Dear neighbors,
I hope everyone is enjoying the nice spring weather. We’re still hard at work at the State Capitol as we vote on policy bills on the House Floor aimed at improving the lives of working and middle class Minnesotans.
Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to recently:
Tax Season Reminder
Tax Day is this Monday, April 15! As a reminder, if you’re a renter, don't forget to claim your property tax refund! This is the first year renters will be able to receive this credit with their tax filing rather than later in the year. Along with making it simpler and more convenient, we also expanded the credit to many Minnesotans who didn’t qualify previously.
I also want to remind you that nearly 300,000 Minnesota households are eligible for the nation-leading Child Tax Credit! With our Child Tax Credit, families will save up to $1,750 for each dependent. Democrats are cutting child poverty by one-third with this rebate.
You can claim the tax credit by filing a 2023 income tax return. The $1,750 credit is for each child 17 years old and younger, with no limit on the number of children. 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.
Minnesota families: If you qualify, file your taxes to make sure you claim the benefits available to you.
Advocates at the Capitol
This week, constituents with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Minnesota shared their personal stories of why this work matters to them. They also reviewed their legislative priorities and asked for my support. Suicide is an issue that impacts my family deeply and personally. I still remember where I was and what I was doing when I learned that my brother-in-law had taken his life. Thank you advocates for prioritizing this issue. I am with you.
This session, the Pensions Commission was given a budget target of $31M, which was fully allocated to educators. Though it was not what I had hoped for, we were able to make improvements to teacher pensions. I sat down with teachers of Education Minnesota to discuss the allocation and explore the future. Thank you teachers for your commitment to our children and this work.
This week I also visited the Maplewood Area Historical Society. They held their first annual garage sale to support the operations of the facility. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the farm’s history as the last working farm in the City of Maplewood, the restoration of the farm house, and the Bruentrup family. Thank you Tom and Leslie for taking time to show me around.
Constituents Maggi with the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association and Mariko with the Center for Energy and Environment stopped by for Clean Energy Day on the Hill. We talked about the interconnectedness of solar energy and fuel-switching improvements. I am encouraged by the continued work on clean energy and how to help us get to our goal sooner. Thank you both for your advocacy.
I was also impressed by this group of University of St. Thomas first-year masters nursing students. They were thoughtful and insightful. Their grasp of the needs in healthcare, the inequitable health outcomes, and the finances behind struggling hospitals gives me much hope for the future of healthcare delivery for complex medical needs.
Committee Hearings
This week, I presented my bill, HF 4251, to the House Health Committee. This bill would prohibit the Office of Cannabis Management from approving products that are inhaled that contain a flavoring or smell other than cannabis. This bill is timely because these products are not currently sold in Minnesota, and we have the opportunity to get our arms around the issue before they get into the hands of our children, and before tactics that were used to market tobacco to our children are used with cannabis.
Funding Habitats Across Minnesota
This week, the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) issued its annual Call for Funding Request from the Outdoor Heritage Fund. Approximately $150 million will be available for both metro and statewide grants to aid Minnesota habitat restoration, protection and enhancement.
This is a great opportunity for investment in the habitats that exist in our own community!
Requests are due to the LSOHC on Friday, May 24, 2024 at 4 p.m., with funds for approved programs signed into law during the 2025 legislative session being available on Monday, July 1, 2025.
Since the Outdoor Heritage Fund’s creation in 2008, $1.6 billion in on-the-ground habitat programs have been allocated by the Minnesota Legislature and over 1.4 million acres of Minnesota forests, prairies and wetlands have been restored, protected or enhanced. The latest set of funding recommendations totaling $180 million is currently before the Minnesota Legislature.
Proposal requirements and terms of funding are outlined in the Call for Funding Request. To view details or learn more, visit: www.lsohc.mn.gov. For answers to specific questions, contact LSOHC Staff: www.lsohc.mn.gov/staff. If you have a potential project proposal but are unsure, LSOHC are there to help!
Stay Connected
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for our work this year, always feel free to reach out to my office at 651-296-8799 or rep.kaohly.her@house.mn.gov, and you’ll hear back from me or my Legislative Assistant, Madisyn. You can also follow along on my official Facebook page, and subscribe to these regular emails if you haven’t already.
Sincerely,
Kaohly Vang Her
State Representative