Legislative Update: Back to School!

Neighbors,

Students are back in school and so many families have experienced significant educational challenges over the past 18 months due to COVID-19. At the legislature, we fought hard to secure the largest investment in public schools in 15 years to make sure all children deserve a quality education and the resources they need to catch up and thrive. Our state budget prioritized students by securing:

• More investments in students both in 2022 and in 2023
• The preservation of voluntary Pre-K for over 4,000 students statewide
• Historic investments to increase teachers of color and American Indian teachers in our classrooms.
• Public dollars in public classrooms.

You can learn about more about the specific investments we made in our students and families here.

Tax Benefits on School Supplies

Make sure to save all your education-related school supply receipts this school year. Many will qualify for K-12 tax benefits to your 2021 Minnesota tax return. You can learn more about these tax returns here. Here are some qualifying expenses:

• Paper and notebooks
• Pens and pencils
• Rental or purchases of educational equipment, including musical instruments
• Computer hardware (including hotspots, modems, and routers) and educational software (up to $200 for the subtraction and $200 for the credit)
• After-school tutoring and educational summer camps taught by a qualified instructor

Masks in Schools and Vaccines

Currently, there is no universal face covering requirement for students in Minnesota public schools, but public health experts agree have encouraged and endorsed the policy to keep safe our children.

Following the FDA’s authorization in May of the COVID-19 vaccine for 12-to-15-year-olds, students in these age groups are encouraged to get the Pfizer vaccine. Vaccines are effective, safe, and the best way we can protect each other, especially children who aren’t yet eligible for a shot and those with compromised immune systems as the Delta variant rages. Find a nearby location to get your shot here.

Processing of PPP and UI Refunds Begin

Starting the week of September 13th, the Minnesota Department of Revenue will begin processing Unemployment Insurance and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) refunds. You can learn more by going to this link.

Help Me Connect

Help Me Connect is a new website that helps pregnant and parenting families with young children connect to services in their local communities that support healthy child development and family well-being. Visit Help Me Connect to find resources near you! https://helpmeconnect.web.health.state.mn.us/HelpMeConnect/

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Stay connected with the Legislature

I welcome your questions and comments anytime. You can send an email to rep.luke.frederick@house.mn or can also call my legislative assistant, Joe Lenczewski at 651-296-5486.

Also, please visit and “like” my Facebook page for more Capitol and community updates.

Thank you for the privilege of representing you in the legislature.

Sincerely,   

Luke Frederick

State Representative

District 19B – rep.luke.frederick@house.mn
487 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-3248

Committee assignments:
Vice Chair: Behavioral Health Policy Division
Human Services Finance and Policy
Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy
Transportation Finance and Policy

Legislative assistant:
Spencer Crose
651-297-8129
spencer.crose@house.mn