Wednesday Bill Introductions
Just About the Only Way to Describe It! Bills are being introduced at a brisk pace with another 152 new pieces of proposed legislation hitting the starting in the House today. The Senate did not meet, but we are seeing both bodies meeting an extra day per week to get bills started in the process this session. Here are today’s House bill introductions that have been referred to either the House Education Finance Committee or the House Education Policy Committee:
HF 759–Provides for Computer Education Advancement Fund
HF 768–Creates Education Savings Accounts
HF 795–Expands Extended Time Revenue to Students in Residential Treatment Facilities
HF 801–Appropriates Money for Girls in Action Program
HF 806–Appropriates Money for Building Assets Reducing Risks Program
HF 827–Modifying Teacher Preparation Time Provisions
HF 834–Modifies Board Membership of Minnesota State High School League
HF 842–Modifies Licensing Requirements for Teachers of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
HF 843–Authorizing an Election to Revoke or Reduce an Operating Referendum or Local Option Revenue
HF 844–Requiring Voter Approval of Local Option Revenue Every Ten Years
HF 845–Requiring Explanation of Local Option Revenue on Referendum Ballot
HF 877–Updating Transportation Sparsity Revenue Formula
HF 8798–Increases Local Option Revenue and Local Option Revenue Equalizing Factor
Testimony in House Property Tax Division. I had the opportunity to testify in the House Property Tax Division this morning to provide insight from an education finance perspective as to why property taxes might be going up. My testimony was limited due to time constraints, but I had ample opportunity to point out that when equalizing factors are expressed as a constant value, rising property wealth erodes the amount of aid districts receive in conjunction with these levies. I used the erosion in aid delivered to districts in the operating levy as an example of how when equalizing factors are not indexed (and on top of that way too low), the property tax portion of the aid/levy mix rises. Thanks to Chair Dave Lisligard for inviting me to testify. It’s always an interesting and enjoyable change of pace to head over to the tax-related committees.