House passes bills on affordability, fraud, accountability and more
ST. PAUL – The 2026 legislative session finished Monday after a flurry of weekend activity and Rep. Shane Mekeland, R-Clear Lake, said House Republicans delivered major victories on affordability, fighting fraud, and increasing accountability in state programs.
Mekeland said House Republicans have focused heavily on combating fraud, providing property tax relief, improving school safety, cutting car tab fees, delivering relief for counties, and modernizing government systems. They passed bills addressing each of those priorities this session, including approximately $400 million in tax relief, with $125 million in property tax cuts and $250 million in car tab fee reductions approved over the weekend.
“Making life more affordable was a major focus for House Republicans throughout the entire session and we came through in big ways,” Mekeland said. “We successfully fought for car tab relief, lower property taxes and tougher anti-fraud measures. We came through on those priorities while also investing in rural hospitals and providing relief for local governments that have been getting pounded by the former trifecta’s unfunded mandates.
“Is there more we need to do to ease the burden on Minnesotans? Sure, there is. But it is clear House Republicans restored balance at the Capitol and are getting the state headed in the right direction after the reckless spending and unnecessary tax increases that we suffered back when Democrats had full control of the Capitol.”
The House also approved federal tax conformity legislation that helps Minnesota businesses by extending the Pass-Through Entity tax provision, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in relief at no cost to the state. In addition, the House delayed PFAS reporting requirements for nine months through the end of the 2027 session, giving Minnesota businesses temporary relief from costly compliance mandates.
On fraud, the House adopted Medicaid work requirements included in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill to create long-term savings, strengthen accountability, and help combat fraud, Mekeland said. He noted that the measure builds on the House’s recent passage of legislation creating a new Office of the Inspector General and implementing additional anti-fraud reforms aimed at protecting taxpayer dollars and restoring trust in government.
Relief for hospitals across Minnesota also came late in the session, with the House creating an uncompensated care fund and a new hospital stabilization fund to help facilities facing dire financial situations. The new fund is backfilled by expected cancellations of the Blue Line and Northern Lights Express rail projects.
Medical Assistance reimbursement rates also will increase for rural and critical access hospitals under legislation passed by the House in recent days. Mekeland said the change will help place those hospitals on more equal footing with Twin Cities facilities. Hennepin Healthcare will receive $200 million to avoid closure, though significant accountability and governance provisions were also included in the legislation approved by the House.
The House also passed major investments in technology updates for counties that Mekeland said is critical to protecting taxpayers, strengthening accountability and making sure benefits go to the Minnesotans who truly qualify instead of fraudsters.
A $1.2 billion construction package also received approval, funding infrastructure projects throughout the state. It was among the final bills of the session passed by the House, which worked through the weekend before adjourning on time Monday.
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