ST. PAUL, MN – Today, a number of new laws designed to move Minnesota forward go into effect.
The laws are part of a comprehensive budget passed by the DFL-led legislature and signed into law by Governor Mark Dayton after the 2013 Legislative Session adjourned on time this past May.
Among the most significant laws set to go into effect today are historic investments in education, a big reason why many have dubbed 2013 as the ‘Education Session.’
Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL—Austin) praised the new laws, saying they reflect major progress for students, seniors, business owners, and middle class families.
“The new funding for education gives Minnesota a competitive economic advantage over other states,” said Rep. Poppe. “Most importantly, those new funds are fully paid for through reforms we campaigned on, like asking the richest Minnesotans to chip in a little more in income taxes. It’s something we were up front and transparent about from Day One and it’s going to set Minnesota up for a bright future.”
A breakdown of the major pieces of legislation going into effect today are below, organized according to issue area.
EDUCATION:
-
All-day Kindergarten for every child and early learning scholarships to help thousands of Minnesotans send their children to preschool.
-
$485 million investment in new money for K-12 education over the next two years, with roughly half of the new funding going towards the basic school funding formula (1.5 percent increases each year).
-
Accelerated repayment of the school shift using any surplus in the General Fund at the end of fiscal year 2013.
-
Two-year tuition freeze for resident undergraduates at the University of Minnesota and all undergraduates at the MnSCU system.
-
$40 million investment in new money for Special Education.
-
Problematic high-stakes high school graduation exams replaced with new sets of ACT-style tests designed to maximize career and college readiness.
-
New achievement goals implemented to build the World’s Best Workforce, including fully closing the achievement gap and reaching 100 percent literacy by third grade, 100 percent high school graduation rate, and 100 percent career and college readiness by graduation.
AGRICULTURE AND BIOFUELS:
-
Over $20 million for the Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) fund to help expand the Farm-to-School program, provide state grants for the start up, transition, and expansion of family farm livestock operations, assist with the start-up of any farm, fund research on conventional and cover crops, and explore development of renewable forms of energy.
-
$2 million for county agriculture society fair grants.
-
Adoption of NextGen Board’s recommendations regarding Minnesota’s biofuel policies, such as allowing fuel blenders to use ethanol or other biofuels to satisfy the 10 percent requirement. Instead of relying solely on traditional ethanol produced from corn, the law was expanded from requiring only ethanol to requiring biofuels generally.
JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
-
$30 million investment in new money for the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) to fund proven job creation strategies like low-interest business loans.
-
$24 million investment in new money for the Job Creation Fund to help businesses make capital investments and create good Minnesota jobs.
-
New funding to support the Minnesota Trade Office in China and build three additional offices (one of which is designated for Germany) to help Minnesota businesses sell their goods and compete in foreign markets.
TAXES:
-
$400 million investment for middle class property tax relief, with direct relief for homeowners and renters as well as increased aid for local governments to help continue providing high-quality services like police officers and firefighters.
-
Fairness restored to Minnesota’s tax system by closing corporate tax loopholes and asking the wealthiest two percent of Minnesotans to chip in two percent more.
-
$346.5 million in tax cuts for Minnesota employers by lowering Unemployment Insurance payments—the largest business tax cut in State history.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES:
-
Five percent pay increase for nursing home workers and one percent pay increase for long-term care workers—the first raise in over four years.
Rep. Poppe encourages her constituents to contact her with any questions, comments, or feedback. She can be reached by phone at (651) 296-4193, by email at rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn, or by postal mail at 487 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.