Legislative Update- January 9, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

Happy New Year! The legislative session is underway, and we’ve hit the ground running.

It’s an honor to represent you in the Minnesota House of Representatives! I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue the good work you sent me to Saint Paul to do. This year, in addition to serving as a committee chair, I’ll also be serving on the Ways and Means, Commerce Finance and Policy, Ethics, and Higher Education Finance and Policy committees.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome the newly elected State Rep. Ned Carroll of Plymouth to #TeamPlymouth. Rep. Carroll comes to St. Paul with experience as a former assistant Hennepin County attorney and a twice-elected Plymouth City Council member.

In my new role as State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committee chair, I continue to stand by my pledge to work hard and bring all voices to the table so we can make state and local government more transparent and accessible. 

On our first day of committee, we prioritized vetting and passing a bill that would require inflation to be fully accounted for in state budget forecasts. Currently, inflation is only considered for revenue projections, but not expenditures. This is an important tool we can use to improve fiscal transparency and responsibility in our state budgeting process.

This session, as the chair of the House State and Local Government Committee, I'll be working with GOP-lead Rep. Jim Nash of Waconia.

Requiring inflation to be included in state budget forecasts used to be required by law until 2002. You can read more about our hearing and the history of this measure in the nonpartisan coverage from the House Public Information Services’ Session Daily publication, here.

Just this morning, we advanced bipartisan legislation for certain individuals, families, and small businesses who may qualify for new tax breaks, including Minnesotans eligible for President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program. The bill we voted on today kicks off a broader discussion about taxes. There are a lot of ideas out there and we will take a hard look at all of them, including a proposal to repeal the state tax on Social Security benefits.

Please continue to stay in touch with me throughout the session at rep.ginny.klevorn@house.mn.gov or 651-296-5511. Your input drives my work for Plymouth and Medicine Lake! You’re invited to ‘like’ my legislative Facebook page for more community and Capitol updates.

Have a great week!

Warmly,

Ginny Klevorn
State Representative