Minnesota House Republicans push constitutional amendment (House File 4) to return future surplus to taxpayers as tied chamber forces bipartisan votes

Speaker Damoth, the Minnesota House speaker, told reporters that House File 4 — a proposed constitutional amendment — is the "one big bill" on the floor and urged bipartisan support.

"We are hoping that our Democrat colleagues would join us in helping to return any potential future surplus back into the hands of the taxpayers of Minnesota. That's house file 4, and that would propose a constitutional amendment," the speaker said.

The proposal would create a mechanism to set aside any surplus that exceeds 5% above expenditures after the official forecast into an account for future tax relief or savings, the speaker said. The measure would first need to pass the Legislature and then be approved by voters to become part of the state constitution.

Representative Johnson, identified in the session as the chief author of House File 4, described the proposal as "an answer back to Minnesotans" who have said they want some money returned. "They would either go back at property taxes or income tax or some sort of tax relief, and that is basically us listening to the voters of Minnesota and taking action," Johnson said.

Republican leaders framed the…