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Bennett




Dear Friends,

It’s been another busy week at the Minnesota Capitol with committee hearings, floor sessions, and constituent visits.  Below are some highlights for the week that might interest you…

 



*GIVING MINNESOTANS THEIR MONEY BACK: THE FIGHT FOR HF 4*

When the government collects more than it needs, that money should go back to the hardworking Minnesotans who earned it—not be stockpiled for more government spending. That’s exactly what House File 4 was about: letting the people decide whether future surpluses should be automatically returned to taxpayers. Unfortunately, every House Democrat voted against this bill, rejecting the opportunity to give Minnesotans a say in how their tax dollars are handled.

This bill wouldn’t have changed tax policy—it simply would have given Minnesotans the chance to vote on a constitutional amendment in 2026. If this policy had been in place when we had an $18 billion surplus, taxpayers would have seen $5 billion in direct relief. Instead, the entire surplus was spent, taxes were raised by another $10 billion, and now we’re staring down a $6 billion deficit. That’s not sustainable.

This isn’t a partisan issue—it’s about fairness and fiscal responsibility. Families, farmers, and small business owners across Minnesota are feeling the weight of higher costs, and they deserve relief. House Republicans will keep fighting to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and, when there’s extra, that money is returned to the people who earned it.

 



*BILLS OF NOTE: SERVING DISTRICT 23A*

"*HF 1401* – Protecting Missing and Endangered Persons"

House File 1401 expands Minnesota’s definition of "endangered persons" to include individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and traumatic brain injuries—an important step in ensuring vulnerable adults receive the protection and resources they need. District 23A has a large senior population, and this bill would help law enforcement respond more effectively to missing person cases, ensuring families have greater support and peace of mind.

"*HF 1410* – Extending Rights to Local Correctional Officers"

House File 1410 extends protections under the Peace Officers Discipline Procedures Act to local correctional officers, ensuring they receive the same procedural safeguards as licensed peace officers. Correctional officers in Freeborn and Faribault counties play a critical role in maintaining public safety, and this bill ensures they are treated fairly in disciplinary matters. The bill passed the House with strong bipartisan support, reinforcing the importance of respecting and supporting those who work in our criminal justice system.

"*HF 1443* – Investing in National Guard Armories"

House File 1443 increases the bonding limit for Minnesota National Guard armories, helping fund much-needed improvements and expansions. If any armories in District 23A are eligible, this bill could provide better facilities and resources for our service members. Ensuring our National Guard units are well-equipped is essential for training, emergency response, and overall readiness.

"*HF 2210* – ""Additional money for schools to offset the costs of seasonal UI changes passed last session - but is this a good idea? "

House File 2210 is a bill that reinforces the concerns that my GOP colleagues and I expressed about the underlying bill which passed on a partisan vote last biennium. Who’s going to fund this expensive new ongoing program?  With the passing of last year’s legislation, seasonal employees in schools who do not work year around like paraprofessionals, bus drivers, food service, etc. are now eligible for summer unemployment.  Schools are handled differently concerning unemployment funding, so someone has to come up with the extra dollars to pay for this. While we greatly value these employees and the wonderful work they do, the whole premise of paying people to stay home instead of work is just plain not a good idea. One superintendent who testified in committee stated, “We now have to cut teachers to pay people not to work.”  This doesn’t make sense!  This bill’s answer: provide one-time funding from the state and then shift the future ongoing yearly costs to local schools by giving them permission to raise local property taxes.  This is a terrible idea and unfair to local taxpayers.  There are much better ways to handle this issue.

 

*LOCAL VISITORS*

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This week I had the privilege of meeting with local constituents who are in farm related fields.  A large group of local farmers from Freeborn, Faribault, Waseca, and Steele counties, who are with the MN Farm Bureau, came to the Capitol to share issues affecting our farm communities.  Also in St. Paul was Mark Morreim and two of his colleagues who work with local farmers in the area of excavation and drainage.  I love hearing from all of these boots-on-the-ground people, and especailly from our farmers and farm related industries. Thank you for visiting me and helping educate me on important farm related issues!

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Have a great weekend,

 

Peggy






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St. Paul, MN 55155
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