House passes bills on affordability, fraud, accountability and more
ST. PAUL – The 2026 legislative session finished Monday after a flurry of weekend activity where Rep. Bernie Perryman, R-St. Cloud, said House Republicans delivered major victories on affordability, fighting fraud, and increasing accountability in state programs.
Perryman said House Republicans have focused heavily on combating fraud, providing property tax relief, improving school safety, cutting car tab fees, delivering relief for counties, and modernizing government systems. They passed bills addressing each of those priorities this session, including approximately $400 million in tax relief, with $125 million in property tax cuts and $250 million in car tab fee reductions approved over the weekend.
“Minnesotans asked for affordability, accountability, and relief, and that’s exactly what House Republicans set out to deliver this session,” Perryman said. “We kept our eye on the ball as we fought for lower car tabs, property tax cuts, and serious anti-fraud efforts, while also ensuring support for rural hospitals and counties across the state. And, in the end, we succeeded in each of these areas. It’s a good day for Minnesotans and provides some hope we can get our state back on track after the days of one-party control.”
A $1.2 billion infrastructure package also received House approval on Sunday, funding projects throughout the state – including nearly $10 million locally. Perryman said the House provided $3.4 million for a Fifth Avenue project and $3 million for a Mississippi riverwalk connection in St. Cloud, and $3 million more for Stearns County to perform work on 332nd Street.
“Every bill needed bipartisan support to pass this session because the House is tied 67-67,” Perryman said. “But capital investment bills need even more support, with a supermajority required for passage. I am proud of the collaboration with everyone from the state, the county and local legislators that took place to make the bonding requests work.”
The House also approved federal tax conformity legislation that helps Minnesota businesses by extending the Pass-Through Entity tax provision, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in relief at no cost to the state. In addition, the House delayed PFAS reporting requirements for nine months through the end of the 2027 session, giving Minnesota businesses temporary relief from costly compliance mandates.
On fraud, the House adopted Medicaid work requirements included in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill to create long-term savings, strengthen accountability, and help combat fraud, Perryman said. She noted that the measure builds on the House’s recent passage of legislation creating a new Office of the Inspector General and implementing additional anti-fraud reforms aimed at protecting taxpayer dollars and restoring trust in government.
Relief for hospitals across Minnesota also came late in the session, with the House creating an uncompensated care fund and a new hospital stabilization fund to help facilities facing dire financial situations. The new fund is backfilled by expected cancellations of the Blue Line and Northern Lights Express rail projects.
Medical Assistance reimbursement rates also will increase for rural and critical access hospitals under legislation passed by the House in recent days. Perryman said the change will help place those hospitals on more equal footing with Twin Cities facilities.
The House also passed major investments in technology updates for counties that Perryman said is critical to protecting taxpayers, strengthening accountability and making sure benefits go to the Minnesotans who truly qualify instead of fraudsters.
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