ST. PAUL, MN—House Republicans concluded the 2018 session on Sunday, passing a compromise tax conformity and education funding bill, a bonding bill, and a pension bill to the Governor's desk for consideration. Earlier Sunday, the House passed the supplemental budget bill to the governor's desk.
“Over the last two years, we’ve made such great progress for our state, and I’m proud of the bills we passed this session to build on those successes,” said Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea. “The legislation we passed this session represents our shared priorities like tax conformity and school safety. I’m hopeful the governor will recognize that, and sign these bills into law.”
During the 2018 session, Rep. Bennett had a number of her provisions pass as portions of larger bills. These include:
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The Foster Sibling Bill of Rights
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Funding for Riverland Community College to improve facilities and move auto service and diesel programs to Albert Lea from the Austin campus
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A tax incentive for health care facilities that locate in medically underserved areas in rural Minnesota
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Funding the completion of the Stables area sewer and water project
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Providing more mental health services for students using telemedicine
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Expanding vocational and technical education opportunities for Minnesota students
“I feel honored to have a number of my provisions passed by the legislature, and hope to see them become signed into law,” said Bennett. “Some of these provisions, like funding for Riverland College and the Stables sewer and water project, can have a big impact on our area. Others, such as the Foster Sibling Bill of Rights, providing increased mental health services for students, and tax incentives to bring more health care options to rural Minnesota, may have a lasting effect around the state.”
Late Sunday evening, the governor announced the signing of a bill, HF3265, which contains Rep. Bennett’s Foster Sibling Bill of Rights.
“The signing of this bill is great news for our young Minnesotans currently in foster care,” said Bennett. “Now that this legislation will become law, it will be easier for siblings to stay connected when they’re in the care of different foster parents. I truly believe this can make a big difference in the lives of some of our most vulnerable young people.”
The tax conformity and education plan were part of a compromise effort between legislative Republicans and Governor Dayton. The federal conformity plan protects taxpayers, simplifies Minnesota's tax code, and provides the first income tax rate cut in nearly 20 years. It also makes available more than $225 million to help students—nearly $100 million more than what the governor requested, provides new money and additional flexibility for school districts to address budget shortfalls.
In the supplemental budget bill, House and Senate Republicans compromised with the governor—more than 60 percent of the objections raised by the governor were removed or amended, meeting him more than halfway. The bill contains shared priorities like ensuring safe schools, repairing roads and bridges, tackling the opioid epidemic, protecting aging and vulnerable adults, and preventing a cut to caregivers of disabled Minnesotans.
A top priority for House Republicans this year was improved school safety and student mental health. The bonding bill passed Sunday night brings the total school safety investment to more than $50 million to help make Minnesota schools safer.
House Republicans also advanced an infrastructure-heavy, geographically balanced capital investment package featuring $825 million in general obligation bonding to fund construction projects throughout the state. The majority of funding is dedicated to bricks-and-mortar projects, such as roads and bridges, water infrastructure and statewide asset preservation. Funds in the bonding bill will be used to complete the Stables area water and sewer project in Albert Lea. In addition, the bonding bill includes $32 million for the construction of new veterans homes in Bemidji, Montevideo, and Preston, as well as $10 million for the renovation of existing homes.
The bills sent to the governor build on the tremendously successful accomplishments from the 2017 session that included the largest tax cut in nearly two decades, the largest investment in roads and bridges in state history without a gas tax increase, major funding boosts for education, and reforms to lower health care costs and boost health care choices for Minnesota families.
The compromise proposals await action by Governor Dayton in the coming days.
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