Legislative Update - Back at the Capitol

Dear Neighbors, 

The 2024 Legislative Session has begun! We returned to our official work on Monday, and we hit the ground running.

I started this week with a hearing in the Education Policy committee - one of three committees I serve on in addition to Human Services Finance and Children & Families Finance and Policy. We heard testimony on legislation pertaining to School Resource Officers, providing clarity to a law we had passed last year on the use-of-force standards for SROs.

This has been a widely-covered issue, but I encourage you to read this non-partisan article on our hearing from Minnesota House Public Media. 

When it comes to this legislation, based on my 12 years as an Indian Education Liaison for our schools, and in conversations I’ve had in our community, I always come back to this question: what is the best course of action for keeping our students safe? Especially students whose voices go unheard far too often. 

Ultimately, this legislation passed our committee, and continues its way through the legislative process. I will continue to follow this issue closely, and fight for solutions that are focused on student safety.

Here’s a quick update on other events and news from this week:

Murdered & Missing Indigenous Relatives Day of Remembrance

On Wednesday we honored Murdered and Missing Indigenous Relatives Day of Remembrance. My fellow members of the Native American Legislative Caucus in the House took a moment to reflect on this day, its importance, and held a moment of silence. You can watch our remarks here.

Now available: MMIR specialty license plates. Fees paid by drivers who obtain a plate will be put into the Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag reward fund. To order license plates online or find an office to purchase them in-person, visit drive.mn.gov?.

Minnesota’s Child Tax Credit

Nearly 300,000 Minnesota households are eligible for the nation-leading Child Tax Credit the DFL passed last year! With our Child Tax Credit, families are saving up to $1,750 for each dependent. Democrats are cutting child poverty by one-third with this rebate.

You can claim the tax credit by filing a 2023 income tax return. The $1,750 credit is for each child 17 years old and younger, with no limit on the number of children. For all tax filers, this credit begins to phase out at an income level of $35,000 and fully phases out at a maximum of $90,750 for a family with four children.

You can learn more about the tax credit here. 

Historic Investments in Addressing Homelessness

This week, in the Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee, we received an update on our work from last year, including our historic investment in funding to address homelessness. 

This Housing Stability Budget we passed contained an interagency investment of $2.6 billion over the next 4 years, addressing the spectrum of housing needs such as preventing and ending homelessness, creating a healthy rental market for low-income renters, and closing the disparities in homeownership.

You can view the presentation committee members received here.

Stay Connected

It's more important than ever that you reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have for our work in the legislature. You can reach my office at rep.heather.keeler@house.mn.gov or 651-296-5515. You can also follow my Facebook page or take my brief legislative survey.

In community, 

Rep. Heather Keeler

Minnesota House of Representatives