Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Our awesome spring weather brings out many outdoor youth sporting activities to watch this weekend. In addition, there is an outstanding walk/run tomorrow benefiting CROSS Food Shelf. Let’s enjoy this great weather at these outdoor activities and in our amazing parks!
For our friends that observe Passover, I wish you a festive and cheerful celebration.
Here are the highlights from week seven at our Capitol:
- Highway 610 Bill – Heard in Transportation Committee
- Probate Tax Bill – Passed out of Tax Committee
- TIF Bill for Maple Grove – Heard in Property Tax Committee
Highway 610 Bill – Heard in Transportation Committee
You may recall this bill, HF3896, from earlier email updates. The bill that I am chief authoring will fully connect Hwy 610 to County Road 30 and complete the project that has been in the process for nearly 40 years. Recently, this bill was heard in the Capital Investment Committee and this week I was honored to have Mayor Mark Steffenson and City Administrator Heidi Nelson with me as we presented this bill to the Transportation Committee. Having Hwy 610 completed will provide ease of use for us as we move around the city, and provide an economic benefit for our businesses in the area.
Probate Tax Bill – Passed out of Tax Committee
HF 2515 is consumer friendly giving the individual going through probate some flexibility to cure for some common last will and testament omissions. It may seem like a boring bill to most, but I know it will have a big impact on many throughout our state.
Tax Incremental Financing Bill for Maple Grove
I am carrying HF2630 that will allow some modifications to an existing law for our gravel areas in town to transition to commercial or residential areas. This bill was heard in the Property Tax Committee this week and I’m hopeful for its inclusion in the Tax omnibus bill.
The 2016 session concludes in four short weeks. In the coming days there will likely be House floor discussions and voting on many of the omnibus bills including Transportation, Taxes, Education, Bonding, and others. If you have any questions or concerns about these bills, please contact me. It is my honor to represent our community at the Capitol. I can be reached via email at Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn, by phone at 651-296-5502, and US mail address: 13570 Grove Drive, #370, Maple Grove, MN, 55311.
Have a great weekend!
Dennis