Legislative Update - End of 2026 Session
Dear Neighbors,
The 2026 Legislative Session came to an end this week, 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. You can listen to my full end-of-session breakdown from this morning on KYMN here.
In a tied House, with 67 DFLers and 67 Republicans, there was always bound to be compromise and 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 to pass a balanced 2025-26 state budget with bipartisan support and took action on many good proposals that found support across the aisle. I’m glad to report that we passed a significant Local Jobs and Infrastructure package, which includes $4.85 million in funding for the Lonsdale Water Tower and Watermain Loop project, and $3 million for improvements to the Northfield Community Resource Center building!
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 Republican opposition.
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.
I was honored to join my colleagues for a sit-in on the House Floor for 39 hours as we pressured Speaker Lisa Demuth to schedule a vote on the Senate’s comprehensive gun violence proposal. We heard from many of you and shared your stories on the House Floor. The truth is that it doesn’t have to be this way, and I’ll continue to stand beside you to push for a world where we don’t have to fear our children will die from gun violence.
But the fight isn’t over. In Minnesota, you should be able to go to school, church, or a movie without fearing for your safety. In Minnesota, you should be able to afford your life. While House Republicans stand in the way of meaningful progress, I will continue standing up for Minnesotans. I’m committed now more 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. Kristi Pursell
District 58A