|
Friends and neighbors, I hope you had a great weekend. I’ve been hearing from a lot of you about how tough the record property tax increases this year have been on family budgets. I hear you. The increases are painful and hard to absorb. That’s why this session I’m focused on solutions to make life more affordable in Minnesota. I introduced a bill that directly addresses the root causes of rising property taxes instead of just offering a temporary band-aid. Read more about it below. Senate Republicans have also put forward a broader package of bills aimed at helping families, including lowering car tab fees, eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, and capping property tax increases. The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council is currently accepting funding requests until May 22. If you have a project in mind, be sure to apply. More details are below. We’ll be on the Senate floor four days this week, and with only five weeks left in session, you’ll start seeing more action on bills. As always, thanks for reading and for staying engaged. Have a great week! Andrew |
| Making life more affordable for Minnesotans by banning unfunded state mandates |
|
|
This session I introduced a bill aimed at improving affordability for Minnesota families by prohibiting unfunded mandates that drive up property taxes. Senate File 4954 would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot this November that would prohibit the State of Minnesota from imposing unfunded mandates on cities, counties, school districts, and other local governments. Minnesota taxpayers are being crushed by the burden of unfunded mandates passed down from the state. Across Minnesota, counties and local governments are being forced to raise property taxes at record rates. Banning unfunded mandates is a direct solution to the affordability crisis Minnesotans are facing every day. The legislation would require that if the state mandates a new program, service, or regulation on local governments, the state must fully fund it. If the state does not provide the necessary funding, the mandate would be unenforceable. If approved by the Legislature, the constitutional amendment would appear on the November 2026 ballot. If passed by voters, it would take effect on January 1, 2027. |
| Lessard–Sams Outdoor Heritage Council Outdoor Heritage Fund Call for Funding Request |
|
|
The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) is charged with making annual recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature for appropriations from the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF). The Council currently estimates approximately $160 million will be available for appropriation recommendations from the OHF in fiscal year 2028 (July 1, 2027 - June 30, 2028). This estimate may be revised after November 2026. The Call for Funding Request is open to all who wish to apply. |
| Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program |
|
| The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the AGRI Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program. This grant program provides matching funds for Minnesota fuel retailers to upgrade their stations to offer gasoline blended with at least 15% ethanol at the pump.
Applicants must:
Projects must:
MDA may award up to $4.7 million through a competitive review process. Applicants may request between $5,000 and $199,000. Applicants must commit at least 35% of the total eligible project cost as a cash match. Applications are due by 4 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. MDA anticipates notifying applicants of award decisions in August 2026. More information, including the link to apply, is here: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/agri-biofuels-infrastructure MDA’s press release announcing the opening of this grant round is here: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/grants-available-expand-e15-access-across-minnesota |
| National Prescription Drug Take Back Day |
|
|
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, provides residents with an opportunity to safely dispose of their unused or expired medications at local collection sites. For residents who want to safely dispose of medications outside of this biannual event, MyOldMeds offers a free, year-round locator that connects people to 605 secure disposal sites across Minnesota. The easy-to-use locator helps quickly find nearby drop-off locations just by entering their zip code. The site also includes a Minnesota resource page with guidance on proper disposal practices and safe medication management. |
FREE Paid Leave Workshop |
|
Minnesota’s Paid Leave program brings new requirements for employers across the state. There are several free, online Minnesota Paid Leave workshops that offer practical guidance on compliance and how to prepare your workplace. Who Should Attend
Register |
| Small-Business Webinars |
|
SCORE is a nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that provides free, confidential mentoring and educational resources to small business owners across all stages, from startup to exit. SCORE will be holding some great, free & low cost small-business focused webinars over the next several weeks. April 14: Smart Project Management: Tools, Strategies & AI for Better Results April 15: Engage & Convert: The Email & Social Media Power Play April 16: Business Bank Loan Application Tips April 17: Email Marketing for Small Businesses April 20: How to Motivate and Retain Your Employees If you miss a SCORE webinar, or are looking for information on a topic you didn't see above, check out their website. |
MN Fraud Files |
|
|
Originally created during the eight-year term of Gov. Mark Dayton, Center of the American Experiment’s Scandal Tracker was reopened to account for the ever-growing list of frauds and scandals perpetuated under the Tim Walz administration. Your one-stop resource for everything related to state government fraud in Minnesota |
|
Have a great week! |
|
|
Andrew R. Lang Minnesota Senate, District 16 |