Hello Friends,
We’re one month out from the end of the 2026 Legislative Session. It’s a time when legislators, the press, and the public are all asking the same question: What will actually get done this year?
In our current tied House, anything we pass must have bipartisan support. That can be frustrating at times, as we’ve seen Republicans fail to join us in tackling the big issues that Shakopee residents are asking us to address: gun violence prevention, ICE response, and helping local small businesses affected by the surge.
But a divided legislature is also an opportunity to work across party lines and pass good bills that a vast majority of Minnesotans support. That’s something I’ve done every year, regardless of which party holds control.
One perfect example of a bill we should be able to pass this year is my bill protecting Minnesotans from developing Parkinson’s disease by banning paraquat. I wrote about my background as a Midwest farmer, the science linking paraquat to Parkinson’s, and the need for this bill in this Star Tribune commentary.
Working with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Senator John Hoffman, we’ve secured multiple Republican co-authors. I even went on Fox9 alongside Republican Senator Jim Abeler and Parkinson’s patient advocate Mark Kelm to talk about the bill, which you can watch here.
I’m optimistic about our chances to pass my bill this session, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy. We’ve faced opposition from chemical manufacturers and their allies in large agricultural conglomerates, who continue to lobby aggressively to keep paraquat on the market.
This week, Republican leadership decided to stand with Big Ag and refused to include the bill in a bipartisan Agriculture proposal, even after members heard directly from Parkinson’s patients at a hearing earlier this session.
Minnesotans expect that if we can take action to protect Minnesotans from developing Parkinson’s disease, we should do it. They especially expect that in a tied legislature, bipartisan bills should be able to pass.
I’m continuing to work with my bipartisan authors to give this bill the best shot at becoming law this year. The reality is that the longer we fail to act, the longer Minnesotans will bear the consequences. I’ll always stand up for our neighbors and put human health over corporate profits.
Reply to this email or call me at 651-297-5003 with any questions, comments, or ideas you have for Shakopee and Minnesota.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Brad Tabke, State Representative | Rep.Brad.Tabke@house.mn.gov
Tenzin Tsangyang, Legislative Assistant | Tenzin.Tsangyang@house.mn.gov