Legislative Update
 Dear neighbors,
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend! I was grateful to make it back to the Capitol this week and be greeted by sunshine and warmer temperatures. After the kind of Minnesota winter we just had, even upper 60s feels worth celebrating. I hope you were able to get outside and enjoy it this weekend!
With just six weeks left in the legislative session, things are definitely picking up pace. The coming weeks will involve serious, detailed discussions about spending priorities and the direction of state government. And this year, there’s an added wrinkle: the House is tied, which means nothing major moves without bipartisan agreement on both sides. That can slow things down, but it also forces more conversation, more negotiation, and hopefully more focus on finding solutions that actually work for Minnesotans.
This week, House Republicans rolled out our 2027–2028 “North Star Comeback” budget framework—a set of ideas focused on three big goals: making Minnesota more affordable, making government work better, and strengthening our economy for the long haul. These are proposals we would advance if we held the majority, but they also serve as a starting point for the conversations happening right now at the Capitol.
At the heart of it is a pretty simple idea: families are feeling squeezed, and they need relief. That’s why this package includes things like expanding property tax relief, eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, strengthening the dependent care credit, and providing additional help to offset childcare costs. It also includes lowering car tab fees—because nobody looks forward to that envelope showing up in the mail every year. And on education, there’s a continued focus on giving families more flexibility and more say in how their kids are supported.
We’re also pushing hard on accountability. Minnesotans work hard for their tax dollars, and they deserve confidence that those dollars are being used wisely. That’s why we continue to advocate for a real, independent Office of Inspector General to crack down on fraud and misuse of funds. While that proposal is still moving through the process, the conversations around it are very much ongoing. Alongside that, modernizing outdated state IT systems used for programs like SNAP and Medicaid is another practical step toward catching problems earlier and improving how government actually functions.
And finally, there’s a strong focus on growing Minnesota’s economy and keeping us competitive. That includes aligning with federal tax treatment for research and development, allowing immediate expensing for business equipment under Section 179, conforming business interest deductions, and supporting incentives like a sustainable aviation fuel credit. At the end of the day, these ideas are about encouraging investment, supporting job creation, and making sure Minnesota isn’t falling behind when it comes to opportunity—especially outside the metro.
As negotiations continue, the goal is pretty straightforward: find real solutions that make life more affordable, make government more accountable, and keep our economy moving forward. It won’t always be quick or easy, but there’s still time to get it right—and that’s exactly what we should be focused on in these final weeks.
Stay tuned, it's going to be a busy finish!
Fairness on the Field Shouldn’t Be Controversial
 On Tuesday, we took up an urgency on the House floor to pass three pieces of legislation aimed at preserving safe and fair athletic competition for biological females across Minnesota. Unfortunately, all three proposals were blocked.
This effort comes at a time when the issue is getting national—and even international—attention. The U.S. Department of Justice is currently suing Minnesota for failing to protect girls’ sports and women-only spaces. At the same time, the International Olympic Committee has announced that beginning with the 2028 Los Angeles Games, athletes who have gone through male puberty will not be eligible to compete in women’s events—a recognition that fairness in sports still matters.
One of the bills we pushed, the Preserving Girls’ Sports Act (H.F. 12), is about as straightforward as it gets: girls’ sports should be for girls. It ensures that female student-athletes can compete on a level playing field—something generations of women fought hard to achieve.
Here in Minnesota, however, the legal landscape has shifted. In October, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that excluding males from female sports as “public accommodation” discrimination, and the Minnesota State High School League has refused to comply with federal guidance on this issue. And this isn’t just theoretical. Last spring, a male-born pitcher led a girls’ softball team to a state championship in dominating fashion—raising real concerns among athletes, parents, and coaches about fairness on the field.
During our debate this week, we even heard claims that biology itself is up for interpretation. I don’t think most Minnesotans would agree with that logic. There are clear, measurable differences between males and females, and ignoring them doesn’t make them disappear—it just puts female athletes at a disadvantage.
For decades, girls fought for a level playing field in sports. This legislation was about protecting that progress and ensuring that female athletes in Minnesota continue to have a fair shot—not just to compete, but to succeed.
You have my word that I’ll keep fighting to restore fairness and protect opportunities for girls across Minnesota.
Affordability Check: Property Taxes, Car Tabs, and Some Good Old-Fashioned Common Sense
This week on the House Floor, we leaned right into what Minnesotans are talking about everywhere from the kitchen table to the gas pump: why does everything keep getting more expensive?
We held an urgency on House File 4487, the "One-Time Property Tax Refund", because let’s be honest, property tax statements are getting harder and harder to ignore. Across the state, families—especially seniors on fixed incomes—are opening their mail and seeing increases that make it more difficult to stay in the homes they’ve worked a lifetime for. The idea here is simple: if the state has a short-term surplus, we should be talking about putting some of that relief directly back into the hands of Minnesotans who are feeling the squeeze right now, not years from now.
We also took up HF 3562 – Car Tab Fee Reduction, another very real, very everyday cost people run into the moment they renew their tabs. Minnesotans are paying significantly more than our neighbors for the same basic vehicle registration — in some cases, several times more. And while we all agree roads need to be maintained, families are right to ask why those costs keep climbing and whether there’s a smarter way to do this.
At the end of the day, this all comes back to a pretty basic reality: Minnesotans aren’t struggling with abstract policy debates—they’re juggling budgets at the kitchen table. Whether it’s property taxes or car tabs, the question we should be asking is simple: are we making life more affordable, or more expensive?
Always good to bring those conversations to the floor—and even better when we can push for solutions that actually give people a little breathing room.
Let’s Stay Connected!
We’re heading into the final stretch of session, which means things at the Capitol are moving fast—and your thoughts, questions, and ideas are more important than ever.
If something is on your mind, whether it’s legislation, an idea to improve Minnesota, or just something you’re curious about, don’t hesitate to reach out.
You can reach me by phone at 651.296.5091 or email at rep.joy.joy@house.mn.gov.
It’s an honor to represent you at the Capitol, and I’m grateful every day for the chance to serve our community. Let’s keep working together to build a stronger, more affordable Minnesota—one conversation (and probably a few late nights at the Capitol) at a time.
Take care—and don’t be a stranger!
—Representative Jim Joy
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