Dear Neighbors,
Thank you to everyone that joined us and asked questions during our first virtual town hall. If you weren’t able to join us, you can still watch it here. The July Special Session began this week, our second of the year, with many of the same priorities in place. My colleagues and I in the House DFL continue to work on legislation that addresses COVID-19 and its economic impact, invests in a robust jobs and local projects (or “bonding”) bill, and produces police accountability measures that make Minnesota a safe and inclusive state for all. Committees continue to meet this week, and the current plan is that we’ll convene on the House floor on Monday, July 20, to pass legislation. You can always stay up to date one the latest schedules and information on the House Public Information website.
Vote By Mail
Minnesotans regularly lead the nation in voter turnout, and we want to continue that trend by protecting the integrity and safety of our elections. This year, we passed legislation investing in improving accessibility and modernizing election security to prevent interference, and with the uncertain future of COVID-19, we also passed measures to ensure the health and safety of election officials and in-person voters.You can register to vote early by mail here.
Federal Resources during COVID-19
Several new resources are now available thanks to Governor Walz utilizing federal dollars from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was passed earlier this year – the latest being the $100 million in housing assistance. With previously allocated dollars drying up, Minnesotans can begin applying for assistance with local grant administrators in the first part of August. More information about grants can be found on the Minnesota Housing website atwww.mnhousing.gov.
Additional funds were also utilized to provide support in food security and child care. $12 million has been dedicated to approximately 300 food shelves across the state, and information about food assistance resources is available on the state’s food emergency webpage. For child care, $56.6 million has gone to support providers who are facing enormous challenges during the pandemic. Families seeking care can call the Child Care Aware parent line at 1-888-291-9811 or visit mn.gov/childcare for a map of open providers.
Property Tax Refund Information
Every year, many Minnesotans who are eligible for property tax refunds don’t take advantage of them. As your legislator, I’m committed to ensuring that everyone in our district who qualifies for refunds of a portion of their property taxes receive them. To apply for a refund, complete form M1PR by August 15, which you can file electronically for free. Learn more about how to file and what materials are needed by watching this one-minute video here. If you need any assistance, or a status update on your refund, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.
Last Email Update
This will be my last email update until after November’s election. After this week, legislators cannot use state resources for unsolicited communications during an election period because it might create an unfair advantage. While I won’t be able to send these emails as legislative work continues, I encourage you to follow along for the latest news and resources on my official Facebook page.
If you have any questions or comments on our work in the House, please continue to reach out to our legislative office. I can be reached at rep.andrew.carlson@house.mnor you can leave a voicemail at (651) 296-4218. It’s an honor to represent you in the Minnesota House, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Andrew Carlson
State Representative