SAINT PAUL – Tonight, the Minnesota House passed a Jobs & Local Projects and Critical Economic Development bill with investments in infrastructure and economic stimulus to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation invests $1.879 billion toward public assets such as higher education institutions, clean water infrastructure, roads and bridges, parks, trails, and more. It also contains several supplemental state budget appropriations and a series of tax provisions to assist businesses and farmers.
“This is a bill that should have passed several months ago to be honest, but today’s action is great news to improve our public infrastructure, help boost our economy, and improve the quality of life for all Minnesotans,” said Rep. Jack Considine (DFL – Mankato). “As part of this work, I’m particularly pleased we delivered a salary increase for our hard-working, dedicated state troopers who put their lives at risk every day. As I prepare to depart the Legislature at the end of year, I’m extremely proud we could come together and pass this bill to secure a stronger future for our state.”
In the Mankato area, the legislation funds building upgrades at Minnesota State University – Mankato, Minnesota River riverbank restoration, Caswell Park in North Mankato, and phase two of the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center renovation. A full list of the projects included can be accessed here.
The bill delivers $7.5 million to the Department of Corrections to keep the correctional facilities at Togo and Willow River operational. The prisons – home to the boot-camp style Challenge Incarceration Program – had previously been selected for closure. The bill also funds a salary increase for state troopers – long a priority of Rep. Considine – who have consistently been behind the salaries of similar law enforcement positions. Other budget items in the bill include $16 million for direct care and treatment programs at the Department of Human Services, $10.3 million to allow the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to test sexual assault examination kits, and funding for the State Patrol and Department of Natural Resources to cover overtime during the recent civil unrest.
The legislation also contains a series of tax provisions, including full section 179 conformity to the federal tax code which will help businesses and farmers. It also contains a policy fix for short-term rental properties, flexibility for the Minnesota State High School League’s sales tax proceeds, and an expansion of the homestead property tax exclusion for the spouses of deceased disabled veterans.