Dear Neighbors,
I hope you were able to enjoy some of the warm weather this week. Things here at the Capitol continue to be red hot as we work to pass more important legislation. Here is some of what I’ve worked on.
1. Raising Education Funding - Putting our Students First
- My bill to increase the general education basic formula allowance for K-12 public schools by five percent each of the next two years and tie future increases to the rate of inflation was heard in the Education Finance Committee this week.
- In recent years, our education system has struggled to meet the growing needs of students as funding has fallen short of what’s needed to maintain a world class system. By using our surplus to provide a much-needed funding boost and tying future increases to inflation, we are guaranteeing that our students will receive the resources they need, no matter what.
- Watch my testimony of this critical bill here.
2. Property Tax Relief - Helping People Stay in their Homes
- Also on Wednesday, the Property Tax Committee heard my bill to expand the Homestead Market Value Exclusion.
- Home values have spiked in recent years (62% in Anoka County from 2014 - 2021). Yet, the Homestead Market Value Exclusion hasn’t been adjusted since 2011. This bill will offer some much-needed property tax relief and help homeowners, especially our seniors, stay in their houses.
- Watch my presentation here.
3. Funding for National Sports Center - Investing in Local Projects
- This week the House and Senate announced their proposed bonding bills. Bonding bills are when the state of Minnesota sells bonds to pay for construction projects across the state.
- The National Sports Center would receive $9.6 million in the proposed bill. This is a critical investment for our local community.
- Bonding bills need a 2/3 majority vote in both chambers to pass, so strong bipartisan support is needed. I will strongly advocate for this bill and hope to see it pass!
4. Bonus! - Transportation Town Hall
- On Saturday, March 4 from 10 – 11:30 am I will host a Transportation Town Hall with House Transportation Chair Frank Hornstein at the Mary Ann Young Center in Blaine
- As we approach the midpoint of session and start to solidify budgets, I’d like to meet with the community to discuss some of the major developments of session, and transportation/Highway 65 in particular.
- If you would like to participate and submit a question, please RSVP here. I look forward to seeing you there!
Stay in Touch
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.matt.norris@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-2907. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here, and follow my Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent our community. Please stay in touch!
Sincerely,
Matt Norris, District 32B
507 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155