Dear Neighbor,
Before we get to legislative news, let’s start off by congratulating the Sauk Centre Mainstreeters girls basketball team for winning a state championship in historic fashion, finishing the season 33-0. This week I made a point of commending the team for its achievement on the House floor and you can click here for a quick video clip of that.
This week is National Agriculture Week (Tuesday was National Agriculture Day), something I am extra proud to support as a farmer myself and as the chairman of our House Ag Policy Committee in Minnesota. I want to share a few things we have done at the state level to support the industry as farmers across the state are seeing benefits this year. This includes:
- Ag Land Property Tax Relief: 240,000 agriculture land owners will see $42 million in property tax relief by reducing the unfair burden farmers pay for school bond referendums.
- Beginning Farmer Tax Credit: More than 400 farmers are expected to benefit from a new tax credit designed to recruit the next generation of farmers.
- Ditch Mowing Moratorium: A new law giving policymakers time to craft a ditch mowing policy that respects property owners and prevents future government overreach.
- Ag Co-op Health Plans: A new law allows organizations with member owners – such as farm cooperatives – to provide health insurance to their members. This gives farmers the opportunity to secure health insurance with stable costs and also improves access to the local doctors.
Click here for a short clip of me talking more about what the ag and farmers themselves mean to our state and nation.
While most of our time at the Capitol this week has been spent on committee work, both bodies did earlier today provide final approval of a bill to help keep the state’s new vehicle license and registration program operating. The new system has encountered serious problems and the legislation we approved will bring more accountability to make sure results are delivered. We need this system to work, so let’s hope we can finally turn a corner with this program.
As for other work, my committee on ag policy this week reviewed the governor’s own ag policy bill. It includes a proposal to tweak a tax credit program for young farmers. I may pass along more information on that subject at a later date.
A bill I authored related to biodiesel is now ready for a vote of the full House. My bill provides language to help ease the transition as Minnesota prepares to move to a 20-percent biodiesel blend this spring.
Sincerely,
Paul