St. Paul, MN – Tonight, the Minnesota House passed a Jobs & Local Projects and Critical Economic Development bill with investments in infrastructure and economic stimulus to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other items, the legislation contains $1.879 billion toward public assets such as higher education institutions, clean water infrastructure, transportation, parks, trails, and funding for underserved communities. State Representative Jeff Brand (DFL - St. Peter) voted in favor of the legislation.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Minnesota, the investments in this bill will go a long way in bringing about the economic recovery our state needs,” said Rep. Brand. “Whether it’s regional infrastructure projects like the updates to Caswell Park, support for child care, or delivering the resources to the most vulnerable Minnesotans, this long overdue legislation will be an important component in helping our economy bounce back.”
For Rep. Brand’s district, the bill provides funding for updates to Caswell Park and the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center. In addition to investments in our aging infrastructure, the bill delivers funding for a temporary pay raise for personal care assistants, $16 million for direct care and treatment programs, $10.3 million to ensure sexual assault examination kits get tested, and a salary increase for state troopers in line with other law enforcement agencies.
The bill also contains a series of tax provisions, including full section 179 conformity for the federal tax code which will help businesses and farmers. It contains a policy fix for short-term rental properties, flexibility for the Minnesota State High School League’s sales tax proceeds, and an expansion of the homestead property tax exclusion for the spouses of deceased disabled veterans.
A full list of projects included in the bill can be accessed here and the legislation itself can be accessed here.
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