Greetings,
One week remains in the 2026 legislative session, and dozens of bills are being approved on the House floor every day. This pace will likely continue until we adjourn on Sunday, May 17.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL BILL APPROVED IN HOUSE
The Minnesota House took a major step toward curbing fraud by approving legislation to establish an independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Under the bill, the OIG would investigate state agencies, grant recipients, and contractors, with subpoena power and the authority to freeze or halt funds under court order. It would take primary jurisdiction over fraud and related misconduct involving public dollars, while referring criminal cases to law enforcement. About 15 states already have similar offices dedicated to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse across government. With an estimated $9 billion lost to fraud and little accountability so far, passing this bill is a critical step toward restoring oversight and preventing future abuse.
ANTI-CRYPTOCURRENCY FRAUD PROPOSAL SIGNED INTO LAW
The governor has signed a bipartisan bill that would ban stand-alone cryptocurrency kiosks in Minesota, which are similar – but are not – ATM machines. According to law enforcement, many in our senior population are being extorted by scammers who convince them to send cryptocurrency through kiosks, which is difficult to recover. Our seniors are most impacted by this type of fraud, and they are also the least likely to tell anyone they’ve been victims of fraud. This safeguard should slow these cryptocurrency fraud crimes significantly.
EXPANDING VETERANS’ CEMETERY BURIAL ELIGIBILITY
The House also unanimously passed legislation to make honorably discharged members of the National Guard and other reserve components eligible for burial in a state veterans cemetery for a fee. This expansion properly recognizes their service and sacrifice to our country. At the same time, it establishes a fair, sustainable framework to manage these cemeteries for the future. It’s also important to note that certain veterans and active-duty service members will continue to qualify for cost-free interment.
FAIR COMPENSATION FOR ACTIVE-DUTY NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS
This week, the Minnesota House unanimously passed legislation to increase pay for both commissioned officers and enlisted National Guard members serving on state active duty. It’s a simple, common-sense fix. When Guard members are called up, they leave their families and civilian jobs behind to serve the public. They shouldn’t take a financial hit for answering that call and putting their lives on hold.
PENSIONS BILL HEADS TO HOUSE FLOOR
Legislation I’m carrying that seeks to keep our public pensions solvent has been approved by the House Ways and Means Committee and is now headed to the House floor for a vote. By keeping our fiscal house in order when it comes to our state pensions, Minnesota is better able to navigate unfunded liabilities and maintain its solid credit rating. In the end, the work we put in now saves money for everyone, which is why pension solvency remains so important to our state’s future.
KEEP IN TOUCH
As always, I'm continuing to support constituent needs. Feel free to contact me anytime at rep.tim.odriscoll@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-7808.
Have a good weekend,
Tim