Neighbors, The 2023 legislative session is just completing its fourth week and we’re off to a productive start. As most of you know, I have moved from the State Senate to the House of Representatives, and I look forward to serving our communities at the Capitol for the next two years. Speaker Melissa Hortman has appointed me to serve as chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance & Policy Committee. As a veteran, I understand the complex issues facing our veterans and their families and I look forward to helping any way I can. You can watch the proceedings on the Minnesota House YouTube channel. You can follow along on the committee page here. In addition to the Veterans Committee, I will also serve on the Climate and Energy Finance & Policy, and State and Local Government Finance & Policy Committees.  Getting Things Done Earlier this month, I joined my colleagues to act quickly to pass an early federal tax conformity bill. HF 31 brings Minnesota into alignment with federal tax law, resulting in over $100 million in tax cuts to a wide range of Minnesotans while simplifying future tax filings. Among the many provisions in the bill is one ensuring forgiven student loans are not taxable as income. Should President Biden’s student loan forgiveness go into effect, this will guarantee Minnesotans with student loans receive the full benefit. The Department of Revenue will incorporate these measures in time for this year’s tax filing season, greatly reducing the administrative burden on individuals and businesses this tax season. Planning for future energy demands Yesterday on the House floor, the House DFL majority passed the 100% by 2040 bill, a landmark piece of legislation to help our state address climate change head-on and prepare for a carbon-free future. Action at the state level is urgently needed to help the U.S. meet our climate goals. This legislation would require the state’s utilities to use entirely carbon-free sources for electricity production by 2040. This bill has support from utilities, environmental groups and unions. Not only is this legislation critical to protecting our climate, but it also makes economic sense. Wind power is the cheapest form of electricity, and producing solar energy is cheaper than building new fossil fuel plants or importing fossil fuels from other states. This bill ensures we remove barriers to setting up carbon-free and renewable power sources and invest in jobs right here in Minnesota. I was proud to cast my vote in support of the 100% by 2040 bill on the House floor. I will also continue working on reestablishing hydroelectric power at the Coon Rapids Dam. Stay connected with the legislature It’s easy to stay in touch which the State Capitol activities. The Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services offers nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website. Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so please don’t hesitate to call or email me any time. You can find my information on my House website. It is an honor to represent you at the State Capitol. Sincerely, Jerry Newton State Representative |