Friends,
It's the final countdown. We must adjourn on Monday and must have bills passed out of both the House and Senate by Sunday night. It's been an incredibly productive biennium for Minnesotans.
Notary Bill to Governor Dayton's Desk
My bill, SF893, passed the House on Wednesday on a unanimous 127-0 vote. The bill modernizes Minnesota's laws with regards to Notaries. Bringing Minnesota's notary laws in line with international standards. It will introduce a web-based notary system to Minnesota. This will allow a Minnesota notary to serve as a notary for international transactions, an increasingly important factor.
The bill previously passed the Senate. We look forward to the governor signing the bill soon.
Rep. Smith during a debate in the final week on the House Floor.
Constitutional Amendment Roads & Bridge Funding
On Thursday, we passed proposed legislation on a bipartisan 76-54 vote that would constitutionally dedicate existing sales tax revenue from auto parts to statewide road and bridge construction. This would build on our historic transportation investments made during the 2017 session, all without raising taxes.
If approved by the Minnesota House and Senate, voters would decide this November whether or not to redirect the already-collected sales taxes to road and bridge repair on state, county, township, city, and small-town projects. No signature from Governor Dayton is required.
Anyone who has driven on Minnesota's roads anywhere in this state knows we need to do a better job of taking care of them. This proposal has the support of a broad coalition of advocates that includes labor, business, agriculture, and transportation advocates. We believe the people of Minnesota should have a say in dedicating this funding to fix our roads and bridges. Without this proposed amendment, dollars that should go towards roads and bridges all too often are used for other projects.
I hope the Senate acts on this soon, it is one of the few things we can do without needing Governor Dayton's signature and we all recognize roads and bridges as a core function of government.
Rep. Smith and a high school page from Maple Grove High School serving at the Capitol this week.
Rep. Smith with Katelyn Gasperlin, constituent and winner of the Comcast Academic Scholarship, at the Speaker's Rostrum this week.
We'll be working hard all weekend long for the people of Minnesota. Please continue to share your thoughts with me about our state government; bill ideas and concerns are welcomed! I am honored to serve you at the Capitol. If you are going to be at or around the Capitol, please stop by or schedule a meeting. My email address is Rep.Dennis.Smith@house.mn, phone number 651-296-5502, and by mail: 375 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
Have a great weekend!
Dennis