Legislative UpdateThe 2025 legislative session has officially adjourned, but unfortunately, the work isn’t done. Democrats refused to come into work for the first 23 days of session after one was caught cheating in a Roseville race; their candidate didn’t live in the district. This temporarily put them at a one-seat minority in the House, and rather than accept the consequences, they simply stayed home and stalled the process. Then, in the final stretch of session, after bipartisan budget agreements had been negotiated in good faith, and bills moved through multiple committees, Democrats walked away from key parts of the deal, leaving major pieces of the state budget unresolved and forcing the state into a special session. What We Accomplished Despite these unfortunate actions, we did manage to pass several critical budget bills before Monday’s constitutional deadline. These include Agriculture, Housing, Legacy, Public Safety, Judiciary, State Government, Elections, Local Government, Veterans, and Human Services Policy. These bills reflect areas where bipartisan cooperation prevailed; targeted investments were made, wasteful spending was reined in, and greater transparency and accountability were prioritized. Unfortunately, there are still many bills left to complete. And with the wrapping of the 2025 Legislative Session, these bills will have to start the process over. Capital Investment, Commerce, Education Finance and Policy, Energy, Environment, Health and Children and Families, Human Services Finance, Higher Education, Taxes, Transportation, and Workforce and Labor all remain incomplete. What Comes Next House and Senate members have been working throughout the week on these outstanding bills in a series of bipartisan workgroups. These function much like traditional conference committees, with input from both chambers and participation from agency officials. Offers are expected to be exchanged at least twice daily. A deadline for reaching final agreements was set for 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, though the committees did not meet it. Because session is over, all unresolved bills will technically need to be reintroduced during a special session, called by the Governor. We will vote to suspend the rules and move these bills quickly to final passage. Once both chambers approve them, they will go to the governor’s desk for a signature. Special session is expected to be called sometime next week. If members on these remaining workgroups can all come to an agreement before special session is called, the special session should only last for a couple of days. Democrats Blocked a Critical Anti-Fraud Bill On the last night of session, we again attempted to declare an urgency for a bill that would help eliminate fraud across all branches of state government. The Office of the Independent Inspector General (OIG) bill would have created a truly independent office to investigate and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in state programs. The bill passed the Senate on a strong bipartisan 60-7 vote. It had broad support, including the governor, as stated in his state of the state, and was the result of months of committee work and stakeholder input. Yet on the final night of session, House Democrats refused to suspend the rules and take up the bill, blocking it, despite its wide support and clear need. This was deeply disappointing. We’re talking about nearly a billion dollars in known fraud; money that should be helping families, not lining the pockets of criminals. The OIG bill would give the state tools to investigate, freeze, and recover misused funds. It’s incredibly disappointing to see that, unlike Senate Democrats, House Democrats cannot set aside their partisanship for important issues that many Minnesotans care about. As we continue to game out how special session will go in the coming days, including the OIG bill must be a top priority. Closing Thoughts Some important things were done this year, but political games and misplaced priorities from one side of the aisle derailed what could have been a more productive session. I’ll continue fighting to ensure that any remaining legislation reflects the real priorities and needs of Minnesotans. I also want to wish everyone a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend. I hope you all have a chance to enjoy some time away and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our nation and our freedoms. Happy Memorial Day!  |