The Legislature is two weeks from its constitutionally mandated adjournment date. All bills must pass before midnight on May 20 and sine die will occur on May 21.
Conference Committees Announced Senate conferees for the Supplemental Budget Bill (S.F. 3656) were announced today. Sen. Julie Rosen Sen. Michelle Benson Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer Sen. Warren Limmer Sen. Scott Newman Pensions The House Governmental Operations and Elections Policy Committee heard the Omnibus Pension Bill on Monday. The bill passed out of committee and will now go to the House State and Local Finance Committee.
Taxes
The Senate bill proposes conforming to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), allowing 529 plan distributions for K-12 expenses for tuition for elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school.
There is a provision to require the Commissioner of Revenue to study and report on methods used to value pipelines and other utilities.
Transportation
On Monday, a bill (H.F. 4437 - Transportation Omnibus Bill) with a provision to place a constitutional amendment question on the 2018 ballot for voters to consider a dedicated sales tax to increase funding for roads and bridges was heard in Rules and Administration. In effect, the proposal would take $279 million in tax revenue from the general fund -- money that would otherwise be used for schools and health care -- and make it available for roads and bridge construction only. In essence, this would be a shift of funds away from education at a time when every dollar is sorely needed.
The bill will be heard in the Taxes Committee on Tuesday.
Tell your legislator MSBA has had a long-standing policy position which "urges the Legislature to oppose any constitutional amendment that dedicates a specific purpose that would otherwise be available to K-12 funding."
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Minnesota School Boards Association | 507-934-8133 |
msba@mnmsba.org
Tell your legislator MSBA has had a long-standing policy position which "urges the Legislature to oppose any constitutional amendment that dedicates a specific purpose that would otherwise be available to K-12 funding."
