Matt Norris
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 32B district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byDonald Raleigh
Personal details
Born (1988-12-03) December 3, 1988 (age 35)
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
ResidenceBlaine, Minnesota
EducationUniversity of Minnesota, Twin Cities (BSB)
University of Minnesota Law School (JD)
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Matt Norris (born December 3, 1988) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Norris represents District 32B in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Blaine and Lexington in Anoka County.[1][2]

Early life, education, and career

Norris grew up in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. He received his bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Minnesota and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.[1]

Norris interned for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar in 2009, and worked as a law clerk for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in 2012. From 2010 to 2017, he worked as the youth planner for the city of Brooklyn Park.[1] Before being elected to the legislature, Norris was policy director of Youthprise, a nonprofit.[3][4]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Norris was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. He defeated one-term Republican incumbent Donald Raleigh.[1][5]

Norris serves as vice chair of the Taxes Committee, and sits on the Transportation Finance and Policy, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy, and Housing Finance and Policy Committees.[1]

Policy positions

Norris authored legislation to double funding for programs designed to train students in the trades as they build affordable housing in the state.[6] He also wrote a bill to increase the cap for the homestead market value exclusion, saying he heard on the campaign trail from residents and seniors struggling to keep up with rising house values.[7]

Norris sponsored a bill that would toughen a 2019 law that banned the use of PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam, expanding it to cover all uses not required by federal law.[8][9][10][11] Pharmaceutical corporations and conservative think tanks attacked him for supporting a bill that would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board that could set limits on medication prices.[12]

Electoral history

2022 Minnesota State House - District 32B[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Matt Norris 9,098 51.12
Republican Donald Raleigh (incumbent) 8,685 48.79
Write-in 16 0.09
Total votes 17,799 100.0
Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican

Personal life

Norris lives in Blaine, Minnesota.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Norris, Matt - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  2. ^ "Rep. Matt Norris (32B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  3. ^ Bakst, Brian (2022-09-15). "Minnesota Senate and House races to watch". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  4. ^ Hinrichs, Erin (2020-12-08). "Why Minnesota high school students fought so hard to win pandemic unemployment benefits". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  5. ^ Bierschbach, Briana; Van Berkel, Jessie (February 19, 2022). "Suburbs remain legislative battleground under new Minnesota political maps". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  6. ^ Walsh, James (May 29, 2023). "Minnesota Legislature doubles funding for teaching students homebuilding skills". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  7. ^ Buchta, Jim; Galioto, Katie (April 9, 2023). "Think your property tax assessment is too high? Here's what to do". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  8. ^ Johnson, Chloe (March 2, 2023). "Minnesota could ban 'forever chemicals' from household items, firefighting foam". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  9. ^ Marohn, Kristi (2023-01-24). "DFL lawmakers push to restrict use of 'forever chemicals'". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  10. ^ Roth, Madison (2023-03-16). "A look at the four Minnesota bills proposing regulations on PFAS chemicals". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  11. ^ Winter, Deena (2023-02-01). "House panel considers 3 bills that would strictly regulate 'forever chemicals'". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  12. ^ Winter, Deena (2023-04-13). "Conservatives target swing-district lawmakers over bill to control drug costs". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  13. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 32B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.

External links

Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
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