Dear Neighbors,
I hope you had a great week and had a chance to get out and enjoy nature's changing colors. In an effort to help Minnesotans experience the state's natural beauty, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released its official fall color forecast and an online dashboard earlier this month. The dashboard tracks and updates Minnesotans on the changing colors of the leaves. I hope your family will be able to get out and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Upcoming Town Hall
We recognize that scheduling our October 2nd Town Hall on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism, was a regrettable oversight. All cultural holidays and traditions are important, and we apologize for this mistake. Please accept our apology.
Our SD59 delegation is committed to ensuring that community events are inclusive and respectful of all faith and cultural traditions. Moving forward, we will be more diligent in reviewing calendars to prevent conflicts, so every community member feels welcomed and heard. The town hall will be livestreamed to Senator Champion’s Facebook page and members of the community can watch the recording at their convenience. As always, please continue to reach out to our offices with any thoughts, comments, and/or concerns you may have. We are dedicated to serving everyone in our community and uplifting every voice.
We are grateful for the community members that brought this issue to our attention. To our cherished Jewish neighbors in Minnesota and around the world, G'mar Hatimah Tovah—wishing you and your family a peaceful and meaningful Yom Kippur.
For our community members who are able to attend the town hall, here is a reminder of what to expect:
We will gather at the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) on Thursday, October 2. Dinner will be served at 5:30 PM, with the town hall discussion to follow at 6:15 PM. For those who are unable to join in-person, a livestream will be available on Senator Bobby Joe Champion’s elected Facebook page. Link here.
I look forward to our conversation and hearing from constituents.
Important Resource Reminders
Renters: Starting with your 2024 taxes, if you are a renter, you can claim the Renter's Credit as part of your Minnesota Individual Income Tax return (Form M1). You will no longer file a Renter's Property Tax Refund return (Form M1PR). This means renters who previously filed both returns will not receive a separate refund later in the year.
The Renter's Credit is a refundable credit on an income tax return. It will be part of the amount owed or refund.
If you forgot to claim the Renter’s Credit this year, it's not too late to file your taxes to claim the credit! Visit the Department of Revenues’ website for resources to help you figure out what to do next.
Round 2 of Promise Act: The MN PROMISE Act is a new state-funded small business revitalization program that will provide grants and loans to disadvantaged businesses located in certain areas of Minneapolis, Saint Paul and greater-Minnesota.
Round 2 officially opened on Tuesday, September 23. Submit your application and gain more information on the program here.
Let’s Stay Connected!
I deeply value being in this work to improve lives with you. Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. Please reach out anytime if you need assistance, schedule a meeting or community event, or have questions at rep.esther.agbaje@house.mn.gov or 651-296-8659.
In community,
Rep. Esther Agbaje
Minnesota House of Representatives (59B)
Legislative Assistant
Nhia Chang
Nhia.Chang@house.mn.gov
651-296-4165
Due to technological limitations, this mailbox is not monitored. To reach Rep. Esther Agbaje directly, please email rep.esther.agbaje@house.mn.gov