Appointment to the Child Protection Task Force
I am very excited to start the year with an appointment that is near and dear to my heart. I will be representing the House Republican caucus on the Legislative Task Force on Child Protection. This task force has oversight of the child welfare systems across the state and plays an important role in moving legislation to improve these services. I am looking forward to working with everyone on the task force to protect children across Minnesota. You can view the task forces? previous reports and statutory citations can be viewed at their website: https://www.lcc.mn.gov/tfcp/
As we approach the new year, it's important to be aware of some new laws that will be taking effect from January 1st. Unfortunately, these laws will cause a notable increase in expenses for Minnesotans.
The transportation cost increases will be in the form of an increase in vehicle registration fees and a gas tax inflator. When renewing vehicle registration online or at a DVS station, the formula will result in higher prices, especially in the first few years of a vehicle's life. This will cost Minnesotans an additional 788 million dollars over the next four years. This is after the motor vehicle sales tax increase has already raised prices in Minnesota.
Transportation costs will continue to rise every year due to the legislation that ties the gas tax to inflation. This means the gas tax will increase automatically every year based on the rate of inflation without any input from the legislature. This will lead to an added cost of $423 million at the gas pump and will continue to increase in the years to come. These added transportation costs aren't the only new laws that will impact Minnesotans' finances.
The implementation of the Earned Sick and Safe Time mandate will lead to many businesses adjusting their payroll to fund this progressive policy. Next year this mandate with a 2.9 billion dollar price tag goes into effect. This one-size-fits-all policy for sick leave on all Minnesota businesses and any company that does not meet or exceed these benchmarks will incur the costs of bringing their policy up to the new standard.
As we approach the joyous season of Christmas, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest wishes to everyone in District 5A. I hope you all have the opportunity to gather with loved ones to keep the real meaning of Christmas alive by celebrating the birth of our Lord & Savior. May your holiday season be filled with joy, peace, and happiness, and may the new year bring you success and prosperity in all your endeavors. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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