Dear Neighbor,
Good day from the House, where only 58 calendar days remain until our May 17 deadline to adjourn, and even fewer business days are left to address important issues to help Minnesotans. We are now reaching the first deadlines of the session, where bills need to make preliminary committee progress to remain on track for passage this session.
Here’s a look at some of this week’s notes from St. Paul:
Housing program ended
At a time in the session where just about everything seems to be partisan, it was great to see bipartisanship out in full force this week! The House unanimously passed a bill (H.F. 3379) to repeal the Housing Stabilization Services program from state statute due to serious concerns about fraud and inadequate oversight. The program was tied to the misuse of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, comparable in scale to the Feeding Our Future scandal. This highlights our ongoing challenges in protecting public funds and reinforces the need for strong accountability measures. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to pass.
Bills on affordability
Affordability is a major concern for Minnesota families and businesses, especially after the historic increases in state spending and taxes enacted under the former trifecta.
House Republicans are focused on reversing policies that have made things more expensive and lowering costs to make Minnesota a more affordable place to live, work and raise a family. Here are just some of the legislation we are proposing this session, including my bill (H.F. 400) to reduce costs on health care that has bipartisan support:
- Lower/keep health insurance costs low: permanent reinsurance program (HF 3388)
- Creation of a direct primary care healthcare program (HF 1724)
- Require cost defrayal for new healthcare mandates (HF 400)
- Property tax commission to lower property taxes (HF 3396)
- No tax on tips or overtime (HF 3524 Robbins) (HF 3525)
- Repeal the retail delivery fee, ending the tax on Social Security income, and removing the automatic gas tax increases that were approved by Democrats last session. (HF 5)
- Lower boat registration fees (HF 3669)
- Lower vehicle tab fees (HF 3562)
- Return a portion of future surpluses back to taxpayers (HF 4)
- Lower property taxes by allowing schools to opt out of certain unfunded mandates from the state (HF 957)
- Lower property taxes by allowing local government noncompliance of unfunded mandates (HF 1593)
Capitol visitors
Here are a couple photos from recent meetings I have had at the Capitol:
Retail Day at the Capitol
Sauk Rapids City Administrator/constituent
Helpful House links
Here are some links you may find helpful in following the latest goings on at the Capitol:
- Rep. Bernie Perryman legislative page – My official House website with assorted information.
- Rep. Bernie Perryman Facebook page – My official House Facebook page with topical posts regarding the House and state government in general.
- Session Daily – Daily news and information about House committee and floor action.
- Live Webcasts and Mobile Stream – View floor sessions, committee hearings, press conferences and more from home or on a mobile device.
- House Public Information Services Publications – Information about the Legislature and legislative process.
- House Public Information Services Press Releases
- New Laws – Summaries of all vetoes and new laws enacted from the 2021 legislative session.
- House Research – Issues and information.
- House Fiscal Analysis – Issue briefs.
Please Contact Me
It’s an honor and privilege to work for you at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas. You can call me at 651-296-6316, or email me at rep.bernie.perryman@house.mn.
Bernie
