Dakota Times

Minnesota State Representative Jeff Witte has issued a legislative update to constituents following the conclusion of the regular session and the move into a special session. Witte, who serves as Co-Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee and is a member of the Taxes Committee, outlined his priorities and actions during this year’s legislative period.

“This session was a perfect reminder of why I ran for office in the first place,” Witte wrote. “It wasn’t for the politics. It wasn’t for the spotlight. It was for the people.”

Witte emphasized his focus on supporting families, law enforcement officers, small business owners, senior citizens facing rising tax costs, and future generations in Minnesota. He stated that delays at the start of the session led to an extension into a special session: “Let’s be honest: we didn’t need to end up here. The 23-day delay from my House DFL colleagues at the start of session set us back—and now, Minnesotans are being asked to pay for lost time. I’m disappointed. You deserve better.”

In his role on public safety issues, Witte said he is committed to backing law enforcement by ensuring they have necessary resources and opposing policies he believes would weaken accountability or endanger first responders. “I’ve stood up against proposals that weaken accountability and endanger our first responders, because safety isn’t a partisan issue—it’s a human one,” he stated.

On tax policy, Witte reiterated his opposition to increased taxes and unfunded mandates affecting local governments: “That’s not fair. And it’s not right. That’s why I’ve stood firm against proposals that would raise taxes on Minnesota families.”

Witte also addressed concerns about teacher pensions in Minnesota, referencing two bills—House File 2318 and House File 2329—that aim to improve retirement options for educators by allowing full pension benefits at age 62 with 30 years of service or expanded early retirement at age 60 with reduced benefits.

He criticized past legislative decisions regarding teacher pensions: “Last session, when Democrats controlled everything and had an $18 billion budget surplus, they didn’t step up. Instead, they raised taxes by over $10 billion and grew government by 40%. But teacher pensions? They did nothing.”

According to Witte, recent progress includes enabling teachers to retire at age 60 without severe benefit cuts and providing $40 million every two years to help districts cover pension costs.

“At the end of the day, this isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s about respect,” he wrote.

As Memorial Day approaches, Witte encouraged constituents to remember those who have served in the military: “Let’s never forget that behind the barbecues and long weekend is a powerful reminder: freedom isn’t free—and we are forever grateful to those who paid the price.”

Looking ahead to ongoing work in the special session, Witte reaffirmed his commitment: “Through all the ups and downs, my commitment has never changed: to serve our district with integrity, to listen first, and to always put people before politics.”