Rep. Davids: Session Ends with Tax Relief for Minnesotans and Fraud Accountability

ST. PAUL – Many predicted doom and gloom for addressing statewide needs when voters sent 67 Republicans and 67 Democrats to the Minnesota House nearly two years ago. But State Representative Greg Davids (R-Preston) said both sides worked out their differences at the end of session, and Minnesotans will benefit because of it.

“From affordability to accountability, lawmakers found agreement on numerous topics of statewide significance in the final days of session,” Davids said.

Davids, who co-chairs the powerful Minnesota House Taxes Committee, helped champion $400 million in tax relief for hardworking Minnesotans in the waning hours of session. Highlights include $125 million in property tax cuts, $250 million in car tab fee reductions, and extending the Pass-Through Entity tax provision, which provides hundreds of millions in relief for Minnesota businesses at zero cost to the state.

To help combat Minnesota’s fraud epidemic, lawmakers approved an independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which will be responsible for investigating state agencies, grant recipients, and contractors over fraud and related criminal conduct involving public funds. Davids said long-overdue funding will also be provided to counties to help them modernize their technologies that deliver human services program funding, which will improve efficiency while strengthening security protections and eligibility verification. Approved welfare reform will also require able-bodied adults on Medicaid to work, train, or pursue education in order to receive benefits.

“Hardworking Minnesotans will be receiving some needed tax relief thanks to these agreements, and I’m pleased to have helped craft and approve these proposals before session concluded,” Davids said.