ST. PAUL – Minnesota House Republicans have drafted a package of bills Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, said would make Minnesota a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.
Hudson said the bills, authored as part of the GOP’s “Make Minnesota Affordable” initiative, focus on lowering energy costs, reducing the tax burden, and ensuring budget surpluses benefit hardworking Minnesotans.
“The recent $18 billion state surplus should have been used to help mitigate rising costs and Minnesota’s excessive tax burden to help families and businesses thrive in our state,” Hudson said. “Instead, Democrats went on a spending spree, increasing the budget by 40% – the largest budget increase in Minnesota history – and raising taxes by $10 billion in the process. Along the way, Democrats jammed new energy policy into law that is unaffordable, unreliable and unsafe.
“House Republicans are taking the opposite approach by focusing on things most Minnesotans want. Tax relief, consumer-focused energy policy and repealing unnecessary state taxes are all priorities we share with people of our state for this session.”
Bills in the House Republicans’ Make Minnesota Affordable package include:
- Modernizing Minnesota’s renewable energy policies by expanding the state’s definition of eligible renewable energy to include hydroelectric capacity. It also delays standards for electric utilities which Hudson called unrealistic, protects reliable energy sources, and ends the state’s nuclear moratorium. These reforms will help stabilize energy costs and secure a balanced energy future for Minnesota families and businesses, Hudson said.
- Delivering sweeping tax reforms, repealing the controversial retail delivery fee and ending the tax on Social Security income once and for all. By requiring a comprehensive analysis of tax policies, this bill ensures a fairer system for Minnesota taxpayers, Hudson said. He indicated this represents a commitment to economic growth and reducing financial stress for families and seniors alike.
- Ensuring that future state budget surpluses are returned to the people of Minnesota. By proposing a constitutional amendment, this bill codifies the principle that taxpayer money belongs in the hands of those who earned it. The measure guarantees that Minnesota families, not government bureaucracy, benefit from the state’s financial successes, Hudson said.
“Affordability is a top issue for Minnesotans today and these proposals would get us headed in the right direction by giving families and businesses some breathing room,” Hudson said. “It’s just too bad House Democrats boycotted the start of the 2025 session, delaying progress on these and other important bills.”
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