Legislative Update Dear friends and neighbors, With just three weeks remaining in the 2026 legislative session, the pace at the Capitol has officially gone from a jog… to a sprint… to controlled chaos (the good kind… mostly). It’s fast, it’s busy, and there’s a strong push to the finish line. Across committees like Agriculture Finance and Policy, Education Finance, and Human Services Finance and Policy, we’ve been putting in the work to move key priorities forward. Now, as we head into the final stretch, the Taxes Committee continues meeting right up until we adjourn on May 17th—and House floor sessions now take center stage. Last Friday marked our third and final policy deadline, meaning every bill that has a chance for final passage has made it through committee. Now comes the part where things really take shape—refinement, negotiation, and making sure the priorities Minnesotans care about don’t just stay in the conversation, but make it into law. After session and during the interim, I’ll be back in the community meeting with local residents, and shaping the next round of legislation—because the best ideas don’t start at the Capitol, they start at home. It’s been a very productive (and very busy) week—so let’s dive into some of the highlights! Fighting for Care, Closer to Home Let me paint a picture I wish I didn’t have to: families in our community being told that the best option for their child’s education and care is… nine hours away. Not nine minutes. Not even nine counties over. Nine. Hours. That means packing up a child who needs stability, routine, and support—and sending them far from home just to get the services they deserve. It means parents scheduling visits like they’re planning a road trip, instead of just being there for dinner, homework, or a tough day. That’s not only inconvenient, it’s heartbreaking. And the truth is, it doesn’t have to be this way. I’ve been working with an incredible team in our area to change that by establishing a Level IV learning center right here in our region. This would serve students with autism, cognitive disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, and other specialized needs—kids who aren’t asking for anything extraordinary, just the right support to succeed. Because here’s the thing: these students don’t need to be sent away. They need to be supported. Tiffany Litman, Executive Director of the Area Special Education Cooperative, came and testified on behalf of the Level IV center, and did an excellent job. She reminded us that this is the third consecutive year that we have brought this request. It is an idea whose time has come. I’m also grateful to Suraya Driscoll, Student Services Director at East Grand Forks Public Schools, who brought this issue forward and has been a fierce, compassionate advocate every step of the way. When people like Suraya speak up, it’s our job to listen—and then get to work! So that’s exactly what we’re doing. I’m committed to getting this project across the finish line because educating our kids in settings that maximize their opportunity to excel is what we do in the State of Minnesota. And keeping families together shouldn’t be a luxury—it should be the baseline. And building something like this isn’t just good policy, it’s the right thing to do. Minnesota is at its best when we show up for each other. This is one of those moments. Let’s make sure “nine hours away” becomes a thing of the past. Grace in the Midst of the Hustle Tuesday afternoon, I had the privilege of spending time with members of the Church Ambassador Network, along with five pastors from the Association of Free Lutheran Churches—one of whom is my own pastor. It’s hard to fully put into words how meaningful it is to have pastors come to the Capitol and pray with us. In a place where so many important decisions are made, being covered in prayer gives us clarity and empowers us to serve well. As we enter the final three weeks of the legislative session, their presence served as a quiet and powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness. I’m grateful—not only for the work they do in our communities, but for their willingness to pour into each one of us. Prayer is at the center of my life, and I rely on it daily. To be in a place where faith is welcomed, where prayer is spoken boldly, and where we can seek wisdom beyond ourselves—that is truly a gift. And I thank the good Lord for these faithful pastors every single day.  Pastor Samuel Wellumson, has faithfully served at Christ the King Free Lutheran Church in East Grand Forks for the past 15 years. He did a beautiful job leading us in prayer before Monday's floor session (You can watch it by clicking on the image above). I felt incredibly proud to have him there, representing the faith and values of our special corner of Minnesota. More Than Four Walls: Rethinking Care Across Minnesota I had the chance to sit down with folks from the Minnesota Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) Policy Committee—and let me tell you, these are people who see the system up close, every single day. Their message was clear: safety comes first. That means making sure both staff and clients are in environments that are properly staffed and equipped to handle real, often complex needs. Right now, they’re feeling the strain—too few hands on deck and facilities that aren’t always set up for success. One of the biggest challenges? Movement within the system. As patients progress in their treatment, transitioning them to the appropriate level of care isn’t as simple as it should be. Why? Because in some parts of the state, there just aren’t enough beds available. So folks end up staying in places that no longer fit their needs—not ideal for them, and not ideal for the system. But here’s where a little ingenuity comes in: there are unused buildings sitting in communities across the state that could potentially be retrofitted for care use, at a fraction of the cost of starting from scratch. Now that’s the kind of practical thinking I can get behind. This is an issue worth digging into, and I plan to do just that during the interim. If there’s a smart, cost-effective way to improve care and safety, we ought to find it and get to work before next session rolls around. Bipartisanship with a Side of Fries at Sweeney’s This was Representative Ethan Cha (D – Woodbury) and me at Sweeney's on Tuesday afternoon. Rep. Cha and I have developed a solid friendship over the past year, and today we moved that friendship forward by having lunch together. Cudos to the folks at Sweeney's for offering free lunch to legislators from opposite sides of the aisle to dine together, find common ground, and build bridges that may even carry back to improving the way we serve the people of Minnesota! In addition to Ethan being a cattle rancher in his career, I found out today that he carried a bill in the Agriculture Committee as a freshman to create the grain indemnity account, which creates a safeguard for our grain farmers who suffer economic losses by no action of their own when a grain elevator is unable to pay for grain that has been delivered. Ethan and I share a love for the outdoors with parks and trails. He believes in building infrastructure that opens the doors for people to experience everything our great state has to offer. He opposes the purchase of public lands and using them for purposes limited to a certain few people. We share the concern that health insurance has become ridiculously expensive, and that we need to find a way to put a lid on overall healthcare expenditures by the state. We talked about the delicate balance of education policy—wanting to set some basic guidelines at the state level while affording as much local control as possible. Overall, it was quite enjoyable to spend a solid chunk of time with Rep. Cha. I look forward to continuing the conversation. In the meantime, we'll have to get back on the House Floor and put on our angry face when we look at each other (not)! State of Hockey Energy in the House! It’s always a treat having the Minnesota Wild’s very own National Anthem singer John deCausmeaker, in the House! You can watch the clip from Thursday's floor session below. Always great to see him bring that same energy and pride we feel across the State of Hockey. Wishing the Minnesota Wild a great series victory over Dallas (I still haven’t forgiven them for stealing our team), and success throughout the playoffs, Go Wild!  The Finish Line Is in Sight, Let's Stay Connected!Many of you know the drill at this point, but as we head into the final few weeks of session, your voice matters now more than ever. So don’t be shy, please reach out! I’m focused on making life in District 1B better, and that includes tackling the kitchen-table issues that matter most—like making life more affordable for you and your family (because everything seems to cost more these days, and you deserve some relief). I’ll keep showing up every day, doing the work, and fighting for our community. And I truly appreciate everyone who’s taken the time to call, email, share ideas, or even just check in—those conversations are the best of what this job is all about. You can always reach me at rep.steve.gander@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651.296.5091—no appointment necessary, and coffee recommendations are always welcome. Until next time,
— Representative Steve Gander |