Tag: John Hoffman

WEEK THIRTEEN: Friday, April 5

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We are nearly through all of our bill deadlines. Next week will be the final week for bills to pass through their finance committees and head to the floor. As bills are being heard in committee we also had others pass onto the Senate Floor.

We addressed some important issues on the Senate Floor and there will be more to come. With the House, Senate and Governor’s budget all released now real negotiations can begin on how and where we invest in Minnesota.

As those discussions begin I want to encourage us all to be civil. There are many toxic statements made on various sides of issues and those tend to end a conversation before it begins. Without discourse we cannot understand each other and without that understanding, parts of what is important is lost. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 5, 2019”

Legislative Snapshot:

SF 214

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

I wanted to share with one of my bills I presented in Tax committee today.  The Mississippi Crossings is a redevelopment district created under general Tax Increment Finance (TIF) law. A TIF district is a specific property or set of properties that can be leveraged by giving a great deal to developers, who then build and increase the value of the property. The city then benefits from the increased tax gain from the greater value of the property. These districts typically have a time limit where they can capture the greatest returns in value increases.

The Mississippi Crossings was designated a TIF district in 2014 and given a five year time limit. However, Champlin has yet to receive any Tax Increment Revenues from the Mississippi Crossings. All the development was halted as the land was used as a staging ground by MnDOT while renovating Highway 169 from 2016 to 2018. This bill allows Champlin to truly utilize the permissions granted prior to develop the land and generate revenues to compensate for their initial up front investment of purchasing the properties to develop. Once that option is fully available the process of developing and increasing access to the Mississippi River can begin. As it stands the city of Champlin expects the first receipt of tax increment to be collected in 2019. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: April 2, 2019”

WEEK Ten: Friday, Mar. 15

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It was a long week at the Legislature especially due to the fact the first deadlines were Friday. Many hearings ran long as we did our best to give important bills time to be discussed and considered for potential advancement. After this week, we will know which bills will move forward or have stopped moving for the year. Just because we didn’t make a deadline doesn’t mean the bill stops. There will be more opportunities to have amendment discussions and to search for other vehicles to move our bills.  Below is a link to see what I’ve been working on thus far.

My list of Bills

You are always welcome to give me feedback and let me know what matters to you. I hope this information is useful to you, stay safe and warm out there and expect another update next week. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 15, 2019”

WEEK Nine: Friday, Mar. 8

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The pace at the legislature ever increases and we passed two bills that went to the Governor this week. Our first deadline nears and I am providing another link to my bills and where they stand below:

My list of Bills

As always give me feedback and let me know what matters to you. I would also like to take a moment to recognize International Women’s Day. I know the two most important women in my life are my wife Yvette and my daughter Hope. They make me a better man everyday.Take this day to celebrate all the wonderful women in your life, look for another update next week, and stay safe and warm out there!

Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 8, 2019”

WEEK Eight: Friday, March 1st

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We are now within three weeks of our first deadline for bills that are in motion. There are a myriad of bills I’m working on for our senate district and the great state of Minnesota ranging from bonding projects for our roads and parks to enhancing the healthcare of our most vulnerable populations. If you’d like to see what I’ve authored or co-authored specifically I’m going to provide a link below so you can see exactly what has been crafted and where it sits now.

My list of Bills

Send me your thoughts and ideas and let me know what you think. Session will only pick up pace from here on out and more work is coming my way. Look for another update next week, and stay safe out there in this weather. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: March 1, 2019”

WEEK Seven: Friday, Feb. 22

Hello Neighbors and Friends:

Welcome to week seven of our 2019 session.  I want to start off this update with an article and discussion about how climate change poses profound risks to our communities not just in the future but right now. Extreme weather events are increasing, and our climate is changing. What can we can to transition as quickly as possible to more renewable energy and reducing our carbon emissions?

Minnesota is leading the country in our efforts, but we must also be realistic as to how we achieve clean energy without jeopardizing cost and reliability. In 2007, Minnesota Republicans and DFLers joined together on the Next Generation Energy Act and adopted a goal to hit the 80 percent reduction by 2050.

It’s great that Minnesota has already hit its renewable electricity standard goal of 25 percent by 2025 this year by using wind, solar, biomass, and hydro power. We’re also on course to reach its current solar electricity standard of 1.5 percent by the end of 2020. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: February 22, 2019”

WEEK SIX:  February 15, 2019

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

Minnesota is facing a $6 billion statewide transportation funding gap. Unfortunately, the legislature hasn’t been able to pass a viable long-term transportation funding plan to address this growing deficit. To make matters worse, if we don’t find a solution, more than 70 percent of currently projected future spending will need to go toward road preservation rather than improving our infrastructure.

Right now, more than half of Minnesota’s roads are more than 50 years old, and 40 percent of the state’s bridges are more than 40 years old. In just the next three years alone, one in five Minnesota roads will pass their useful life. And in the next ten years, nearly 40 percent of our roads will be past their useful life.

Poor roads cost Minnesota motorists $1.2 billion every year in extra vehicle repairs, and Minnesota businesses spend an extra $232 million each year on additional freight transportation costs caused by traffic congestion. In addition, the average Minnesota commuter wastes 34 hours stuck in traffic every year. If no additional investments are made in our transportation systems, by 2025 the average Minnesota commuter will waste an estimated 45 hours stuck in traffic. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: February 15, 2019”

WEEK Five: Friday, Feb. 8

Friends and Neighbors,

I hope this finds you well despite all the snow and ice midweek. Week five of the Legislative Session has shown an increase in the pace of activity. More bills are being heard and discussed including several of my own addressing how we handle complex medical care. Early in the week I carried a bill through committee that would make grant money available for a parent to parent program that connects those with children afflicted by complex medical conditions. The additional support of a parent with experience in handling our complex medical system as well as an understanding ear drastically reduces stress and improves outcomes. At the end of the week I stood once more for a bill that would ensure communication between providers when a child with a complicated medical diagnosis is discharged from a hospital. This cuts down on accidental redundancies and risks due to a lack of communication between those administering medical care.

Together we make Minnesota better one step at a time. I look forward to next week and thank you for trusting me to take on your needs at the Capitol. Continue reading “Sen. John Hoffman (SD36) Update: February 8, 2019”