Legislative Update
 Dear friends and neighbors,
Many of you may have seen the statement I shared earlier this week announcing that I will not be seeking re-election this fall.
This was not an easy decision.
For the past 40 years, it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve my neighbors—first as a law enforcement officer for 33 years, and then as your voice in the Minnesota Legislature for the past seven. Representing this community, standing alongside our first responders, and fighting for common sense at the Capitol has meant more to me than I can fully put into words.
But after much prayer and reflection, I feel the Lord calling me to step into a new chapter—one that allows me to spend more time with my family, especially as we look forward to welcoming our first grandchild this summer.
While it’s never easy to step away from something you care so deeply about, I know this is the right decision. I leave the Legislature with no regrets, my head held high, and a heart full of gratitude for the trust you’ve placed in me over the years.
Serving you has been one of the greatest privileges of my life—and I remain optimistic about the future of our state and the strength of the communities that make it so special.
No State Tax on Tips or Overtime
If you earned overtime pay or tips in 2025, you may have seen some relief on your federal tax return. Under federal law, certain qualified overtime pay and tip income can now be deducted. Minnesota does not currently match that treatment, which means income excluded at the federal level can still be taxed by the state.
That is what House Files 3524 and 3525 are meant to fix, and I am grateful to our members of the House Taxes Committee for this effort. These bills would bring Minnesota into alignment with federal law so workers can keep more of what they earn and avoid one more unnecessary complication when tax season rolls around.
This is a straightforward issue. Minnesotans are already quite generous, both to our neighbors (most of the time) and to the different levels of government we fund. If someone picks up extra shifts, stays late, or works for tips, St. Paul does not need a cut. Though my colleagues across the aisle aren't as convinced, these bills are priorities for our caucus and these two bills will be top priorities when end-of-session negotiations inevitably arise.
If we are serious about affordability, this is the kind of common-sense policy that should make it across the finish line. Both bills received a hearing this week and were laid over for possible inclusion in the tax omnibus bill.
Now, let’s talk affordability.
The House held urgency to pass House File 3127 carried by Rep. Greg Davids (R–Preston) to re-enact Minnesota’s pass-through entity (PTE) tax. This is a critical piece of tax policy that directly impacts thousands of small businesses across our state.
At the same time, it was disappointing to see another PTE-related bill blocked—one that would align Minnesota with new federal policy and provide meaningful tax relief. And here’s the kicker: it comes at no cost to the state.
According to House Republican tax leaders, this relief would total $2.05 billion for roughly 66,000 Minnesota businesses.
If we don’t act soon, those dollars don’t just disappear—they go straight to the federal government instead of staying right here in Minnesota.
School Safety Can’t Wait
 On Tuesday, schools across District 196—serving nearly 29,000 students in Rosemount, Apple Valley, and Eagan—were forced to close after multiple threats were received overnight. These threats, delivered by voicemail and discovered in the early morning hours, led the district to cancel classes out of an abundance of caution and instruct staff not to report to work.
While we are grateful for the swift response from law enforcement and school officials, situations like this are a sobering reminder that threats to our schools are not hypothetical—they are real, they are happening, and they are disrupting the lives of Minnesota students and families.
Minnesotans deserve more than just reactive measures. Our students, parents, and educators deserve a proactive approach that prioritizes safety every single day—not just in moments of crisis.
House Republicans have put forward a comprehensive school safety plan focused on prevention, protection, and accountability. This includes expanding school safety funding to non-public schools, strengthening school security grants to improve physical safety within buildings, and giving schools greater flexibility to invest in the tools and infrastructure they need to keep students safe.
The plan also ensures School Resource Officers are available in every school, increases access to mental health treatment, and establishes stronger consequences for repeat violent offenders and those who illegally funnel firearms into the wrong hands.
But we need serious, decisive action from our House DFL colleagues to get this legislation across the finish line. This isn’t about advancing one side’s political agenda or the other—it’s about doing what’s right for our students.
Keeping our schools safe shouldn’t be a partisan issue—it’s a fundamental responsibility. We must take these threats seriously and act with urgency to ensure every student can learn in a safe and secure environment.
This plan reflects a genuine commitment to keeping our schools safe, and we stand ready to work with anyone willing to put students first.
From Start to Finish—Fighting for 30B
Friends, as I run my final lap, I’ll be thinking of you and your families every step of the way. In politics, talk can be cheap. But when it comes to affordability for Minnesota families, that’s not something I’m willing to compromise on.
You have my commitment that I will continue working to support responsible policies and push back against proposals that make life more expensive for Minnesotans. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas; I truly appreciate hearing from you! Have a great weekend!
— Representative Paul Novotny
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