Legislative Update Dear friends and neighbors, I’m going to skip the fluff this week and get straight to what’s on everyone’s mind. Tax Day was Wednesday, and if your experience looked anything like mine, it’s clear: Minnesotans are overtaxed, plain and simple. At the same time, updated property valuation notices are hitting mailboxes across the state, and for a lot of folks, those numbers are going up—for most, by a lot. If you’re in agriculture, you know the drill: half due in May, half in November. But whether you’re on a farm or in a neighborhood, many of you are asking the same question: how is my home worth more, yet I feel like I’m falling further behind? Here’s the reality. Costs are being pushed down from both the federal government and the state, but counties are still expected to meet the same requirements. They don’t have a magic pot of money sitting around, so that leaves them with essentially two options—cut services or raise levy rates. And more often than not, that results in higher property taxes for you. I’ve gotten plenty of emails lately asking, “What can I even do about this?” The good news is, you’re not stuck. If you believe your property has been overvalued, you can appeal it. Start at your local Board of Equalization or go to the county. It’s not always a quick fix, but it’s absolutely worth looking into. What really doesn’t sit right is this: since 2019, Minnesota’s GDP has grown at about 1% per year. Meanwhile, property values, (and the taxes tied to them) are climbing much faster. That gap? You’re feeling it every day in your grocery bill, your utility bill, and yes, your property tax statement. Down at the Capitol, things are moving fast (as they always do this time of year). We passed our first and second legislative deadlines last week, and the final deadline for bills is today at 5:00 p.m. From here, committees wrap up, though the tax committee will keep working right up until the end of session on May 17. I want to be very clear about one thing: I hear you. The frustration, the questions, the “how is this sustainable?” conversations—you’re not shouting into the wind. House Republicans have proposals (see below) ready to go that would ease the burden, rein in costs, and bring some common sense back to how we tax Minnesotans. Now we just need the opportunity to get them across the finish line. I’ll keep fighting to make sure your voice is part of that conversation every step of the way.  Don’t Let Costs Roll Downhill: Why Federal Alignment MattersYou’ve probably heard me bring this up a few times this session, but it’s worth breaking down—because it’s one of those behind-the-scenes issues that has very real, very noticeable impacts on your wallet. Let’s start with “federal conformity.” Federal conformity means Minnesota aligns parts of our tax code with the federal government. When we don’t align—what’s called “decoupling”—we risk losing out on federal dollars tied to those provisions. But the costs tied to those programs don’t just disappear. Instead, they get pushed down to counties… and eventually, to you. That’s the cost shift. Local governments are left to make up the difference, and more often than not, that means higher property taxes and increased costs across the board. That’s why we are working to align with the federal tax code—not move away from it. This week, we worked to do exactly that by advancing House File 3127, which includes the pass-through entity (PTE) tax extension. This provision costs the state of Minnesota nothing—zero—but prevents hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes from hitting Minnesota job creators. If we fail to act, small businesses across our state will be facing a massive and unnecessary tax increase. That makes it harder to grow, harder to hire, and harder to reinvest in the communities they serve. And when there’s uncertainty like this, businesses don’t just shrug it off—they pull back. Hiring slows. Expansion plans get put on hold. Some even start looking elsewhere for a more stable environment. We should be doing the opposite. House Republicans are focused on creating a business climate where employers can grow, hire, and compete—not just survive, but actually thrive. That starts with keeping taxes predictable and making it clear that Minnesota is open for business. Because when we get that right, it doesn’t just help businesses—it helps every community that depends on them. Putting a Spotlight on Child Safety This week, I spoke with a group about House File 4408, a bill I authored this session that deals with how we handle information when a child dies or nearly dies as a result of abuse or neglect. Right now, Minnesota already has child mortality review processes in place. What this bill does is strengthen transparency by requiring more public disclosure of information related to these cases—so Minnesotans can actually see what happened and whether the system responded the way it should have. These are not easy conversations. They shouldn’t be. But when something goes wrong at that level, “we reviewed it internally” isn’t enough. The public deserves to understand what happened, what was learned, and whether changes are actually being made to prevent the next tragedy. This is really about accountability and making sure that serious failures don’t stay buried in reports that no one ever sees. When we shed light on these cases, we strengthen the entire system meant to protect kids in the first place. At the end of the day, every one of these cases represents a child, a family, and a system that has to do better. That’s a heavy responsibility, but it’s one we can’t turn our eyes from. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work on this bill and for those willing to engage in these conversations, even when they’re uncomfortable. Those are often the ones that matter most. Steak on a Stick & Strong Ag Partnerships We ended the week on a much more positive note with one of the Capitol’s favorite traditions, "Steak on a Stick" Day. I’m always grateful for our partnership with the West Central Cattlemen. As a farmer myself, I know firsthand how important it is that we show up for our agricultural community and advocate for the producers who keep Minnesota’s food supply strong. It’s a good reminder, too, that some of the best work we do here is rooted in relationships, trust, and making sure rural voices are heard at the Capitol. Please Reach Out!As always, I am so grateful for your continued support and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to represent you. As always, my door is open to you. Please feel free to stop by my office for a meeting or reach out via email at rep.nathan.nelson@house.mn.gov. You can also stay updated and follow my work by visiting my Facebook page here. I’m here to listen and work together for our community's success! Sincerely, —Representative Nathan Nelson |