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Legislative News and Views - Rep. John Lesch (DFL)

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Capitol Update - July 20, 2018

Friday, July 20, 2018

Dear Neighbors,
 
I hope summer has been treating you and your family well, and you’ve been able to take advantage of all Minnesota has to offer this time of year.

Town Hall Meeting
 
Thank you to everyone who attended the recent Town Hall Meeting Sen. John Marty and I hosted. It’s clear many folks in the community are passionate about the things we all value, like great schools, affordable health care, safe neighborhoods, and economic security for working families. While we might have different ideas how to deliver these, it’s a privilege to represent so many informed, engaged citizens. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with your viewpoints throughout summer and fall.
Tax Changes and Property Tax Refund Reminder
 
As you may recall, late last year Congress passed the Trump federal tax bill. One of the letdowns of this past legislative session was failure to pass any type of conforming changes at the state level to provide some tax fairness for working families, as the Trump bill failed to do.
 
Every year, the Minnesota Department of Revenue makes some changes to their tax filing system. This year though, the changes are very significant due to the countless new differences between state and federal tax laws. This week DOR released information about their updates, and has compiled some frequently asked questions and answers about the tax law changes here and questions about the 2019 filing season here.
 
On another note, don’t forget to apply for your property tax refund or renters credit if you haven’t yet. Many Minnesotans qualify for one of these (based on income relative to your property taxes), but too many lose out because they forget to file. The deadline to file is August 15th. Take a few minutes and apply for your refund online or get more information at the Department of Revenue’s Property Tax Refund website.
 
Last Update
 
Due to campaign rules, this will be my last e-update until after November’s election. Legislators are prohibited from sending mass communications like this from the Capitol more than 60 days following adjournment in an election year. Please continue to contact me though with questions, if I can ever be of assistance, or to share your input and ideas. Also, I look forward to seeing you around the community this summer and fall.
 
Sincerely,
 
John Lesch
State Representative