Legislative Update
 Dear neighbors,
I hope you all felt a bit of the luck of the Irish last Tuesday on St. Patrick’s Day. Now, I’ve heard some folks say wearing green after March 17th is fashionably forbidden—right up there with white after Labor Day. But a true Irishman knows better… green isn’t seasonal, it’s a year-round staple.
But before I get carried away chasing four-leaf clovers, let’s get into the real debates of the week.
Tab Fees on the Rise, And Patience Running Out
 A few weeks ago, we heard a truly jaw-dropping remark from a first-term DFL legislator, suggesting that at some point she may offer an amendment to quintuple the price of car tab fees, (yes, thats 5x). Whether it was meant as a joke or not, I don’t think many Minnesotans found much humor in it—and rightfully so.
In fact, we’ve been hearing from constituents all across the state who are already frustrated with how much their tab fees have climbed over the past year. As one Minnesotan put it in a WCCO story this week: “We paid the tab on it for the first time and the next year it was more expensive. The car depreciates, but the tax goes up? Really? Is that how that’s supposed to work? I don’t think so.”
And he’s exactly right.
The reality is Minnesota is facing an affordability crisis—truth be told, the entire country is. But it’s our job as legislators to make sure this remains a place where folks can raise a family, build a career, and actually afford to stay. That’s why it’s so frustrating to see my DFL colleagues' continued reliance on the same old idea that higher taxes are somehow the answer. At a certain point, you’ve got to call it what it is—and Minnesotans deserve so much better.
I’m grateful to my colleague Rep. Patti Anderson for taking those remarks seriously—and more importantly, for taking Minnesotans seriously. On Wednesday, she introduced legislation to bring tab fees back to pre-trifecta levels.
During the Democrat trifecta, higher tab fees were included as part of over $10 billion in new taxes on Minnesota families. Changes to the formula increased fees by roughly 20%, leaving drivers paying more just to stay on the road. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s tab fees now far exceed those in neighboring states like Wisconsin and North Dakota, where drivers pay a flat fee of around $85.
Rep. Anderson’s bill would reverse those increases and return rates to where they were, delivering nearly $1 billion in relief to Minnesota drivers, saving up to $450 per registered vehicle. That’s the kind of relief Minnesotans have been calling for, and I can only hope our colleagues across the aisle come around to it sooner rather than later.
Egg-cellent News from the Capitol
 Folks, you heard it here first… the chickens are coming home to roost.
This week, I was proud to introduce House File 4295—a bill that gives Minnesota cities and counties the option to allow up to 24 chickens on a residential lot.
That’s right, backyard farming might be making a comeback.
Now before anyone starts picturing full-blown farm operations next door, take a breath—this isn’t about turning neighborhoods into barns. It’s about giving local communities the flexibility to decide what works best for them. Whether it’s fresh eggs at the breakfast table or teaching kids a little responsibility (and maybe where their food actually comes from), this bill simply puts the decision-making where it belongs—at the local level.
And if we're being honest, with the affordability challenges we’re facing right now, it might not hurt to have a few egg-laying roommates out back. Free breakfast is starting to sound pretty good!
Right now, outdated rules can get in the way of small-scale, low-impact activities like raising a few chickens. This bill cuts through that red tape while still maintaining protections for larger agricultural operations.
So if you’ve ever thought about starting your own little backyard setup, this might just be your sign. Just don’t be surprised if your neighbors start asking for eggs.
Drawing the Line on Election Day
Another bill I introduced this week takes aim at strengthening election integrity—it’s all about bringing a little more common sense back into the process.
House File 4665 focuses on Election Day registration, specifically the “vouching” system. Right now, a registered voter can vouch for up to eight people in their precinct to confirm residency. My bill simply brings that number down to two.
Because let’s be honest—vouching for one or two people you truly know? That makes sense. Vouching for eight? That starts to feel a little more like a group project than a safeguard.
This bill doesn’t eliminate same-day registration, and it doesn’t take away anyone’s ability to vote. It just tightens up the process to make sure it’s being used as intended; by people who can genuinely verify someone’s residency, not just sign off in bulk.
And in a time when confidence in our elections matters more than ever, small, thoughtful guardrails like this go a long way.
At the end of the day, this is about keeping our elections secure, fair, and trustworthy, without overcomplicating things. Simple, reasonable, and long overdue!
The Work Continues!
As we head into the second half of session, I hope you’ll keep the calls, emails, and great ideas coming. Whether it’s a question, a concern, or something you think we should be tackling—I’m all ears. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to the work I do here at the Capitol, and I truly couldn’t do it without you.
And as we head into the weekend, be sure to soak up those warmer temperatures while they last—we all know in Minnesota, that kind of weather can disappear faster than a good parking spot at the State Fair!
Sincerely,
—Representative Joe McDonald
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