St. Paul, Minn. - State Rep. John Huot (DFL-Rosemount) has been appointed by Speaker Melissa Hortman to the House and Senate Legacy Conference Committee. Five appointed members of the House and five members of the Senate will work over the course of the next few weeks to find a compromise on a final bill to bring to each respective chamber for a final vote.
“I’m looking forward to this opportunity,” said Rep. Huot. “I’m confident that by working together, we can find common ground on how we can best leverage legacy dollars to protect our arts and cultural heritage, including our treasured Minnesota Zoo.”
In 2008, Minnesotans voted to adopt the Legacy Amendment, which increased sales taxes by three-eighths of one percent. The revenue this constitutional amendment generates is divided between four funds. Sixty-six percent of the revenue is split evenly between the Outdoor Heritage Fund and the Clean Water Fund, 19.75 percent goes to the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and the Parks and Trails Fund receives 14.25 percent. All these funds are appropriated every two years except the Outdoor Heritage Fund, which is appropriated annually.
Conference Committees are expected to begin meeting as soon as this week.
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