Dear Neighbors,
As we all await warmer and sunnier days, the House has been hard at work as the end of session is just around the corner. We recently came to a bipartisan agreement on spending targets and are wrapping up bill hearings before the tough budget work gets underway. Here is an update from the Capitol:
Town Hall A Success - Thanks for Coming!!!
- Thanks to everyone who braved the April snow and came out to my town hall on Tuesday!
- We had a packed house! Rep. Rehrauer and I really enjoyed the opportunity to connect with voters and share our priorities for this legislative session.
- If you weren’t able to make it, don’t worry, I’ll be sure to host more in the future. You can always reach out to my office and I’d be happy to meet in person.
Manufactured Home Park Resident Bill of Rights - Heard in Housing Committee
- This week I presented my Manufactured Home Park Resident Bill of Rights to the Housing Committee, an important stop on its way to becoming law. Watch my presentation on it here.
- Our manufactured housing communities are some of the last truly affordable housing in the state. It’s critical that we stand up for these communities and residents.
- This bill does a few important things:
- Limits unreasonable rent increases by capping them at 3%
- Creates a true opportunity for residents to purchase their parks
- Increases enforcement of laws already in place
- Disappointingly, we were not able to get any Republican votes for the bill, so we “laid the bill over” so it can be considered again next year. In the meantime, we will work hard in hopes of rounding up the bipartisan support needed to pass bills in the tied House.
Other Bills Moving Forward - Pets and Taxes
- My Angel Tax Credit renewal was heard in the Taxes committee. This bill will renew one of the most successful tools we have to promote entrepreneurship in our state to make sure we’re growing the next generation of great Minnesota businesses. You want a great way to boost the economy? This is it!
- My Humane Pet Store bill was heard in the Commerce committee. This bill would phase out the selling of live dogs and cats in retail stores in Minnesota while making sure the remaining stores are sourcing their animals responsibly. The animals sold this way often face really tough conditions that are subpar at best and cruel at worst. Read more on this here.
- Both bills have both Democratic and Republican authors!
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