Representative O’Neill supported historic tax and transportation bills which highlight the 2017 legislative achievements
ST. PAUL, MN—On Friday, the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate concluded the special session, passing the final bills that comprise the 2018-2019 biennium budget. In all, the Legislature passed seven bills during special session: Taxes, Transportation, State Government, Health and Human Services, K-12 Education, Bonding, and Labor Standards.
“My number one priority this session was to return money to families, seniors, small businesses and the hardworking taxpayers of Wright County with a significant middle-class tax relief package. I am proud to share we passed the largest tax cut for Minnesotans in nearly twenty years,” said Rep. Marion O’Neill, R-Maple Lake. “We were also able to fund our shared priorities including more money for our schools and investments in our state’s transportation infrastructure without a harmful tax increase. Overall, I think this year’s budget is a win for our state.”
The Republican-led tax bill will mean more than $650 million in tax relief—the largest tax cut in nearly two decades—for Minnesota families in the 2018-2019 biennium and three-quarters of a billion dollars in tax relief in the 2020-2021 biennium. It includes relief for seniors on social security, college graduates with student loan debt, and property tax relief for farmers and Minnesota businesses. In addition, Republicans championed and the Legislature approved the largest investment in road and bridge infrastructure in a state history without an increase in the gas tax or license tab fees.
During regular session, the Legislature passed budget bills for Public Safety, Higher Education, Jobs & Energy Affordability, Agriculture, and Environment and Natural Resources. Altogether, the Legislature is sending ten budget bills, a $995 million bonding bill, a labor standards bill to the governor’s desk for his signature.