Dear Neighbors,
I hope you’ve had a wonderful first half of your summer! After a brief post-session recovery period I’ve been out and about in our community enjoying everything Minnesota has to offer.
This will be my final newsletter until November. Mid-July marks our 60-day deadline since the end of the legislative session, when Minnesota law requires unsolicited official communications to stop until after the 2026 election. This is so that an unfair advantage is not given to incumbents. As a result, this will likely be the last newsletter you receive from my office until later this year.
This is the only notable change - I want to emphasize that my office is available to constituents year-round to assist you with your needs. As always, you can reach me at 651-296-2907 or rep.matt.norris@house.mn.gov. I look forward to hearing from you. Here is a recap and update on some of my major session accomplishments this year:
Office of Inspector General and Anti-Medicaid Fraud Bills Passed - Taking Strong Action to Fight Fraud
- I am honored to announce that I was appointed to the new Legislative Inspector General Advisory Commission.
- During session, I served as the chief author of the Office of the Inspector General bill that passed with broad bipartisan support to fight fraud. Now, as a member of this commission, I will be responsible for recommending candidates to be the new inspector general and oversee the operations of this new office to make sure it is meeting our anti-fraud goals.
- I also made sure that funding for the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and stiffer penalties for fraudsters made their way into law. This means more tax dollars going where they are desperately needed. This is a major win for our entire state.
Reforming and Refunding Property Taxes - More Money in Your Pocket
- This year I worked hard to pass legislation that increased the 2025 Minnesota property tax refund by nearly 15%. This means more money in your pocket to help budget out life's expenses!
- This is a direct result of conversations I had with you and your neighbors in recognition that we need to make it easier for folks to afford their homes.
- The deadline to apply for your boosted refund is fast approaching on August 15. I encourage you to go to https://tinyurl.com/mnpropertyrefund to apply for your refund. If you already filed for a 2025 Homestead Credit Refund, there’s no need to take any additional action. The Department of Revenue will automatically adjust your refund to include the increase.
- It’s been about 25 years since we’ve done a comprehensive overhaul of our property tax system here in Minnesota. If you’ve looked at your property tax bill lately, you know it’s overdue.
- That’s why I authored a bill that would create a property tax task force. They would be charged with finding improved efficiencies and analysing how property taxes are distributed amongst all taxpayers, with the hope of increasing fairness.
- This is an early step on our way to making a tax system that works better for more Minnesotans.
Funding National Sports Center - Investing in Blaine
- It’s no secret that the Super Rink needs a little love to say the least. The Super Rink at the National Sports Center is a critical asset for our region, driving significant economic impact.
- That’s why I fought to secure $4.5 million for the National Sports Center. This regional asset and heart of our district’s economy was a top priority for me this year. This funding will go a long way to improve the conditions of this critical asset.
Stay in Touch
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.matt.norris@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-2907. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here, and follow my Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent our community. Please stay in touch!
Sincerely,
Matt Norris, District 32B
5th Floor Centennial Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155