ST. PAUL – With Democrats in complete control of state government, State Representative Bjorn Olson (R-Fairmont) said the majority party often doesn’t need the help of Republicans to pass legislation. This is why Olson was pleased that he and his colleagues were able to convince the majority to make significant improvements to a pair of proposals recently that will benefit faith-based organizations and disabled veterans statewide.
“It’s good news as we’re one step away from once again guaranteeing that Minnesota’s religious organizations have the right to hire employees who will best implement their mission, and raising the property tax exemption for a number of our disabled veterans,” Olson said.
Before last year, when gender identity was included within the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) definition of sexual orientation, the still-existing religious exemption for sexual orientation covered gender identity claims as well. When a new, separate definition of gender identity was passed into law by the legislative majority last year, there was no corresponding religious exemption added.
Without change, religious organizations and faith-based schools were at risk of facing claims of gender identity discrimination. On May 8, both the Minnesota House and Senate approved legislation amending the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) to re-establish protections for religious entities against those claims. It now heads to Governor Walz for his signature.
The second change increases the valuation amount that disabled veterans and surviving spouses can have excluded from their property taxes. The valuation exclusions have remained the same since the program was implemented in 2008, and Olson said with the dramatic increase in the value of homes in recent years, Minnesota needs to help ensure veterans and their surviving spouses can remain in their homes.
“I was pleased to bring this provision to the House floor on behalf of our veterans,” Olson said. “Initially there was significant majority party resistance, but as the discussion continued the resistance eventually disappeared. When it came time for the final vote, it was approved unanimously.”
Under the terms of Olson’s proposal, the property valuation for disabled veterans with a 100% disability increases from $300,000 to $400,000, and for disabled veterans with a 70% disability the property valuation increases from $150,000 to $200,000. Olson said the provision still must survive a joint House/Senate conference committee debate before it can receive a final vote in the legislature and be sent to the governor for his signature.