Legislative Update Dear neighbors, Lat week was a busy week here at the Capitol. Committees officially started last week, and House Republicans top bills received hearings. Now that we are back to full committees the 1st bill for our area was introduced in the Taxes committee last Wednesday. The Browerville School District is seeking legislative support for a tax exemption following an unexpected structural collapse that drastically impacted its gymnasium. I reintroduced a bill aimed at securing a sales tax exemption for the reconstruction efforts. Superintendent of Browerville School District, Scott Vedbraaten, provided a compelling testimony, recounting the events of April 1, 2023, when structural issues led to the controlled demolition of the gym. With insurance covering only a fraction of the costs, the community stepped up by approving a $16 million bond to fund the $21 million project. Now, as the new facility nears completion, the district is requesting sales tax relief to ease the financial burden on local taxpayers. Click here to watch the video below of Scott's testimony and the introduction of the bill.  Last week I received a nice surprise visit from local Sheriffs, Sheriff Carr from Wadena and Sheriff Larson from Morrison County. They were here for Sheriffs Day on The Hill, thanks for visiting and talking about the area! I also received a visit from Mike Aksamit who came to discuss school transportation issues in the area. Thanks for visiting! |