ST. PAUL, MN—On Friday, the Minnesota House of Representatives concluded the special session, passing the final bills that comprise the 2018-2019 biennium budget. In all, the House passed seven bills during special session: Taxes, Transportation, State Government, Health and Human Services, K-12 Education, Bonding, and Labor Standards.
“Lakeville residents made their desires clear to me: they wanted us to pass tax relief and road and bridge funding, and we were able to do that in a bipartisan fashion this session,” said Rep. Jon Koznick, R-Lakeville. “We also made a significant investment in our schools by allocating $1.3 billion in increased education funding. Overall, I’m proud of our budget proposal, and all we accomplished since the legislative session started in January. The contributions I was able to make in just my second term is personally satisfying and rewarding.”
The Republican-led tax bill will mean more than $650 million in tax relief—the largest tax cut in nearly two decades—for Minnesota families in the 2018-2019 biennium and three-quarters of a billion dollars in tax relief in the 2020-2021 biennium. It includes relief for seniors on social security, college graduates with student loan debt, and property tax relief for farmers and Minnesota businesses. In addition, Republicans championed and the legislature approved the largest investment in road and bridge infrastructure in a state history without an increase in the gas tax or license tab fees.
During regular session, the legislature passed budget bills for Public Safety, Higher Education, Jobs & Energy Affordability, Agriculture, and Environment and Natural Resources. Altogether, the legislature is sending ten budget bills, a Capital Investment bill, and a Labor Standards bill to the governor’s desk for his signature.
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