Dear Neighbors,
We’re back in the swing of things at the State Capitol! Right now, Republicans control committees with their 1-member advantage while we await the results of the March 11 special election. However, both DFL and Republican votes are still required for any bill to pass off the House floor, so bipartisanship is going to be key this year. That’s why I’m working closely with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to craft bills, secure committee hearings, and find common ground on a state budget that reflects our community’s values and principles. More to come on this work in future updates!
My Introduced Bills - With Bipartisan Support!
- I’ve wasted no time moving legislation forward now that the House is truly underway. Here are some bills I introduced that’ll help out our community!
- HF 385 – Making improvements to the law I passed in 2023 that protects survivors of abuse from “coerced debt” they are forced to take on by their abuser
- HF 386 – Creating a “vendor allowance” to help Main Street businesses offset the costs of collecting sales tax for the state
- HF 388 – Allowing the City of Blaine to create a social district like the one in Anoka in the new sports entertainment district being built by the National Sports Center
- HF 1031 – Establishing an ongoing funding source to tackle the backlog of maintenance at the National Sports Center
- Every one of these bills has a GOP co-author without exception. Given the unique nature of the tied House this is a necessity!
Pastor Al Goracke - Blaine in the House!
- We were proud to welcome a familiar face to a lot of Blaine residents to the House this week as Pastor Al Goracke from Hope Church served as our Chaplain of the Day.
- I’m always happy to welcome our fellow community members to the Capitol!
Head Start - Affordable Child Care for All
- This week I had a chance to meet with a wonderful group of parents from Anoka County whose kids are participating in Head Start! They told me stories of the educational gains their kids have made through the program.
- Affordable child care and early education is one of my top priorities, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to increase investments in programs like Head Start so kids get the early education they need and parents who are trying to work have child care options.
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
5th Floor Centennial Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155