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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen (R)

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Legislative Update from Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen

Friday, March 16, 2018
Dear Friends,
 
It was a busy week in St. Paul as committees continue to meet and discuss legislation. The first committee deadline is next Friday. This means that bills must receive at least one hearing before next Friday if it has any hopes of advancing through the legislature this session.
 
On Wednesday, I had a bill heard before the House Property Tax and Local Government Finance Division that works to address the childcare shortage affecting rural Minnesota.
 
House File 2834 would provide for a property tax exemption for certain qualifying child care providers. To qualify, a facility must be a nonprofit and accept families that participate in the child care assistance program (CCAP). CCAP receives federal, state and county funding, and helps subsidize child care costs for low income families.
 
The idea for this bill was brought to me when a church in rural Glencoe decided to open a childcare center. However, the childcare facility was not on church property so they were having to pay a large sum in property taxes every year.
 
Those rising property taxes are then passed on to the very families that so desperately need childcare.
 
All across rural Minnesota, there is a massive shortage of childcare providers. It is my hope that this legislation will help ease the burden on these providers and improve choice and costs for families.

As always, if you have any questions regarding this legislation or any other matter of state government, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I can be contacted by phone at 651-296-4229 or via email atrep.glenn.gruenhagen@house.mn.
 
Thank you and have a great weekend,
Glenn