Dear Neighbors,
This is the first week of session! This year we will focus on delivering investments in projects to boost local economies and policy changes to improve the livelihoods of middle and working class Minnesotans. I’m working on bills that will boost our communities economic outcome and I’ll keep you in the loop as they develop!
New Laws
After a historic session in 2023, many new laws went into effect on July 1st and August 1st, 2023, and January 1st 2024. The nonpartisan office of House Public Information has a summary of the new laws here:
Child Tax Credit
With our nation leading Child Tax Credit, many families will save up to $1,750 for each dependent. Democrats are cutting child poverty by one third with this rebate and improving the economic outcome of working families. You can claim the tax credit by filing a 2023 income tax return. The $1,750 credit is for each child 17 years old and younger, with no limit on the number of children. For all tax filers, this credit begins to phase out at an income level of $35,000 and fully phases out at a maximum of $90,750 for a family with four children.
Hearing on End of Life Options
The House Health and Finance held a public hearing on HF1930, a bill to establish end-of-life options for terminally ill adults. The bill, known as the End-of-Life Options Act, is modeled after an Oregon law which allows adults who are diagnosed with a terminal illness and determined to be of sound mind to be prescribed life-ending medication, usually to be taken at home. In the states that have enacted these bills none of the feared negative unintended consequences have come to pass. You can watch the hearing here.
Crime Down Across MN, New Gun Laws
New data shows that crime has dropped across Minnesota in every major category. As we move past a pandemic era spike I will continue to support laws and funding that improve public safety, like last year when I voted for record funding in law enforcement and community intervention strategies.
Gun violence remains too high, however there are two new laws that went into effect this month that will help. The laws will implement improved criminal background checks and extreme risk protection orders to ensure that guns stay out of the hands of those who would cause harm. I look forward to supporting future gun violence prevention efforts this upcoming session.
EV Rebates
Last session we passed an Electric Vehicle Rebate Program allowing residents to receive a rebate of up to $2,500 for a new EV purchase and $600 for a used purchase. Electric cars, plug-ins or hybrids purchased or leased on or after May 25, 2023 are eligible. The application process goes live on February 7th, and you can find more information at https://mn.gov/evrebates.
Stay in Touch
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at rep.josiah.hill@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-4124. If you have a friend, neighbor, or relative who wants to receive updates about the Legislature, let them know they can subscribe to my email list here, and follow my Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent our community. Please stay in touch!
Sincerely,
Josiah Hill, District 33B
415 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155