Minnesota State Representative Marj Fogelman said on April 16 that legislation intended to lower property taxes and vehicle tab fees for Minnesotans failed to pass the House, with all Democratic members voting against the measures.
The proposed bills aimed to address rising costs for residents by reducing both property taxes and vehicle registration fees, which have increased in recent years. According to Fogelman, changes approved in 2023 by lawmakers under full Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) control raised the formula for vehicle tab fees by about 20 percent. She said this resulted in some Minnesotans paying more than $1,000 annually for tabs on vehicles less than three years old, while drivers in Wisconsin pay about $85 for similar registrations.
Fogelman said a bill considered on April 9 would have reversed these increases to pre-2023 levels and delivered nearly $1 billion in relief to drivers. “Tab fees far exceed those in our neighboring states, unnecessarily punishing Minnesota’s drivers. This proposal would have saved many drivers hundreds of dollars,” she said.
The legislature also debated a plan on April 9 that would provide a one-time statewide property tax refund for taxes payable in 2026. The proposal included issuing refunds based on a percentage of eligible property taxes paid and converting unclaimed refunds into credits the following year. “This property tax refund would have been a godsend to Minnesotans who are now struggling to pay their bills,” Fogelman said.
Both measures failed by just one vote; with an evenly divided House—67 Republicans and 67 Democrats—68 votes were required for passage. All Republicans supported the bills while all Democrats opposed them.
Fogelman concluded her update by mentioning her recent meeting with members and staff of Southwestern Center for Independent Living.
