Legislative Update

Friends and Neighbors,

This summer has absolutely flown by. I?ve had amazing opportunities to talk to a number of you at various events and parades this summer and hear about the issues that are affecting Minnesotans every day. Braham Pie Days was an especially delicious stop this summer.

Emergency nursing home funding was one of the big successes of this legislative session as a number of care centers faced shortfalls. Back-to-school is another issue top of mind for many families. One way you can save is with the K-12 Education Credit which allows certain supplies to be deducted when you file your Minnesota taxes.

Back-to-School Tax Savings

Students and families are getting ready to head back to the classroom in the next few weeks and those costs can add up quickly. Minnesota has both a K-12 education credit and a K-12 education subtraction for school-related expenses. Both programs reduce the taxes parents pay and could provide a larger refund when filing state income taxes. Qualifications apply and expenses must be for children attending kindergarten through 12th grade at a public, private, or home school.

School supplies that qualify for the credit or subtraction include writing utensils, textbooks, musical instrument rentals, tutoring, and computer hardware/educational software. Parents are encouraged to check the Department of Revenue website to determine which expenses qualify. The Department of Revenue reports more than 17,000 families received the K-12 Education Credit last year, for an average credit of $280.

Nursing Home Funding

The persistence of House Republicans has led to a solution for many Nursing homes across the state which have been struggling significantly as a result of the pandemic-induced worker shortages and delays that were exacerbated by state reimbursements that have gotten as high as 18 to 24 months. This means nursing homes are operating with their current costs while being paid based on their costs that are as much as two years delayed. To address these discrepancies that have put nursing homes across the state on the brink of closure House Republicans made it a top priority this session to ensure that these care facilities would continue to operate. The 2023 legislative session ended with negotiations on the final budget allowed for caucus leadership to secure $300 million in emergency funding for these care facilities.

Here in District 28A two facilities will be receiving nearly one million in funding over the next two years with half of the funding being sent on August 1st of this year and the rest being sent on August 1st of 2024. These facilities care for our most vulnerable family, friends, and neighbors and this will help to keep the doors open for those who need this level of care. Care providers across Minnesota will see relief and operational security thanks to the work of Republicans in the Minnesota House. Ultimately this means our most vulnerable will continue to have access to the support that they need to provide the best possible quality of life.

Legislative Update

Back-to-School Tax Savings

Nursing Home Funding

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