Vital Anti-Fraud Measures Moving Forward

May 1, 2026

Legislative Update

With two weeks left to go in the 2026 Legislative Session, I have some important updates from the State Capitol to share with you.

Tackling Minnesota's fraud epidemic has been the number one priority of House Republicans this year, and it is vital to maintaining our state's social contract between citizens and government. I am pleased to be able to inform you that we are making significant progress.

OIG Bill to Receive a Vote on the House Floor

This week, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) bill passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee on April 29 and will now move to the House Floor for a vote. This bill is essential because it will establish a brand new agency with broad authority to investigate and prosecute fraud.

It has been proven through whistleblower testimony in the Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee that whistleblowers within our Department of Human Services were silenced by the Walz Administration, and some were even fired from their positions. Likewise, Attorney General Ellison failed to meaningfully act against fraud until an estimated $9 billion had already been stolen from the public. This has led to widespread speculation that Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison coordinated in an attempt to cover up the fraud, because highlighting it would be bad for their political careers.

Minnesotans need to know that an apolitical entity is safeguarding their hard-earned taxpayer money. The way this bill is written, candidates for the Office of the Inspector General will be nominated by a two-thirds majority in the State Legislature. The legislature will nominate three candidates, and the Governor will then select one of the three to serve as the new Inspector General. So as to eliminate any future conflicts of interest between prosecutions and politics, the Inspector General will operate completely independently of the Governor's Office and the Attorney General's Office, which are both elected positions.

This bill is a win for Minnesota taxpayers, and I am encouraged to see many of my House DFL colleagues in support of it. It is expected to receive a vote on the House Floor next week, and then move to the Senate for final approval. From there, it will be sent to the Governor to be signed into law.

Take It Back Act Moves Forward

Another piece of legislation that I am in support of is the Take It Back Act. This is a bill to establish a 100% tax on state money obtained through fraud, to be imposed on individuals and organizations who have been convicted of doing so. This tax will apply to convicted fraudsters, irrespective of the court-ordered restitution that they may already be required to pay. The primary objectives of this act are to deter future thieves while restoring as much money as possible to Minnesota taxpayers.

It is notable because court-ordered restitution often takes time to collect, whereas the Take It Back Act gives broad authority to the Minnesota Department of Revenue to immediately seize assets of convicted fraudsters (homes, vehicles, etc.). 

This money will then be deposited into a taxpayer relief account, which will be drawn from to give Minnesotans a break on their income taxes. 

I am one of 69 co-authors of the bill in the House, and over 30% of those co-authors are DFL members. 

The act was "laid over" in the Taxes Committee this week, which means that it will likely be included in the omnibus tax bill and has a high probability of being signed into law. 

I am happy to be able to share this update with you, and honored to represent you and your interests at the State Capitol. Please know that I will continue to work with legislators from across the political spectrum to ensure that Minnesota remains a place where families can thrive. Passing these anti-fraud measures is a crucial step in that process.

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