WC Minnesota News

Minnesota State Representative Jim Joy has announced the start of the 2025 legislative session, highlighting new legislation aimed at tax relief and fiscal accountability. Joy, representing District 4B, said he and his Republican colleagues are focused on addressing key issues facing Minnesotans.

“I’m thrilled to return to St. Paul as we kick off the 2025 legislative session. This session brings a range of critical issues to tackle, and my Republican colleagues and I are already hard at work. The work ahead is too important to delay, and I remain committed to fighting for the people of our state to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met,” Joy stated.

Joy introduced House File 5, which includes several measures intended to reduce financial burdens on families, retirees, and businesses. The bill proposes freezing the gas tax rate at 31.8 cents per gallon for gasoline and diesel fuel, preventing automatic inflation-based increases. It also seeks to repeal the $0.50 retail delivery fee on transactions over $100 while reallocating existing tax revenues to support affected programs.

The legislation would exempt Social Security income from state taxes, offering an average savings of $1,845 for retirees in Minnesota. In addition, it directs the Department of Public Safety to review the state's vehicle registration tax compared with neighboring states and submit recommendations by 2026.

According to Joy: “I’m proud to announce the introduction of House File 5, a bill that seeks to reduce financial burdens on hardworking families, retirees, and businesses across our state. This legislation is designed to put people first – not government – by providing meaningful tax relief and cutting unnecessary costs.”

He added: “Relief for Retirees: By exempting Social Security benefits from state taxes, retirees will keep more of their savings.

Lower Transportation Costs: Freezing the gas tax and repealing the delivery fee will make everyday essentials and travel more affordable.

Greater Transparency: A thorough review of the vehicle registration tax ensures fairness and accountability in the future.”

House File 5 is currently under consideration by the House Taxes Committee. Joy expressed hope for bipartisan support for these measures.

Joy also addressed a recent disruption during a meeting of the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee involving a demonstration that interrupted proceedings with profanity and use of a bullhorn. He noted this prevented law enforcement officers from sharing their perspectives during their first opportunity before lawmakers this session.

“Although I am not a member of the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, I feel that it is important that I address an incident that occurred during their first meeting of the session this past Tuesday. A disruptive demonstration, which involved excessive profanity and the use of a bullhorn, derailed the committee's proceedings. This kind of behavior is not only disrespectful but undermines the very democratic process we were all elected to uphold,” he said.

He continued: “Our committees are meant to be safe spaces for constructive debate and respectful collaboration on important issues like public safety and community well-being. While I wholeheartedly respect the right to express differing opinions, it is important that this is done respectfully and in a manner that allows the legislative process to continue without interruption. This incident was especially disturbing because this committee hearing featured testimonies from MPPOA (Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association) officers, sheriffs, and police chiefs; this was their first opportunity to share their perspectives and have their voices heard, and that opportunity was sadly stolen from them.”

Joy concluded his update by reaffirming his commitment “to standing with my colleagues to maintain decorum in our proceedings” so every voice can be respected in legislative debates.