Pre Session - Backer Tracker
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2026 Legislative Session officially starts on Tuesday, and I am ready to get back to work representing our district.
I am still the chair of the health committee and there are a lot of goals we have for this session, especially focusing on rural health and hospitals.
Some of our top priorities in the health committee include:
- H.R. 1 Conformity Ensuring conformity with H.R. 1 is about maintaining stability and protecting Minnesota’s access to critical federal healthcare funding and program flexibility. When the state fails to align with federal requirements, it can jeopardize waivers, funding streams, and regulatory approvals that support Medicaid, Medicare, and other essential services. Our goal is to ensure Minnesota remains compliant where necessary, protects taxpayer dollars, and avoids unintended consequences that could disrupt care for families, seniors, and vulnerable populations.
- Preventing & Reducing Fraud Fraud within public health programs has cost taxpayers billions of dollars and undermined trust in government. We must strengthen oversight, improve verification processes, increase transparency in grantmaking, and ensure agencies are held accountable.
- Supporting Rural Health, Hospitals & Independent Pharmacies Rural communities face unique healthcare challenges, including provider shortages, hospital closures, and financial strain on independent pharmacies. We must work to ensure rural Minnesotans have access to quality, timely care close to home.
- Health Affordability Healthcare costs continue to rise for families, employers, and seniors on fixed incomes. Deductibles, premiums, and prescription drug prices are putting pressure on household budgets. Minnesotans deserve access to affordable coverage and predictable healthcare expenses.
- Mental Health The demand for mental health services continues to grow across our state. From children and adolescents to veterans and seniors, too many Minnesotans struggle to access timely care. Our focus will be on expanding the mental health workforce, improving early intervention services, increasing access in schools and rural communities, and ensuring that individuals in crisis receive appropriate care rather than cycling through emergency rooms or the criminal justice system. Strengthening mental health services is essential to the overall well-being of our communities.
Fraud
Fraud continues to dominate conversations all over the state. While Gov. Tim Walz has rightly faced significant criticism for fraud occurring under his administration, Minnesota’s fraud problem runs deeper than any one individual. It reflects a broader culture of taxpayer abuse that has developed under years of mismanagement and seems to have gotten worse during the Democrat trifecta years.
Addressing fraud must be a top priority this session. House Republicans are advancing a package of reforms, including legislation to establish an independent Office of the Inspector General with law enforcement authority. On the final day of the 2025 session, House Republicans attempted to declare urgency so we could pass this bill and send it to the governor. House Democrats refused, preventing the measure from moving forward.
Even in a non-budget year, cracking down on fraud could significantly improve our financial outlook. Minnesota faces a projected $3 billion shortfall in 2028–29 after the Democrats spent an $18 billion surplus, increased state spending by 40 percent, and raised taxes by $10 billion during the last biennium.
I am excited to get back to get back to the Capitol next week and get to work protecting your tax dollars.
Staying in Touch
Please be sure to reach out to me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. You can contact me by phone at either 701-361-1909 (cell) or 651-296-4929 (desk). I can also be reached via email at rep.jeff.backer@house.mn. I also encourage you to follow me on Facebook www.facebook.com/repjeffbacker.
Have a good day,
Jeff