Dear Neighbors,
Hope that you’re having a great summer.
I’m writing to check in following the end of this year’s legislative session – and to provide a bit of a summary of the term just ended. It was an especially challenging one, with a tied House, plus a series of tragic events that tested our entire state: assaults on our democracy, including the loss of Melissa and Mark Hortman; the shooting at Annunciation Church; and the ICE “surge” that terrorized so many in our community.
Not surprisingly, much of the focus of the 2026 session was on proposed responses to these tragedies. I’m deeply disappointed that Republican legislators blocked meaningful legislation to reduce gun violence, to protect Minnesota from the Trump administration, or support the small businesses devastated by Operation Metro Surge. More on all of these topics below.
At the same time, there were positives from the term. The state budget that we passed in 2025 protected virtually all of the landmark policies and investments from recent years – Paid Family & Medical Leave, 100% Clean Energy, expanded transit funding, reproductive justice, and much more – even as Republicans targeted many of them for elimination. (The major exception to this is the elimination of health care for people living without documents in our state – an appalling change that Republicans demanded as the price for passing the budget.)
The most recent session contained some progress as well: we stabilized Hennepin County Medical Center, increased property tax refunds and rental assistance, funded critically-needed IT for human-services functions, and made capital investments across the state.
Below are highlights from a few areas in which I played a particularly prominent role this session, as well as a reminder that this will be the last email update from my office for several months.
A Fair Economy
As co-chair of the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Committee, this term I led the charge to protect our state’s recent progress for workers and families. Republicans at the Capitol teamed up with corporate special interests to relentlessly target Paid Family & Medical Leave, Earned Sick & Safe Time, labor protections, and more. Helped by powerful voices from regular Minnesotans at the table sharing just how big a difference these solutions are making for everyday people, we kept them intact.
While preventing a rollback of that progress, our committee made targeted investments to strengthen Minnesota’s workforce and boost economic development. There’s much more that we need to do to counteract consolidated corporate power and ensure fair wages, dignified employment, and an economy that works for everyone.
Preventing Gun Violence
With rigid opposition from House Republicans, perhaps the most notable disappointment from this past session was the complete lack of meaningful action to address gun violence. Guns are the leading cause of death for American children. Following the shooting at Annunciation Church and School, Minnesotans called for lawmakers to get weapons of war off of our streets.
In my work as a prosecutor outside of the Legislature, I see the impact of gun violence every day. It’s why I was the longtime author of the recent laws for criminal background checks and red-flag orders. And it’s why I authored bills this session to ban 3D-printed “ghost guns” and expand the authority of cities like St. Paul to regulate guns. The latter bills were included in a comprehensive gun safety package that passed the state Senate but was repeatedly blocked by House Republicans. Shamefully, House Speaker Lisa Demuth went so far as to hide the bill itself in a drawer, refusing to acknowledge the Senate had even passed it.
The Minnesotans who made their presence felt at the Capitol, including in the session’s final hours, were greatly inspiring. Joined by my DFL colleagues, I will continue my nearly decade-long fight for responsible gun laws in our state.
Photo: John Autey - Pioneer Press
After the “Surge”
Operation Metro Surge traumatized communities across our state. It brought fear, economic disruption, educational interruption, numerous violations of rights and liberties – and the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Throughout this session, my DFL colleagues and I pursued a suite of proposals to help our state recover and to prevent future abuses. I worked closely on one, which would provide direct support to impacted workers and small businesses. North Star Policy Action issued findings showing that the surge led to the elimination of 4,600 jobs in the hospitality industry alone. I coauthored several other pieces of legislation, including those to limit federal overreach and increase transparency and accountability. Unfortunately, in the tied House, at least one Republican vote was needed to pass any of these. Despite the pleas of Minnesotans, that did not happen. House Republicans went so far as to attempt tying business relief to weakening Paid Family & Medical Leave, a nonstarter for my DFL colleagues and me, who would not accept such a brazen proposal to undermine workers.
While the surge’s harm was vast, it also brought out the best of Minnesota. We showed love for our neighbors. We provided food and rides, protected schools, documented ICE activity, and so much more. As we forced the federal government to back down, we inspired the country and the world. DFLers will continue fighting to ensure that everyone in our state is able to live in safety and dignity.
Fighting Fraud in Public Programs
As a prosecutor who has fought fraud myself, I am appalled anytime a bad actor takes advantage of the public trust to steal resources meant to help vulnerable people. This term I served as the DFL-lead on the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee. Instead of focusing on solutions to solve fraud itself, it quickly became clear that the Republicans in charge of this panel were more interested in the spectacle of the issue, working to score political points and generate clicks on social media.
While the committee itself was a disappointment, I’m glad to report that much bipartisan progress was otherwise made. Building on the work of past years – including the recent DFL trifecta – we passed laws that will improve oversight and transparency, hire more investigators, reform grant management, hold wrongdoers accountable, and create an Office of the Inspector General. In the longer run, we need to rebuild public capacity for programs and rely less on risky outsourcing. My DFL colleagues and I continue to be committed to ensuring that public dollars serve the public good, not pad the pockets of fraudsters.
Fundamentally, it’s become increasingly clear that our economy and society are tilted toward powerful interests against working people. Here too, Republicans have prioritized tax cuts for the wealthiest and big corporations over measures to lower costs. For my part, I continue to be determined to build a state where everyone can afford their lives and thrive. #EverybodyIn.
Last Update
During an election period, legislators cannot use state resources for unsolicited communications because it might create an unfair advantage. Therefore, this will be my last e-update until after the election. I am still available to help with any state-level problems and discuss issues important to our community, so please reach out if I can assist in any way.
As we look back on the 2026 session and look ahead to returning to the Capitol in 2027, I’m interested in hearing your feedback, viewpoints, and ideas. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for the honor of serving our community,
 | | State Representative Dave Pinto (he/him)
Co-chair, Workforce, Labor, & Economic Development Finance & Policy Committee
DFL Lead, Fraud Prevention & Agency Oversight Committee
rep.dave.pinto@house.mn.gov
(651) 296-4199
#EverybodyIn |
Legislative website: www.house.leg.state.mn.us/64b
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