Legislative Update Dear friends and neighbors, I hope your week has been a good one—and that you managed to enjoy that brief but glorious “Minnesota is flirting with summer” moment we got yesterday. It was one of those days where you step outside, immediately forget about winter, and start planning your entire life around graduations, planting gardens and farm fields, and outdoor summer adventures. Down at the Capitol, spring has officially arrived in more ways than one. The trees are leafing out, the Capitol lawn is finally green again (proof that miracles do exist after a long Minnesota winter), and legislation is quickly funneling to its completion. We’ve already cleared our first and second legislative deadlines, and the final bill deadline hit yesterday at 5:00 p.m. From here, most committees are wrapping up their work—except Taxes, which is still running the legislative equivalent of the Twin Cities (or Grandma's) marathon with no water break until the session ends on May 17. House Republicans have been busy promoting changes to give Minnesota families some real financial relief—tax conformity measures, fraud prevention efforts across all committees, and a steady push to reduce all kinds of taxes and fees for Minnesotans. There’s no shortage of good ideas on the table. Now our focus shifts to getting them across the finish line. As always, I’m listening, and I’ll continue working every day to make sure your voice is part of every conversation. Safe Schools Can’t Wait On Tuesday, we rolled out our House Republican school safety proposal. This package has been months in the making, shaped in the wake of the heartbreaking tragedy at Annunciation Catholic School last fall, and now proactively working to apply lessons learned to make sure this never happens again in Minnesota. We have made it a top priority throughout the planning process to receive extensive input from the people who know our schools best: superintendents, teachers, parents, and students. At its core, this proposal is about making sure every student, educator, and support staff member is safe and feels safe in every school, when they walk through those doors each morning. One of our guiding principles in education is to fully fund our schools while giving local control. We understand that local school boards, administration, and faculty know the needs of their students better than we do in St. Paul. So we built a proposal that meets schools where they are. Not a one-size-fits-all mandate, but a multilayered approach with tools schools can use right now. We prioritized more funding for school safety across public, nonpublic, and Tribal schools. As well as strengthening access to mental health resources, recognizing that early intervention can prevent crises before they happen. And we created a framework that local school districts can elect to utilize for anonymous threat reporting and safety planning, so they can respond quickly and in ways that make sense for their communities. We also tackled what’s happening inside the classroom—supporting discipline reforms that help restore order and protect both students and staff, while making sure teachers aren’t left to handle tough situations on their own. And just to be clear: this wasn’t a partisan wish list. Many of these ideas have had bipartisan support in the past, and there is plenty of common ground to work with. But right now, gridlock is getting in the way. We’ve found agreement on a lot—but a couple of sticking points are holding up action on bills that otherwise have broad support. Unfortunately, this week 100% of House Democrats voted against the amendment needed to advance the proposal, and it stalled in committee. Instead of moving forward on solutions we largely agree on, the conversation stalled over a few points of disagreement that must not stop us from taking action on school safety right now. One of those points of disagreement is non-negotiable for us. We will insist that school safety funding will be the same for every student, in every school—public or non-public. At this moment, the other side is refusing to allow school safety funding to non-public schools, which, of course, would mean that schools like Annunciation would be excluded. Here's the hard truth: delay is a decision. Each day we wait is another day schools are left without the resources they’ve been asking for. Another day, teachers are left managing increasingly difficult situations without sufficient backup. Another day, parents are left wondering if everything that can be done, actually is being done. With about a month left in session, the choice is pretty simple—move forward on solutions we agree on, or keep Minnesota waiting. House Republicans are ready to act, and Minnesota families are ready for results. Tax Day Reality Check (Spoiler: It Wasn’t Pretty) Tax Day was Wednesday, and if your experience was anything like mine, it probably came with a familiar reaction: “Wait… what?” One thing is becoming increasingly clear: Minnesotans are feeling the squeeze. Hard-working families, small businesses, and retirees alike are all asking the same question—how is this supposed to be sustainable? I hear you. I’ve heard from many of you over the past week, and the message has been consistent: frustration, confusion, and a growing sense that the tax dollars you pay exceed the value that the State delivers. That feels like theft to me, and it’s wrong. That’s exactly why House Republicans have been focused on putting forward real, practical solutions to reduce taxes for individuals, families, and businesses. Not slogans. Not gimmicks. Real policy to reduce government spending, deliver tax relief, and bring some long-overdue common sense back into Minnesota’s tax code. One example of our efforts is a bill I have the privilege of authoring, House File 4774, which updates and modernizes Minnesota’s border city economic development tools. In plain terms, it helps communities attract and keep businesses by improving tax credit programs tied to job creation and investment, adding flexibility for local expansion needs, and cutting through outdated restrictions that slow down growth. It also creates a new option to help businesses with land acquisition costs so that when a local business wants to expand, they do it here in Minnesota instead of relocating elsewhere, because keeping jobs local should be among our highest priorities. At the end of the day, this is about making sure our communities have the tools to grow their tax base the right way—through jobs and investment, not higher taxes on families who are already stretched thin. There’s a lot of work ahead, but the goal stays simple: less confusion, more fairness, and a tax system that gives value to the people paying into it! Let's Stay Connected! I am so immensely grateful for your continued support—and for the opportunity to represent you in St. Paul. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly, and one I’m reminded of every time I hear from folks back home. As always, my door is open to you. If you want to stop by for a meeting, share an idea, or just talk through what’s happening at the Capitol, I welcome it. You can also reach me anytime at rep.steve.gander@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651.296.5091. I’m here to listen, to work hard, and to keep showing up for the incredible community we are all so fortunate to call home. Sincerely, —Representative Steve Gander |