Bakeberg Backs Proposal to Bring Federal Education Dollars Back to Minnesota Classrooms

ST. PAUL — State Representative Ben Bakeberg (R–Jordan) joined Republican leadership and colleagues this week to highlight HF 3490, legislation that would allow Minnesota to participate in a new federal tax credit program supporting K-12 scholarships.

The bill aligns Minnesota with federal law establishing a tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs). Donors could receive a federal tax credit of up to $1,700, while schools and scholarship organizations could use those funds to address needs such as tutoring, school supplies, transportation, technology, and other student supports.

“This legislation creates a new opportunity to bring additional resources into Minnesota public and non-public schools without raising taxes or expanding government programs,” Bakeberg said. “It allows communities to support students directly while providing schools with the funding and flexibility they’ve been asking for.”

Bakeberg noted that if Minnesota does not participate, taxpayers could still claim the federal credit but their donations would support schools in other states.

“We should keep Minnesota dollars going to Minnesota kids,” Bakeberg said.

Bakeberg also addressed confusion surrounding the proposal and shared additional remarks explaining how the program works. A video of those comments can be found here: Education Finance Committee on HF 3490 

“Ninety percent of students attend their local public school, and this is an opportunity to bring much-needed revenue into those schools,” Bakeberg said. “If even a small percentage of Minnesota taxpayers took advantage of this opportunity, the program could generate more than $100 million in additional funding for education. At a time when schools are dealing with mandates and financial pressures, this is an option the Education Finance Committee should seriously consider.”