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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Dennis Smith (R)

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Legislative Update (August 21, 2015)

Friday, August 21, 2015

Dear Neighbors,

This past week I met with the President of North Hennepin Community College and the President of Hennepin Technical College. At our meeting, we discussed many things, but focused mainly on how post-secondary education options (PSEO) are not being utilized effectively.

There are thousands of positions in the current job market waiting to be filled and the skills and training necessary for these jobs are being offered through these schools. We need to do a better job of making students and parents aware of these educational opportunities. I remain committed to ensuring that Minnesota families continue to have choices when it comes to their children’s education.

In addition to meeting with both local college presidents, I want to update you on a number of laws, passed earlier this year by the legislature that went into effect August 1st.

Among these new laws are important reforms to family law and child custody standards. Serving as vice-chair of the Civil Law Committee, I worked hard to build consensus among legislators from both sides of the aisle to ensure that these needed reforms were passed and signed into law by the governor.

More specifically, the reforms include enacting new best interest factors that require judges to look at how relevant information would impact the child in the case of a divorce, clarifying that there is a presumption that a parent get a minimum of 25% parenting time, clarifying how either parent may take the child income tax dependency exemption, and a variety of changes to laws concerning custody and visitation as they apply to parents who are deployed with the armed services.

In addition to those important reforms, other newly enacted laws include increased penalties for texting while driving, the “Right to Try Act” which provides terminally ill patients the option to try certain experimental treatments as a last resort, limits on the use and retention of data gathered from license plate readers, as well as the establishment of a day honoring military spouses and families.

I am committed to continue working towards common sense solutions to the issues facing our state and community. I would encourage you to reach out to me to share your thoughts on how we can make Minnesota an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. You can reach me via email at Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn or via phone at (651) 296-5502. I look forward to hearing from you and working with our community to ensure the Legislature meets our needs!

 

Have a great weekend,

Dennis