Legislative Update- March 5, 2024

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you’re having a good week and enjoying more light each day. We’re kicking off week four of the legislative session and I’ve been meeting with members of our community visiting the Capitol, presenting bills in committee, and helping move legislation forward.

Local Infrastructure Projects in Rosemount Take Shape

I'm pleased to share that the $24 million for facility improvements we secured for the Rosemount Readiness Center is starting to take shape. Construction is underway and the project is expected to be completed by September 2025. These investments will enhance training opportunities for our local public safety heroes as they work to help strengthen our communities. 

A construction plan to build a roundabout at the Rosemount High School entrance on Highway 3 between 140th and 143rd Street is also coming together with the $2.4 million in state funding I authored to fix it. Thanks to Rosemount High School students who advocated fiercely for these critical investments, this intersection will greatly improve safety and help reduce congestion. Construction is anticipated to begin after the summer after the 2024-2025 school year. More information about upcoming traffic impacts will be shared on the project webpage and through project email alerts as details become available.

Here’s an update from the Minnesota House:

Tax Season Update

The first bill we took action on when session got underway was passing a technical corrections bill to the 2023 Tax Bill. The biggest change from last year’s bill was updating how we account for inflation, and the adjustment will save Minnesotans around $300 million dollars as they file their 2023 taxes. The legislation ensures Minnesotans receive the return for which they’re entitled.

Below I’ve also included information on timely credits, rebates, and other tax savings:

Property Tax Refund

Lawmakers simplified the Property Tax Refund making sure every renter will receive the refund they deserve, one third of whom are seniors or people with disabilities. You can qualify for the $204 average refund by visiting https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/property-tax-refund.

Social Security Income Exemption

Lawmakers are supporting older Minnesotans by eliminating the tax on Social Security income for those earning less than $100,000 annually (married/joint) or $78,000 (single/head of household) providing an average tax cut of $732. More information can be found here.8

Child Tax Credit

I recently mentioned in a previous update the new nation-leading Child Tax Credit, which will help families save up to $1,750 for each dependent. For all tax filers, this credit begins to phase out at an income level of $35,000 and fully phases out at a maximum of $90,750 for a family with four children. More information can be found here.

K-12 Credit and Subtraction

If you're buying school supplies for your children, you may qualify for one or both of the K-12 Education Subtraction, and the K-12 Education Credit. The 2023 Tax Bill increased the maximum credit from $1,000 to $1,500 per child. More info can be found here.

Updated SRO Legislation Advances

Yesterday, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed comprehensive legislation to require a statewide standard of the basic training required for School Resource Officers. To minimize harmful, disparate engagements between SROs and students, the legislation also expressly prohibits SROs from being used to deliver discipline for violation of school policies. I was glad to contribute to the work that went into fine tuning this bill because our kids deserve to be safe at school.

EMT Training Scholarships Available

Last year, we invested a portion of the budget surplus to address the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) statewide shortage. One of these initiatives that I supported funds a one-time appropriation of $3 million will provide up to 600 scholarships of $5,000 each starting Fall 2024 to be awarded by June 30, 2026. If you or anyone you know might be interested in this opportunity to serve the public and give back to the community, you can find eligibility information here. 

Keep in Touch

Please continue to contact me anytime at rep.john.huot@house.mn.gov or 651-296-4306 with input, questions, or to let me know how i can help.

It’s an honor to represent our Rosemount, Apple Valley, and Eagan neighbors at the State Capitol.

Take care,

John