Legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis
Dear Neighbors,
Our DFL House Tax bill was released earlier this month and includes rebate checks and tax credits for working families. It also includes a full exemption of the tax on Social Security for joint filers making below $100,000 and single payers below $78,000.
In case you missed it, I wrote a column in the Rochester Post Bulletin where I argue that a full exemption would mortgage our future and harm our ability to make progress on issues like climate change, student and medical debt, education, childcare, and more. I am glad we didn’t include the full exemption, and I’m glad we have strong provisions in the bill to increase taxes on the top 0.8% of earners and on multinational corporations. This bill is a good step forward in making our state more just and equitable for everyone.
Legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis
Wednesday was a historic day at the House as we voted to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state of Minnesota. Our current cannabis laws are doing more harm than good, and it is far past time to pass this bill. This legislation creates a safe, well-regulated legal marketplace for Minnesotans over the age of 21. It prioritizes automatic expungement of prior marijuana convictions. Finally, the bill will help start-up cannabis businesses to ensure the communities disproportionately affected by prohibition can take part in the economic opportunity created by legalization. I was proud to vote “yes” on this legislation.
Budget Bill Updates
We have been hard at work passing budget bills off the House Floor, including an Environment and Climate bill to move towards a clean future, a Transportation bill to meet our state’s needs, and a fantastic Housing bill to fight homelessness and aid homebuyers. We also passed our K-12 Education budget, Early Childhood budget, and Children and Families budget.
I’m proud that the Labor and Jobs bill includes my proposal to fund the Bridges to Healthcare, a program to recruit, prepare, and support diverse, well-trained, certified, and compassionate students and transition them to employment for SE MN healthcare providers. I was glad to carry this provision and was excited to vote "yes" this week!
The Governor’s State of the State Address
Last Wednesday night, Governor Walz delivered the State of the State address from the House Floor. Now that we’re 100 days into Walz’s second term, we can look back and see all of the great things we’ve done for Minnesotans together.
It’s no coincidence that we are making immense progress this session: We have the youngest and most diverse legislature in our state’s history, with leaders who are committed to getting things done for Minnesotans. You can view the full address here.
Stay Connected!
To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.andy.smith@house.mn.gov or 651-296-9249, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe!
Warmly,
Andy Smith,
State Representative