Dear Northlanders, I hope you are all enjoying your summer. It is always a busy time with weddings, reunions, and time with family and friends. July begins the parade season, and my first parade at Heritage Days in Two Harbors was fantastic. We handed out flags to all the kids and enjoyed seeing thousands at the parade and festivities. It was wonderful to be in the community again. I enjoyed being at the Republican booth and visiting with many who stopped to see me. It was a beautiful summer day, and everyone had a great time. Meanwhile back in district, I continue to meet with community leaders and constituents who call me to ask for help on issues that matter to them. Since many ask, what does a day look like. Here is a snap shot: - Working with resources to help homeowners in the Brimson fire area clear trees from the fire destruction
- Working with stakeholders regarding the impact for small businesses when High 61 road construction begins
- Working with disabled police officer concerned with benefit changes
- Attended Local 361 Carpenters annual Summer BBQ in Hermantown
- Attended gathering with many stakeholders supporting mining in Minnesota hosted by Better in our Backyard
- Attended Two Harbors and Pequaywan Township fire department fundraisers
- Meeting in Proctor for future advancement of trade programs for high schoolers in our area
It is a honor to serve the great people of our district, and I am thrilled to be home and back in community. When we are out of session, I generally travel to the cities 2-4 times per month for meetings and events. It is exciting to get things done and to continue to try and make things better. There is always something to work on, and I enjoy staying busy. Imer garata aus, Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar   Time in community at carpenters picnic.  Two Harbors Parade.    Enjoying time at home in nature. Health Coverage Update for St. Louis and Lake County Residents Beginning September 1, 2025, UCare will no longer offer Medicaid and MinnesotaCare coverage in several Minnesota counties, including St. Louis and Lake County. This decision is expected to affect approximately 88,000 Medicaid enrollees statewide. ?? What This Means for You There should be no disruption in coverage for those affected. UCare is working closely with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and local counties to ensure a smooth transition to other health plans. Medica and other insurers will step in to provide coverage in the areas UCare is exiting. ?? Why UCare Made This Change? This shift is not due to federal cuts or decisions by the Trump Administration. UCare announced the change after reporting a $504 million operating loss in 2024, citing low reimbursement rates in the Medicaid program as the primary cause. ?? What You Can Do? If you or someone you know is affected: - Contact: St. Louis County Human Services or Lake County Human Service where you live
- Visit: The Minnesota DHS website for updated plan options
- Review:
- Medicaid Carrier Map
- MinnesotaCare Carrier Map
Housing Stabilization Fraud: A Wake-Up Call for Minnesota This week, another troubling fraud story made headlines, as the FBI executed eight search warrants related to Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization program—a program unique to our state, offering Medical Assistance-funded housing services. Launched in 2021, this program has seen rapid growth: - $21 million in 2021
- $42 million in 2022
- $74 million in 2023
- $104 million in 2024
Despite this enormous investment, many clients report receiving little or no services at all. This is not an isolated issue, it adds to Minnesota’s staggering total of over $660 million in known Medical Assistance fraud. The real tragedy is that vulnerable adults—children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities—who depend on legitimate, effective programs, are losing out as their funding is cut. Just imagine the critical services that $660 million could have supported. Instead, Governor Walz expanded government programs by 40% in 2023, creating fertile ground for fraudsters to thrive in a system only Minnesota offers, with minimal oversight. Meanwhile, new fraud cases surface weekly, and perpetrators act boldly and with impunity, fully aware that Minnesota lacks strong checks and balances. Notably, the Governor failed to sign a bill creating an Office of Inspector General, which would have provided crucial program integrity safeguards—blocked purely by partisan gridlock. The Bottom Line: It’s time for accountability. Minnesota must prioritize service delivery over unchecked spending. We need to stop funding fraud and start funding real, measurable outcomes for those who truly need help. Addressing the Childcare Crisis in Minnesota Minnesota is facing a childcare crisis, especially in rural and underserved areas where providers are closing and families are struggling to find care. As a proud member of the Children and Families Committee, I was honored to take real action to support both providers and families across the state—especially in Greater Minnesota. HF 2872: Childcare Support with Regional Equity I authored House File 2872; a bill aimed at expanding access to high-quality childcare. Working diligently in conference committee, I successfully advocated for a $250,000 allocation specifically for Northeastern Minnesota, ensuring that: - Local providers had access to $5,000 grants
- Both family-based and center-based childcare facilities were eligible
- Our communities weren’t left behind
This was part of a larger $1 million statewide investment, with 25% of the total funding directed to our region—a significant win for Northeastern Minnesota. ?? Why This Matters - Childcare deserts are real—and growing
- Working parents need reliable care to stay in the workforce
- Children need nurturing, stable environments to thrive
Investing in providers helps ensure children are cared for safely, parents can work, and small businesses can operate. ? A Commitment to Families and Providers This bill is just one example of my ongoing work to: - Support rural and ensure our region gets a fair portion with St. Louis County being largest county in the state
- Strengthen the early childhood workforce
- Ensure families have access to affordable, quality childcare
We must continue prioritizing the needs of children, families, and the providers who serve them.   Protecting the Integrity of Women’s Sports in Minnesota The Federal Government has launched yet another investigation—this time focused on the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) and the eligibility of an athlete who participated in a girls’ high school softball championship. The issue at hand: Minnesota’s current transgender athlete policy may be in conflict with a federal executive order that bans transgender girls from participating in women’s sports. While Minnesota officials argue that the Minnesota Human Rights Act protects transgender athletes, the investigation raises serious concerns about the protection of girls' sports and Title IX compliance. Legislative Action: HF 1233 Prio to this legal action, Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar introduced House File 1233 during 2025 session, which would: - Amend the Minnesota Human Rights Act
- Create a specific exemption to protect women’s sports
- Reinforce Title IX rights and ensure fairness for female athletes
This bill aimed to provide clear legal protections for girls and women competing in school sports. Unfortunately, HF 1233 was blocked by legislators from the other side of the aisle, preventing the state from taking action to safeguard competitive equity for women and align state law with federal guidance. ?? Why This Matters - Title IX has protected girls' and women’s rights in sports for over 50 years.
- Minnesota’s current policy creates legal uncertainty and threatens those protections.
- Ignoring these concerns puts the future of fair competition at risk for thousands of female student-athletes.
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