Dear neighbors,
I hope you are enjoying the beautiful summer weather. I wanted to provide you with a brief update on new laws that took effect on August 1st, and a reminder about the upcoming property tax refund deadline on August 15, 2015.
New Laws that took effect Aug. 1, 2015
Several new laws took effect on August 1st, including higher penalties for texting while driving, limits on police use of police license plate readers, a "right to try" law that allows terminally ill patients to access experimental drugs and medical devices sooner, and comprehensive family law reform that changes how child custody is determined in the event of a divorce, among other new laws. For more details, check out all the new laws from House Public Information Services here.
Minimum Wage Increase took effect on August 1st
In 2014 when the Legislature increased the minimum wage, the law was written to increase wages incrementally in three steps. The second of those three steps occurred on Saturday, when hourly wages for large employers went up to a minimum of $9.00/hr and small employers increased to $7.25/hr (the current federal minimum wage). Nearly 300,000 people earning minimum wage received a $1.00/hr increase, which is great news for our economy. You can read more about wage increases in the Star Tribune’s recent coverage here.
Property Tax Refund Filing Due August 15th!
In 2013-2014, the DFL legislature expanded the Homestead Credit and Renter’s Property Tax Refund. If you haven’t filed for your property tax refund yet, I encourage you to read more at the Department of Revenue’s website. Your 2013 and 2014 return should be electronically filed, postmarked, or dropped off by August 15, 2015. The final deadline to claim the 2014 refund is August 15, 2016.
It’s an honor to serve our communities, and I encourage you to continue contacting me at Rep.Lyndon.Carlson@house.mn or 651-296-4255 with your ideas and questions. Have a safe and relaxing rest of your summer!
Sincerely,
Lyndon Carlson
State Representative