Legislative Update - End of 2026 Session
Dear Neighbors,
The 2026 Legislative Session came to an end on May 18, and I'm proud of the work we accomplished in a tied House to help our hospitals, deliver property tax cuts, protect taxpayer dollars, and invest in local jobs and infrastructure projects.
In a tied House, with 67 DFLers and 67 Republicans, there was always bound to be some compromise and some disappointment. As your legislator, I worked to find compromise wherever possible without jeopardizing our core values.
Despite the challenge of an even partisan split in the House, my DFL colleagues and I worked every day to make life better for Minnesotans. We worked to make life more affordable by addressing high costs for health care, housing, child care, energy, and groceries.
We successfully passed solutions to combat and prevent fraud, protecting Minnesotans' state dollars and keeping them out of criminals' hands. We also provided funding to stabilize Hennepin County Medical Center, the state’s largest safety net hospital, which serves patients from across the state.
In a tied House, we came together and passed a balanced 2025-26 state budget with bipartisan support, maintained Minnesota’s AAA bond rating, and took action on many good proposals that found support across the aisle.
I’m glad to report that we passed a significant statewide Local Jobs and Infrastructure package, which included $8.25 million for projects in our district – the North St. Paul Water Tower and the Oakdale I-694 Pedestrian Bridge projects.
Capital Investment Committee members visiting our district last fall!
After an incredibly difficult year—the killing of Melissa and Mark Hortman, the shooting at Annunciation, and the federal occupation—this session, we worked to do everything in our power to protect our neighbors, despite opposition across the aisle.
While we were able to get some good work done, we left so much on the table. If we had one more vote, we could have made real progress on the priorities I hear about most from our neighbors:
In the Minnesota Senate, DFLers took action on many of these priorities, but House Republicans refused to join us. Whether it was standing up to Trump, the gun lobby, or the billionaires who are doing better than ever, Republicans failed to meet the moment.
But we have more work to do, and I will continue standing up for Minnesotans. I’m more committed than ever to building a future where hard work is rewarded, families have a real chance to get ahead, and communities can thrive.
It’s an honor to represent you at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Rep. Leon Lillie
District 44B