St. Paul, Minnesota — Yesterday, the Minnesota House passed Jobs & Local Projects and Critical Economic Development legislation with 100 votes and strong bipartisan support. This legislation invests in infrastructure and economic stimulus to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. It invests $1.879 billion toward public assets such as clean water infrastructure, higher education institutions, roads and bridges, parks, trails, and more. It also contains supplemental state budget appropriations and a series of tax provisions.
The bill funds several projects in Shakopee and Scott County, including; a pedestrian and bike overpass on 169, McMahon Lake flood mitigation, household hazardous waste cleanup in Scott county, and improvement to the Highway 13, Dakota and Yosemite interchange. A full list of the projects included is available here.
“I am extremely grateful that so many of my colleagues recognized the importance of passing this bill and came together to do so. Every single one of these projects will result in direct investment in local communities and jobs throughout Minnesota,” said Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL - Shakopee). “As our economy is in the midst of a downturn, this legislation will provide a much needed economic boost to help Minnesotans get back on their feet.”
The bill includes a salary increase for state troopers to keep them in line with other law enforcement agencies, a provision shepherded by Rep. Tabke. The legislation provides for much needed funding in direct care and treatment programs at the Department of Human Services. It also delivers funding for a temporary pay increase for personal care attendants, and funding to allow the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to test backlogged sexual assault examination kits.
Finally, the bill makes changes to tax policies, including full section 179 conformity to the federal tax code aimed at helping businesses and farmers. It also 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.
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