Legislative Update from Rep. Pete Johnson

Dear Neighbors, 

We have less than a month left of the 2026 Legislative Session, and there’s still a lot of work left to do. I spoke to PBS North along with my Republican colleague, Rep. Roger Skraba, and provided an update on where things stand in the Minnesota House and the work that remains.

Committees are largely done meeting at this point in the legislative process, with the bulk of our work now shifting to passing legislation off the House Floor. As with everything we’re passing this year, for any bill to become law it needs bipartisan support in the tied House. 

It’s difficult, but bills are passing - just the other day I voted to pass broadly bipartisan legislation that toughens penalties for impersonating a police officer, bans nudification technology, and strengthens the ability of agencies to stop payments to program participants when fraud is suspected.

These are the kind of solutions Minnesotans expect of us. A tied House is all I’ve known in my legislative career, so I’ve focused my efforts on bipartisan ideas that have a chance of passing (or at least should). One of those ideas is my bill to expand the eligibility for public safety officers’ survivor benefits to cover line-of-duty deaths from exposure-related cancers - a bill that has three Republican co-authors. 

I believe this is one of those common-sense solutions that we can deliver this year, and I’ll be spending these remaining weeks trying to get it over the finish line. 

The Work That Remains

Even though some bills are moving through the process, House Republicans continue to drag their feet on crucial issues. Whether it’s passing gun violence prevention measures that the vast majority of Minnesotans support, addressing the rising costs faced by families across the state, or delivering support to the communities impacted by Operation Metro Surge, we’re running out of time to do the work our state needs. 

Operation Metro Surge is now being reported to have cost our state thousands of jobs. That’s not just confined to the Twin Cities either, it impacts every corner of our state. 

I serve on the Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee, where we spend a lot of time trying to find ways to support jobs and the economy in our state. You’d think every member would see this federal overreach for the disaster that it is, but if Republicans aren’t outright applauding the actions of the Trump administration, they’re at least burying their heads in the sand.

When our committee heard legislation that would lend a helping hand to the businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge, I spoke to the importance of this bill. Whether it's the businesses in the Metro or Greater Minnesota, we all do better when we all do better. 

Protect the Boundary Waters

Lastly, I’ll leave you with my thoughts on the recent U.S. Senate vote to overturn the 20-year ban on new mineral leases on federal land.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a sacred and special place, and I’m extremely disappointed with the decision to reopen the door to mining activity on federal lands surrounding the BWCA. 

For those celebrating this as a victory, I don’t think it sends the message you believe it does. Actions like this deepen divisions and further erode public trust. What it truly signals is that these projects cannot move forward on their own merits and instead rely on rolling back protections, exploiting loopholes, or bending the rules to fit their needs.

The Boundary Waters deserve better. 

In these remaining weeks of the legislative session, always feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or ideas you have to help make Duluth and Minnesota a better place. 

You can reach me at rep.pete.johnson@house.mn.gov or (651) 296-4246. You can also follow along on my official Facebook page. 

I look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely,  

Pete Johnson  

State Representative