2024 Legislative Session Begins!
Dear Neighbors,
This week the 2024 legislative session kicked off, and I am excited to get back to work this year and continue improving people’s lives and building a Minnesota that works better for everyone. After a historically productive 2023 session, I am dedicated to protecting the progress of last year and making new strides forward.
The legislature runs on a two-year cycle, with one budget year and one year focusing more on policy and capital investment. This year we will continue focusing on legislation helping working families, supporting critical infrastructure projects, and more. I spoke to KIMT about how Rochester legislators are working across the aisle to ensure our area is represented.
Hospital Closure Legislation
I want to highlight an editorial in this week’s Star Tribune about an alarming trend of healthcare companies ceasing to provide labor and delivery services in rural Minnesota. That is why I authored HF 3700 to ensure transparency and public notice is given in such cases.
Here’s an excerpt from the article: “Labor and delivery services are not a moneymaker for corporate health care systems, and so executives put them on the chopping block… Fosston's experience shows clearly that these decisions by hospital executives are about nothing but the bottom line. We need to return to a health care system that serves patient needs, not corporate greed.”
Committee Assignments
During this session, I will continue to serve on the Economic Development, Health, Sustainable Infrastructure, and Taxes committees. I am dedicated to making Minnesota’s tax system more equitable, ensuring that workers have the support they need, supporting sustainable, forward-looking infrastructure, and pushing for a healthcare system that puts people over profits.
This work wouldn’t be possible without your input and support! If you have any questions, comments, or ideas about this legislative session, please contact me at rep.andy.smith@house.mn.gov.
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!
Unfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.andy.smith@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9249, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe!
Warmly,
Andy Smith,
State Representative