Hello from St. Paul,
Today the State of Minnesota received some good news as the federal government assured us that traditional driver’s licenses will be sufficient to board domestic flights until October 1, 2020.
For travelers, this is very important as there had been debate what would happen when Minnesota makes the transition to REAL ID. With this news, Minnesotans won’t have an issue boarding an airplane for another two years.
With our committee work basically over, the overwhelming majority of my time has been spent on the House floor, as we recently approved a number of policy bills as well as comprehensive supplemental budget proposals within each area of state government.
The good news is almost all of these bills were approved with strong bipartisan support.
One of the most important proposals approved was the taxes bill I shared with you last week. It simplifies Minnesota’s tax code and provides the first income tax rate cut in almost two decades. More than 2 million Minnesotans would benefit.
I also supported legislation relating to health and human services – which addresses elder abuse, better protects vulnerable and aging adults, and combats the opioid epidemic - transportation, state government finance, jobs, and public safety – which increases penalties for protesters who illegally obstruct roadways and transit.
I had a number of provisions in the jobs bill relating to the placement of modular homes allowing more of our residents to secure affordable housing options, so I was clearly pleased with the support on that legislation.
The next step in the legislative process is to work with the Minnesota Senate to reconcile any differences that may exist in our bills and craft proposals we hope Governor Dayton will sign. I will keep you updated on any progress.
Talk to you soon,
Nolan