Minnesota House ties on constitutional amendment to return future surpluses to taxpayers

The Minnesota House on March 13, 2025, failed to pass House File 4, a proposed amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would direct excess general fund surpluses into a newly created Minnesota Tax Relief Account and authorize one-time refunds or tax reductions. The final vote was 67 ayes and 67 nays, and the bill did not pass.

Representative W. Johnson, the bill's author, framed the proposal as a check on state spending and a way to return money to residents. "These surpluses don't belong to the government. They belong to the people of Minnesota," Johnson said during his opening remarks. He urged colleagues to place the question before voters in 2026: "Let's pass House File 4 and let the people decide."

Why it mattered

Supporters said the amendment would give voters a direct choice about returning large surpluses, limit the growth of permanent spending driven by one-time windfalls and provide targeted, one-time relief to taxpayers. Opponents said the measure would handcuff future legislatures, complicate responses to economic downturns, constrain funding for schools, health care and emergency reserves, and risk directing money to wealthy property owners and corporations while excluding many renters and low-income residents who pay sales or embedded property taxes but have no state income tax liability.

Key floor actions and votes

- Amendment A3 (technical clarification on which biennium is used) was adopted by roll call, 101 ayes, 33 nays. Representative Johnson explained the…