Legislative Update - Committee Hearings

Dear Neighbors,

I am happy to say that since my last legislative update, the House has been constitutionally organized - thanks to the bipartisan power-sharing agreement that was finally reached.

The democratic values my DFL colleagues and I held out for were upheld. House Republicans won’t be able to kick out DFL Rep. Brad Tabke simply because they want to. That also means that should the Roseville special election in March return us to a tied House, we would then govern as such with balanced committees and GOP and DFL co-chairs. 

We’re just wrapping up our first few weeks of committee hearings in the House. For me, that means spending time in the House’s Health Committee, Human Services Committee, and Education Policy Committee.

Part of our power-sharing agreement means that Republicans currently have control of committees. The only way we’re going to be able to accomplish anything this year is by working together. I’m coming at proposals from House Republicans with an open mind, and while there’s some common ground, a lot of what they’re promoting with their limited time in control are not bills that I think will benefit Minnesotans. We’re going to need to work in a bipartisan manner these next two years, but I’ll never do so in a way that sacrifices our community's shared values. 

I’ve been especially troubled by the bills I’ve seen come through the Education Policy Committee. I’ve worked on several bipartisan initiatives on education - including my recent work as the Chair of the Student Attendance and Truancy Legislative Study Group. That work was a great example of Democrats and Republicans coming together to solve an issue facing our students, but instead of prioritizing those bipartisan solutions, we’re unnecessarily focusing on legislation that strips ethnic studies from our schools, or goes after trans kids.

I spoke on the need to work on bipartisan bills, and against legislation that alienates trans kids while only making it more difficult for girls to play sports. You can watch my committee remarks here.

These simply aren’t good bills, and certainly not where our focus should be when it comes to supporting our schools. I’ll continue to call out bad ideas and encourage the kind of work that can benefit all Minnesotans. 

Supporting Disability Services

Last week, I had the honor to meet with some of the folks at CCRI, Creative Care for Reaching Independence, for a listening session in Moorhead. CCRI clients, guardians, staff, and other supporters showed up to have their voices heard, and they spoke loud and clear: We cannot balance our budget on the backs of our most vulnerable Minnesotans.

I want to give a shout out to my colleagues, Reps. Curran and Hicks, who made the trip up to our district to hear from our neighbors. All three of us serve on the House’s Human Services Finance and Policy Committee. 

It’s always great to speak with the folks at CCRI and hear firsthand how important it is to meaningfully invest in disability services. We made great progress last year, but we need to continue to support these vulnerable Minnesotans and the people that care for them in turn.

Our neighbors with disabilities deserve to live full, enriching lives - the same as anyone. A budget is a statement of values, and as we craft ours this year, these Minnesotans will be top of mind.

Tax Season - Child Tax Credit and Renter’s Credit

Tax Season is in full swing, and there are two key credits to keep in mind as you file this year, both of which were fought for by the DFL last biennium - the Child Tax Credit and recent changes to the Renter’s Credit. 

To check your eligibility and learn more about Minnesota’s Child Tax Credit, please check out the Minnesota Department of Revenue's website. This is a good resource to have handy when you file your taxes, and remember: if you are eligible for the child tax credit, you must file for it; it is not automatic. Don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you need help or have questions.

Minnesota renters eligible for a property tax refund will now claim their Renter’s Credit on their Minnesota Individual Income Tax return. 

The Renter’s Credit will be part of their income tax refund amount, and can be applied to the amount owed on their income tax return, or to other debts referred to the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Having the Renter’s Credit on the state income tax form will simplify filing for the around 300,000 renters who claim a property tax refund each year. Renters will no longer have to file a separate return and wait until August or September to get their refund. You can learn more about the Renter’s Credit on the Department of Revenue website. 

New Grant Opportunities from DHS

As part of the state’s multi-pronged approach to addressing housing insecurity, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, through its Homelessness, Housing, and Support Services Administration, is seeking Proposals to provide emergency shelter, drop-in/day shelter or street outreach for individuals and families experiencing homelessness with funding from the Emergency Services Program. You can find more information here. 

Proposals are due on April 7. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, local units of government and tribal governments.

Stay Connected at the Capitol

I want to thank everyone that met with me, in Moorhead and throughout the state, to ensure that I was able to hit the ground running once the House was organized. Talking with local leaders, organizations, and neighbors is essential in setting up our community’s legislative agenda.

Even though I’ll be spending more time in St. Paul, always feel free to reach out to me with any questions, comments, or ideas you might have on how to make Moorhead and Minnesota better. I know making the trip to the State Capitol is not an easy drive for our neighbors, especially during the winter, but if you find yourself coming down please let me know!

Clay County Commissioner Jenny Mongeau stopped by last week with her son Laken. We had a great discussion on health and human services funding, and of course Laken and I had to snap a pic up on the Speaker’s rostrum. 

Thank you so much for meeting with me!

I’ll do my best to keep you informed through these legislative updates, but I also wanted to let you know about some other resources to track what’s going on in the Minnesota House.

The House’s Public Information Services will once again be offering nonpartisan recaps of high-profile bills, committee hearings, and floor sessions with their Session Daily publication. Subscribe to receive these here. To track bills of interest through the legislative process, I encourage you to utilize the MyBills feature on the Minnesota House of Representatives’ website.

If you ever need anything from me, whether I’m in Moorhead or St. Paul, always feel free to reach out to me at 651-296-5515 or rep.heather.keeler@house.mn.gov. You can also follow along on my legislative Facebook page. 

I look forward to hearing from you!

In community, 

Heather Keeler

Minnesota House of Representatives