Dear Friends,
Thanks to the quick work by the Taxes and Ways & Means Committees, nearly $20 million in tax relief was passed yesterday by the House with a unanimous 129-0 vote. The Senate is expected to pass the bill next week, and it would then be signed by the Governor soon after.
What does this mean for you? Potentially more money that stays in your pocket during tax season. This bill, House File 6, conforms Minnesota's tax code to the federal tax code to let families take advantage of certain deductions on their tax returns.
Included in the $20 million in tax relief are deductions for college tuition, deductions for out-of-pocket classroom expenses for teachers, mortgage insurance premium deductions, as well as tax relief for some Minnesota businesses.
It was great to see such strong support for this bill, and that the legislature was able to act quickly as Minnesotans start to prepare their taxes next week. This gives people more than enough time ahead of the April 15th deadline to ensure they're getting all the benefits they're entitled to on their taxes.
I hope that both parties can work together in a similar fashion to provide additional tax relief to families as session continues.
Honoring Al Mathiowetz
Yesterday after session concluded, legislators and guests held a ceremony to honor retiring Chief Clerk Al Mathiowetz, who has served in the Minnesota House for more than 40 years. The Chief Clerk is the person you hear announcing bills if you watch a legislative session, and helps ensure that procedures and rules of the House are being followed. It's a job that requires exceptional organizational skills, long hours, and a lot of hard work. Al Mathiowetz was greatly respected by everyone who served with him, and will certainly be missed.
Tara Mack
State Representative, District 57A