Duckworth Votes for Significant Agriculture, Broadband, and Housing Package to Help Minnesotans

The Minnesota Senate yesterday handed a major Agriculture, Broadband, and Housing invoice to assist Minnesota farmers and households. The laws works to increase broadband funding, addresses pressing issues in our agriculture sector and improves entry to reasonably priced housing. It additionally helps farmers fight the continued Avian influenza outbreak by appropriating $500,000 to the agricultural emergency account to be used for avian influenza testing provides. Additionally, included is $350,000 for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory on the University of Minnesota for gear to take a look at for power losing illness (CWD), African swine fever, avian influenza, and different animal ailments. 

In the Housing portion of the invoice is language authored by Senator Zach Duckworth (R-Lakeville) that will increase the utmost mortgage quantity an individual of low revenue can obtain from the Minnesota Housing Agency.

“This is an integral bill that address issues farmers and families across the state have been facing for years. We are committed to providing access to affordable housing and reliable internet for all Minnesotans. It is incumbent upon legislators to address the housing crisis our state is facing. Through targeted investments we are increasing affordable housing and providing financial opportunities for first-time home buyers. It’s time for us to solve the housing crisis and renew the American Dream of home ownership. Today’s bill dedicates resources to doing that,” mentioned Duckworth.

Other notable provisions within the invoice embody: 

• Funding to offset misplaced income for Minnesota deer farmers impacted by the banning of deer motion by the Department of Natural Resources
• Provides historic funding up to $210 million of federal cash to additional increase broadband throughout the state
• $35 million funding within the Homeownership Investment Grants Program to enhance reasonably priced house possession
• $10 million in funding for the Workforce Homeownership Program to enhance the provision of workforce and reasonably priced, owner-occupied housing

• Preventing the governor from issuing any govt order that prohibits or delays evictions for greater than 30 days until an extension to the order is accepted by a majority vote of every home of the legislature
• Prohibiting native governments from enacting hire management insurance policies on personal residential properties, retroactive to November 1, 2021