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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I wanted to wish you all a very happy Independence Day! I hope you are able to enjoy some extra time with friends and family as we celebrate our great country and give thanks for our freedoms.
One of my favorite quotes about the importance of protecting our freedom is from President Ronald Reagan:
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It is our turn to do what every generation before us has done – ensure the blessings of liberty are protected and passed down to our kids. Let us recommit ourselves to that noble task this July 4th!
Before the holiday, I wanted to share a few updates on property taxes, new laws that took effect on July 1st and more. I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July!
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Executive Summary
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Property Tax Refunds
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New Laws
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Vaccine Injury Meeting
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Independence Receives Border-to-Border Broadband Infrastructure Grant
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Property Tax Refunds
Last session the legislature increased refunds for the 2022 Homestead Credit Refund (for Homeowners) and Renter’s Property Tax Refund (Form M1PR). If you already filed a 2022 Form M1PR, you may see a larger refund than originally claimed.
The due date is August 15, but you can submit for up a year after the due date. To see if you qualify for a refund and learn more, read here.
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New Laws
July 1 marked the effective date for several new laws, including:
- Noncompete agreements banned
- Exemptions removed for small businesses to make accommodations for lactating employees, pregnancy accommodations, and unpaid leave updates
- Human Rights Act updated with new definitions of sexual orientation and gender identity
- Ergonomics Grant program is the first-in-the-nation occupational safety and health program establishes standards to reduce the risk of workplace ergonomic injuries. Program requirements apply to warehouse distribution centers and meatpacking sites with 100 or more employees, as well as hospitals, outpatient surgical centers and nursing homes of any size. Matching safety grants of up to $10,000 will be available to qualifying employers for projects designed to reduce the risk of ergonomic injury to their employees.
- New agriculture and food processing worker standards
- Nursing Home Standards board established to set new employment standards
- Motor vehicle sales tax increases
House Public Information has information on more new laws here.
If you would like more information on changes to employment laws, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry has a helpful guide here.
New and updated workplace notices for your business can be printed and downloaded here.
Despite Minnesota's historic, $17.5 billion surplus, Democrats passed new laws last session that increased the state budget by 38%, raised taxes by nearly $10 billion, and generally made it more expensive to live and run a business in our state. It is disappointing to see so many of these costly mandates for businesses and tax increases on our families begin to take effect.
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Vaccine Injury Meeting
A couple of months ago a constituent came to one of my “Coffee & Conversation” meetings and shared her experience of vaccine injury and requested a follow-up meeting. This week, I met with 27 Minnesotans who are working to draw attention to their stories and the need for additional research on vaccine injuries. They have started a Minnesota chapter of Team Humanity.
While most of the reporting and compensation for vaccine-related injuries is done at the federal level through the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), they also want to be included in state research and resources for people who are experiencing long-Covid, as many of the experiences and symptoms are similar.
I look forward to meeting with the MN Dept. of Health to learn more about state efforts in this area.
As always, I appreciate when constituents bring issues to my attention, and I can try to help connect them with state government! For anyone who may be concerned that I am discussing a constituent issue in my newsletter, I want to clarify that they asked to be included to help raise awareness.
I look forward to meeting more people at my future Coffee & Conversation events!
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Independence Receives Border-to-Border Broadband Infrastructure Grant
I am excited to share that the City of Independence and Midcontinent Communications have been awarded over $3.0 million in funding through the Minnesota Border-to-Border Broadband Infrastructure Grant!
This project is among 30 that will be funded with a combination of both state general fund revenues and federal American Rescue Pan Act (ARPA) Sec. 604 Capital Projects Funds (CPF) funds through the recent Border-to-Border Broadband Development grant round. Broadband infrastructure will be expanded in areas of Minnesota that remain unserved or underserved. The Office of Broadband Development will work closely with grantees to ensure that households, businesses, farms and community institutions throughout the state have access to high-speed broadband services.
Expanding broadband access across our community and state is critically important. I am thrilled that Independence has received this funding to support broadband access for our area.
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Photos
Wishing I-94 West Chamber of Commerce President Greg Anzelc all the best as he starts a new position! He has been a terrific leader for the Chamber & we thankful for all he has built!
Excited to welcome Mindy Smith as our new President! We look forward to continued growth under your leadership!
Excited to celebrate the re-ooening of Gleason Sports Complex in Maple Grove! Beautiful new ball fields, tennis, pickleball, soccer, and a sledding hill! Thanks to everyone who made it possible, but especially Maple Grove Parks and Recreation and Osseo Maple Grove Athletic Association!
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Please Contact Me
Many of you have already been in touch to discuss your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Please continue to contact me to discuss any matters to which I can be of assistance.
The best way to reach me while we are out of session is by email: rep.kristin.robbins@house.mn.gov. For occasional updates, you can follow my Facebook Page at @RepKristinRobbins. You can also leave a voicemail on my office number, 651-296-7806, which is checked multiple times/week.
Have a great week!
Kristin
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239 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.7806 |
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