Session Begins: Here Are My 2026 Priorities

February 20, 2026

Session Begins: Here Are My 2026 Priorities

Friends and neighbors,

The 2026 Legislative Session kicked off this week with a heartfelt tribute for House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Though I did not share the same opinion with her on many policy issues, Speaker Hortman was admired by all for her character, and is an example of someone who was willing to reach across the political aisle to find bipartisan solutions in a sincere effort to improve the lives of Minnesotans. 

With that spirit in mind, I will be working on your behalf to ensure that Minnesota remains a place where families can thrive. That means creating policies that stimulate business growth, promote high-quality education, and allow seniors to retire in comfort.

Paid Family Medical Leave

One of the areas that I will be particularly concentrated on is Minnesota's new Paid Family Medical Leave program (PFML). Though the law was passed with noble intent—everyone agrees that there should be some regulation in place to ensure fair treatment of employees—the compliance, cashflow, and staffing burdens that the law places on businesses make me concerned for the economic future of our state. The one-size-fits-all nature of the law is especially challenging for small businesses to manage, and has already led to reduced investment in Minnesota, which coincides with a reduction in job growth.

Given that PFML was a signature piece of legislation for Governor Walz, it remains to be seen whether we can achieve the bipartisan support needed to make necessary changes to the bill. However, I will be using my personal experience as a small-business owner, as well as input from all of you, to advocate for more amendments and subsidies within the bill that will alleviate its impact on small businesses.

Tackling Fraud

The level of fraud that has occurred over the past decade in Minnesota is unacceptable and has broken the social contract between citizens and government in a state where integrity and a handshake deal were once the norm.

Though it saddens me that this trust and goodwill has been broken, I am glad to be able to inform you that progress is being made in apprehending the criminals who took advantage of our generosity, and we are working to ensure that this type of betrayal cannot happen again.

At the urging of our caucus, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent recently visited Minnesota to announce that he will be launching a widespread federal investigation of welfare fraud within the Twin Cities. The capabilities of the US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network are the best in the world, and they will be using their forensic audit systems to track down fraudulent wire transfers of stolen taxpayer money. They are also setting up a cash reward whistleblower program to incentivize cooperation, and installing a digital perimeter around Hennepin and Ramsey Counties that will make it extremely difficult to send money overseas. These prosecutions will take time, but be assured that all involved will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

At the State House, we are focused on creating an independent Office of Inspector General (OIG), which will be beholden to the legislature, not the executive branch. This office will have broad leeway to prevent and prosecute fraud going forward. Historically, Minnesota's OIG has operated under the authority of the Governor. They have been able to conduct audits, but they lack the prosecutorial authority needed to be effective in convicting criminals. The passage of this legislation will be a key step for safeguarding our hard-earned taxpayer dollars and in re-instilling public trust in government.

I am honored to serve the interests of the Winona area at the State Capitol, and I look forward to continued updates as the Legislative Session progresses.

Please Contact Me

Pease be sure to contact me to share your questions, comments, and concerns. I can be reached at 651-296-8637 or rep.aaron.repinski@house.mn.gov. 

Have a good day,

Aaron

/RepAaronRepinski

2nd Floor Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.8637