Dear Community,
As we enter the 2026 session there is a lot that we need to take on in order to improve the lives of Minnesotans. We are already getting started on legislation to combat fraud, hold ICE accountable, and reduce gun violence. By standing up to authoritarianism and greed we can make a better Minnesota. If you have any state level issues or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out this session.
While I’m excited to get to work this year, we did start off on a solemn note. This is the first session in 20 years where Melissa Hortman will be absent. We spent our first day back on Tuesday sharing stories about Melissa and her husband Mark. Melissa leaves behind a legacy of fierce advocacy for the average Minnesotan and I hope we will honor that legacy this session.
I was reminded this week that Melissa would often say that “a session is a terrible thing to waste.” So while we are still in the most divided legislature in state history, I commit to trying to work across the aisle with my GOP colleagues to tackle the problems facing our state and deliver solutions that meet the moment.
Standing up to ICE
Our state has been devastated by Operation Metro Surge. Fascist thugs continue to terrorize our neighbors even after a so-called draw down. While state government has certain limits to how much we can do to push back against Trump’s unconstitutional actions, we must do all we can.
This week, we hit the ground running with bills to deliver rental assistance to impacted families and ban federal agents from our schools without a judicial warrant. We are also ready with many more bills, like banning federal agents from masking their identities and requiring an independent investigation into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
I had two bills related to standing up for our immigrant neighbors heard before committee this week. The first would prohibit the denial of public education to students based on immigration status. Every single one of our neighbors deserves a quality public education. The second would allow nonprofit funds to be used to prevent evictions. For many of our neighbors, the only safe space for them has been their home. We need to work to make sure there are no evictions under this occupation. This is just one tool that would help keep vulnerable Minnesotans safe.
So far it has been frustrating as my GOP colleagues have failed to recognize just how harmful Operation Metro Surge has been. They’ve already shot down our proposal to provide emergency rental assistance. But I will work hard to try to get them to see the reality you and I have experienced. Hopefully then they will join us in pushing against this federal overreach.
Thanks to Minneapolis Families for Public Schools and local educators who came to the Capitol to advocate for keeping ICE out of our schools!
Countering Fraud
The ongoing fraud issues hurting our state are infuriating. Every dollar taken from a public program is a dollar that doesn’t go to housing the disabled, educating kids, or caring for our elderly. These services are critical and we must restore their integrity.
On Thursday we brought forward a bill to create a new government office charged with preventing and investigating fraud, the Office of the Inspector General. I hope folks on the other side of the aisle will join us in supporting this strong bill. Only by working together in good faith can we bring integrity, accountability, and transparency to these vital public programs.
A clear priority of mine for this session is to rebuild public trust in public programs. There is evidence that our current crackdowns are having serious negative effects on our most vulnerable neighbors. We must both fight fraud and protect these critical services; but can’t resort to slash and burn anti-government tactics that leave marginalized Minnesotans further behind.
Day of Remembrance
This week, February 19, 2026 marked 84 years since President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the forced removal and incarceration of more than 125,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese immigrants to a network of more than 75 concentration camps and detention sites across the U.S.
As a descendant of Japanese Americans who were interred I know we can not repeat history, we can not stand by as the rights of our neighbors are trampled. As my friend Rep. Aisha Gomez said, Minneapolis has chosen a different path. The ongoing actions of ICE and Trump will forever stain our nation, but our neighbors’ courage has been a bright light. We will keep working to ensure no more families are separated, no more neighbors are imprisoned, and no more camps are built.
We need to abolish ICE now, and end all collaboration with federal paramilitaries that want to push people into 21st century concentration camps.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to reach out anytime if you need assistance or have questions at rep.samantha.sencer-mura@house.mn.gov or 651-297-7087.
In community,
Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura
Minnesota House of Representatives