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/child-tax-credit.
Stay Connected!
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