The Minnesota Senate today unanimously approved a tax bill that will provide more than $100 million in tax relief for Minnesotans, particularly to people who were hit the hardest by Covid-19 business closures. Senate Republicans approved this tax conformity last year.

Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) issued the following statement:

“The Minnesota Senate actually approved this tax conformity last session, so even though I am disappointed it didn’t become law last year, I am glad we were able to get it done early in session on a bipartisan basis. But this cannot be the last tax cut bill we pass this year. Folks are still feeling the impact of high inflation and expensive gas, groceries, and energy prices. We need to return the state’s record surplus to taxpayers in the form of permanent, ongoing tax relief that puts more money in people’s pockets every paycheck week after week, month after month, year after year. It’s also long overdue to fully eliminate the state income tax on Social Security Benefits to provide seniors much deserved relief.”

 Senator Miller offered an amendment to the tax conformity bill that would have fully eliminated the state’s tax on Social Security benefits, but it was rejected.

Senate Republicans also offered an amendment that would have provided every Minnesota income taxpayer with an income tax rate cut by eliminating the first-tier income tax bracket. It too was rejected.