Legislative UpdateDear Friends and Neighbors, Happy Valentine’s Day! After a few weeks of delays, I’m excited to announce that the House is officially back in session and committees are up and running with official business. It’s been an energizing start, especially as we just finished our first week in the operating majority since 2018! We’ve hit the ground running, with several key pieces of legislation already moving through the process. Our top priorities are advancing quickly, and we’re working hard to get them to the House floor for a full vote. The momentum here is strong, and we’re focused on tackling the issues that matter most to our communities. This is just the beginning, and I look forward to keeping you updated as we move forward! Fighting FraudThis week, the House Fraud Oversight Committee held its first hearing to investigate how state agencies manage taxpayer dollars. We heard testimony from Legislative Auditor Judy Randall and Deputy Auditor Jodi Munson Rodriguez, who outlined serious failures in the management of state-funded grants to nonprofits. The testimony revealed that Minnesota has seen an estimated $610 million in fraud and waste, and it’s clear that state agencies are not doing enough to prevent it. The Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) report highlighted several key concerns: Lack of oversight – Agencies often fail to require grant managers to take available training in grant administration. While the Office of Grants Management provides some training modules, it appears there is no training in fraud prevention or close-out evaluations. These gaps in financial oversight training lead to weak management that doesn’t enforce existing grant management standards. Weak grant management statutes – The Office of Grants Management has the authority to stop payments on grants when fraud is detected but is not required to do so. We need to change the law from “may stop payment” to “must stop payment” to ensure immediate action when fraud is identified. Our bipartisan committee will continue to hold hearings to uncover problems in agency practices and state law that need to be addressed to ensure taxpayer dollars go to those in need, not those looking to exploit the system. I will keep pushing for stronger safeguards, clearer oversight requirements, and real accountability for agencies that fail to protect public funds. Protecting Girls in Sports Earlier this week, House Republicans sent a letter to the Executive Director of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) seeking answers about the MSHSL's public statement that they intend not to comply with President Trump's Executive Order protecting girls sports in Minnesota. We House Republicans stand with the overwhelming majority of Minnesotans who what to protect the safety and fairness of girls sports.  Stay ConnectedAs always, I am so grateful for your continued support and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to represent you. As always, my door is open to you. Please feel free to stop by my office for a meeting or reach out via email at rep.nathan.nelson@house.mn.gov. I’m here to listen and work together for our community's success! Sincerely,
Rep. Nathan Nelson
Minnesota House of Representatives, District 11B |