Friends,
We've had another busy week in St. Paul: on Monday we passed our tax conformity bill, we passed the rest of our supplemental budget bills, and announced our bonding bill, which also received a hearing in committee. We'll be back at it again this week as we get ever close to the end of the 2018 session. Have a great week!
Rep. Barr presiding as Speaker Pro-Tempore during one of our long debates on the House Floor.
SMART Center Included in Bonding Bill
Last week we released the details of the House's bonding proposal and on Friday it had its first hearing in the Capital Investment Committee. I am extremely pleased to report that funding for the SMART Center in Dakota County is included in the proposal. This is a proposal I was proud to carry on behalf of our community. Video of me presenting this bill is available here.
The SMART Center will be a first of its kind training facility in the state of Minnesota. The facility would take the best practices in the areas of health and public safety to create better results in crisis situations. It will have a unique focus on soft skills that so often get overlooked compared to hard skills for law enforcement training.
Just last year, the Public Safety bill included a training requirement making it mandatory for an officer to complete 16 continuing education credits within their three-year licensing cycle. This training would cover crisis intervention and mental health crisis, conflict management and mediation, and recognize and valuing community diversity and cultural awareness. This center will become a regional hub for just this type of training.
Learn more about the SMART center by clicking on the video below:
Tax Conformity Bill Passes House
Last Monday, we passed bipartisan tax legislation on a vote of 90-38 that simplifies Minnesota’s tax code to fully benefit from federal tax reform and provide additional tax relief to middle-class Minnesotans. The legislation also delivers the first income tax rate cut for Minnesotans in nearly two decades by reducing the second tier income tax rate. Without these reforms, conforming to the federal tax code would cause 969,490 filers to pay more in taxes.
I am also extremely pleased that my bill to help bring another fire station to Inver Grove Heights was included in the taxes bill.
As a result of our proposal, more than 2.1 million Minnesota filers will benefit from a tax cut in tax year 2018. Highlights include:
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Helping middle-class Minnesotans keep more of what they earn by cutting the second tier income tax rate from 7.05% to 6.75% by tax year 2020. This would mark the first income tax rate reduction in Minnesota since 2000.
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Lowering taxes for people at all income levels by increasing the standard deduction for all filers.
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Protecting families by preserving a state personal and dependent exemption of $4,150.
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Encouraging affordable homeownership by allowing a state-itemized deduction of up to $30,000 in property taxes.
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Supporting hometown businesses and farmers by reinvesting extra revenue from corporate tax changes into Section 179 conformity and overall rate reductions.
This bill delivers the first income tax cut in nearly 20 years and helps simplify Minnesota's tax code. We are committed to getting a tax conformity bill done this year so Minnesotans won't face hassles and headaches when they file their taxes next April.
Rep. Barr at the Inver Grove Heights BEST Foundation 5k last weekend
Register for Summer Activities in IGH
Inver Grove Heights has a number of activity programs available for children and adults of all ages. See the Summer 2018 brochure here. And you can browse and register for programs online.
In Case You Missed It: Tour around 52B!
Late last summer, we put together a video that highlights some of the great and beautiful parts of District 52B, which encompasses Inver Grove Heights, Sunfish Lake, parts of Mendota Heights and Eagan. I think it turned out very well and am proud to represent such a fantastic place to live. Check out the video here!
On this day in History
In 1789, President George Washington attended a ball in his honor. This event would become a model for the first official inaugural ball twenty years later when James Madison became the fourth President.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas with me. You can schedule a time to meet with me in my office anytime by calling me at 651-296-4192, or share your thoughts by emailing me at rep.regina.barr@house.mn.
Have a great week!
Regina