Dear Neighbors,
It’s hard to believe that we’re half way through the third-week of a ten-week session. There are a few things that have been happening that I wanted to update you on:
Eagan’s State of the City
I recently attended Eagan’s State of the City by Mayor Mike Maguire, pictured below. The Mayor's address focused a great deal on the future of our community, and the community-wide visioning process known as Eagan Forward. Eagan Forward is about planning a future for Eagan that is citizen-driven. It brings together two of my favorite things: people who love Eagan and citizen engagement in government. There are still ways for you to engage in the conversation. Visit the city's website for more info. You can also see a video of the State of the City Address by visiting Eagan’s State of the City.
Don’t Forget your Property Tax Refund or Renter’s Credit
As a friendly reminder, don’t forget to file for your Renter’s Property Tax or Homestead Credit Refund. To see if you qualify, take a look at the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s Instruction Guide. The forms can be accessed here.
The Minnesota Department of Revenue also has information available on filing for free on their website. If you want to file yourself and wonder if you qualify for free electronic filing products, or you want assistance from a free tax preparation site, visit this page.
Additionally, the IRS has free filing information available on their website. On the homepage of their website under the banner “Hot Topics” you will see a link entitled “Get Free Tax Preparation Help” or “Free File Tax Software”.
Good ideas come from everywhere
As a member of the Government Operations committee, I was pleased to hear a group of savvy 7th graders bring a new idea to the Capitol. The students are proposing a memorial honoring the workers who built our beautiful State Capitol. The students came up with the idea, did extensive research into the history of the Capitol, the workers who build this grand structure, and the workers who lost their lives in its construction. They presented a compelling case for honoring these often forgotten people from our state's history. You can see these remarkable kids in action on TPT's Almanac:
YouTube.
Hearing on Chemical Dependency Bill
The Health and Human Services Reform Committee heard my bill, HF 2539, to provide more funding for peer recovery programs that help people recovering from chemical dependency. Peer-recovery does this by helping to reestablish sober routines in life. They do that through skill building and assistance that can range from helping with a resume and interview prep, to helping find routines that will prevent relapse. The bill passed with unanimous bi-partisan support.
Legislation to Aid Veterans introduced
I'm joining with my colleagues to support a proposal to provide additional support for Minnesota veterans. The package reinforces prioritizing care and assistance services for our veterans. Key components of the bill include:
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Increases access to mental health services: Funds and allows the Soldiers’ Assistance Fund to cover court-ordered mental health and substance abuse counseling for veterans.
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Financial relief while transitioning to a veteran home: Creates a tax credit for veterans who are staying in private nursing homes to help ease the financial burden while they wait for a bed in a veteran’s nursing home.
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Expanding health coverage for veterans and guardsmen: Creates a feasibility study for providing health insurance to veterans and guardsmen to extend coverage beyond the health insurance programs provided by the federal VA and the Department of Defense.
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Reducing domestic violence: Expands opportunities for veterans to participate in the Change Step Program for veterans who need domestic abuse counseling and education.
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Ending veteran homelessness and honoring those who have served: Increases funding to address veterans homelessness and provides additional money to reimburse veterans service organizations for providing honor guards at veterans’ funerals.
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Increases support for veterans who have struggled to reintegrate: Similar to drug courts, Veterans Courts provide problem-solving treatment and therapy instead of punitive court sentencing. These courts better recognize both the service and struggles many veterans experience.
The bill was introduced and was referred this week to the State Government Finance Division.
Constituent Spotlight
This week, I don’t want to just focus on a single constituent, I want to shine a spotlight on all of our Eagan neighbors who have come to the Capitol in the past two weeks. I’ve had meetings with passionate residents of Eagan from groups as diverse as school social workers, teachers, CPAs, arts advocates, nurses, school nutritionists, disability advocates, our firefighters including Chief Mike Scott, and many, many more. I welcome this great engagement in our government. If you are planning to come to the Capitol, please make an appointment to stop by and share your thoughts with me.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any issues or concerns you may have.
Sincerely,
Laurie Halverson