Dear Neighbor,
We are making our way toward the end of Week 2 in the 2023 legislative session and starting to settle into our work on bills after a period of getting the House in order and bringing committees up to speed.
Here is a look at the latest from the House:
Tax conformity bill approved
There is good news to report from the House floor this week after strong, bipartisan support was provided in passing legislation allowing state taxpayers to take advantage of numerous tax provisions already approved at the federal level.
Federal conformity is needed in Minnesota to ease the filing process (for preparers and filers alike) and to help sectors that were hardest hit from pandemic shutdowns – especially restaurant, hospitality, and entertainment industries.
It was crucial for the House to approve this bill in a timely manner and make important changes in time for the upcoming tax season. This is not a partisan issue - it’s about doing the right thing for Minnesotans - and I’m pleased to see we took action early in the session.
At least seven federal bills have been passed into law since Minnesota last enacted legislation to match congressional changes. Tax year 2023 marks five years since our state tax code has been conformed, which is the longest the state has been out of conformity in decades. Under the bill, taxpayers have until Dec. 31 to file an amended return.
The Senate followed suit by also passing this bill Wednesday and the governor enacted it today.
Dispatch article
In case you missed it, the Brainerd paper printed an interesting piece spotlighting first-term legislators from the region. It includes a look at committee action, where I brought some rather direct questions to testifiers. While my success varied in terms of receiving direct answers in response, I ultimately did receive a “yes” when I asked whether it’s a possibility children suffered adverse consequences for being forced to wear facemasks during the pandemic. That money quote is not included in the article, but it gives you a sense of how things are going in St. Paul.
Authoring bills
House members remain in the process of drafting bills for introduction to the House this session. That includes legislation I am co-authoring prohibiting taxpayer dollars from being used to fund abortions. I’ll have more to say on this subject down the road, along with details on other House bills I am preparing to sponsor.
Stay in touch
Thank you for trusting me to represent you in the Minnesota House of Representatives. I am beyond honored and remain mindful of the responsibility you have placed upon me. Your thoughts, ideas and suggestions are very much appreciated as I continue doing my best to represent the wishes of people in our district. You can reach me by calling or emailing the below contact info to let me know how I can help.
Sincerely,
Ben