Dear Neighbor,
Come Monday, we will be entering the final month of the legislative session. We will be spending more and more time on the House floor with regular committee work wrapping up and more than 125 bills on the General Register, which means they can be taken up for votes on passage by the full body at any time.
We have 30 days remaining before our May 17 deadline to adjourn – fewer when you factor in non-working weekends. Here is the latest from St. Paul:
 Affordability package I participated in a press conference House Republicans hosted this week to share details of a package of bills that, together, would provide nearly $4 billion in tax relief – a state record. The “North Star Comeback,” plan features $1 billion in one-time property tax relief, eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, and reduces car tab fees. It also lowers childcare costs and provides hundreds of millions of dollars for education at no cost to taxpayers through scholarship-granting organizations. It is a package built around three main components: protecting family budgets, making government work for Minnesotans, and building a world-class economy where businesses can survive and thrive. Between rising prices and our state government’s reckless spending and unnecessary tax increases, Minnesota families and businesses have been walloped at every turn in recent years. People are asking us to deliver some much-needed breathing room and that’s what I’m focusing on. Many of the proposals in the North Star Comeback are common-sense policies that Minnesotans broadly support. For example, several measures aimed at improving government are included, such as modernizing county-administered public service IT systems and dedicating additional funding for fraud prevention. The proposal also expands safe schools funding so that every student can learn in a secure environment. House Republicans have made efforts to bring some of these proposals forward, only to have House Democrats block them. This includes legislation (H.F. 3127) that would provide a combined $2.05 billion in tax relief for 66,000 Minnesota businesses – at no cost to the state – by conforming to the federal tax code. House Democrats also have blocked $1 billion in property tax relief to Minnesotans at a time when rates are rising across the state. Rising property taxes have been caused, in part, by costly, unfunded mandates the former Democrat trifecta imposed on local governments, including school districts. Minnesota currently ranks seventh highest in the nation for overall tax burden and our rising property taxes are adding to the problem. It makes sense to use the current, short-term $3.7 billion surplus to provide a one-time rebate to Minnesotans. Property-tax increases are especially difficult for seniors on fixed incomes who are being priced out of homes they have already paid for and lived in for decades. The House is tied, so just one single Democrat needs to find their bipartisan streak, and we can make this happen. Capitol visitors |
CEO of Elevate Air Shows , Kyle Smith, is bringing back an air show to St. Cloud on Aug. 1 and 2. It has been 12 years since it was once in St. Cloud.
Col. Jason Suby, MN CAP Wing Commander, made me an official member of the Minnesota State Legislative Squadron, Civil Air Patrol.
Local St. Cloud Father Project, Goodwill-Easter Seals MN and Greater MN Partners.
Local St. Cloud high school students from the HOSA program.
School safety
House Republicans have put forward a plan focused on delivering immediate, meaningful improvements to school safety.
It makes significant investments in safety measures for public, nonpublic, and tribal schools so every student is protected, regardless of where they learn. The proposal also strengthens student mental health support, recognizing that early intervention can stop problems before they escalate. It includes flexible, locally driven approaches to anonymous threat reporting and enhanced safety planning, along with discipline reforms to restore order and protect teachers and students.
These ideas reflect consistent feedback from educators and families across Minnesota and have historically drawn bipartisan backing. Again, we just need one Democrat to stand with us to improve school safety, but this week every single Democrat voted “no” in the Education Finance Committee.
Instead of advancing these commonsense measures, House Democrats are tying them to broader gun policy debates – risking unnecessary delays on urgently needed safety improvements. Those are important discussions and should continue, but they should not be used as a reason to delay immediate action on school safety support, expanded student mental health aid, and strengthened safety plans for schools.
Helpful House links
Here are some links you may find helpful in following the latest goings on at the Capitol:
Please Contact Me
It’s an honor and privilege to work for you at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas. You can call me at 651-296-6316, or email me at rep.bernie.perryman@house.mn.gov. I am here to serve you!
Bernie
