Legislative Update Dear friends and neighbors, I hope you had a great week and that you got a chance to soak up that sneak peek of summer weather we were teased with yesterday. Down at the Capitol, things are moving at full speed. We’ve already cleared our first and second legislative deadlines, and the final bill deadline hit today at 5:00 p.m. After this week, most committees will have wrapped up their work, except the Tax Committee, which will keep grinding right up until the session wraps on May 17. House Republicans have been busy putting forward real solutions to ease the burden on Minnesota families. That includes strong tax conformity legislation, several fraud prevention bills in all committee areas, so I'm really excited to see where things go there, and bring a little more common sense back to how we tax Minnesotans. There’s a lot of good work ready to go, now we just need the opportunity to get it across the finish line. As always, I’m listening, and I’ll continue working to make sure your voice is part of every conversation. Safe Schools Can’t Wait On Tuesday, we rolled out our House Republican school safety proposal. This package has been months in the making, shaped in the wake of the heartbreaking tragedy at Annunciation Catholic School last fall; we have made it a top priority throughout the planning process, to have extensive conversations with the people who know our schools best: superintendents, teachers, parents, and students. At it's core, this proposal is about making sure every student, no matter where they attend school, feels safe when they walk through those doors each morning. So we built a proposal that actually meets schools where they are. Not a one-size-fits-all mandate, but a multilayered approach with tools schools can use right now. We prioritized more funding for school safety across public, nonpublic, and Tribal schools. As well as strengthening access to mental health resources, recognizing that early intervention can prevent crises before they happen. And giving schools more flexibility with tools like anonymous threat reporting and safety planning, so they can respond quickly and in ways that make sense for their communities. We also tackled what’s happening inside the classroom—supporting discipline reforms that help restore order and protect both students and staff, while making sure teachers aren’t left to handle tough situations on their own. And here’s the part that really shouldn’t be controversial: this wasn’t a partisan wishlist. It was a multilayered plan that pulled from ideas on both sides of the aisle, many of which have had strong bipartisan support in the past. Unfortunately, this week House Democrats voted against the amendment needed to move it forward, and the proposal didn’t make it out of committee. Instead of moving forward on solutions we largely agree on, the conversation stalled over broader policy debates that, while important, don’t need to stop us from taking action on school safety right now. We can do both. Minnesota families expect us to do both. Here's the hard truth: delay is a decision. Each day we wait is another day schools are left without resources they’ve been asking for. Another day teachers are left managing increasingly difficult situations without enough backup. Another day parents are left wondering if everything that can be done, actually is being done. With about a month left in session, the choice is pretty simple—move forward on solutions we know can pass, or keep Minnesota waiting. Minnesota families want action, and that’s exactly what House Republicans are ready to deliver. Don’t Let Costs Roll Downhill: Why Federal Alignment MattersYou’ve maybe heard me mention this already this session, but it’s worth taking a closer look—because although it might sound technical, it has very real impacts on your wallet. "Federal conformity.” Federal conformity means Minnesota aligns parts of our tax code with the federal government. When we don’t align, we risk losing out on federal dollars tied to those provisions. But the costs tied to those programs don’t just disappear. Instead, they get pushed down to counties… and eventually, to you. That’s the cost shift. Local governments are left to make up the difference, and more often than not, that means higher property taxes and increased costs across the board. That’s why we are working to align with the federal tax code, not move away from it. This week, we worked to do exactly that by advancing House File 3127, which includes the pass-through entity (PTE) tax extension. This provision costs the state of Minnesota nothing—zero—but prevents hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes from hitting Minnesota job creators. If we fail to pass this bill, small businesses across our state will be facing a massive and unnecessary tax increase. That makes it harder to grow, harder to hire, and harder to reinvest in the communities they serve. And when there’s uncertainty like this, businesses can't just shrug it off—they pull back. Hiring slows. Expansion plans get put on hold. Some even start looking out of state for a more stable environment. House Republicans are focused on creating a business climate where employers can grow, hire, and compete—not just survive, but actually thrive. That starts with keeping taxes predictable and making it clear that Minnesota is open for business. Because when we get that right, it doesn’t just help businesses, it helps every community that depends on them. Advocates in Action I want to give a huge thank you to Britta Torkelson MRC, Clay County Commissioner Jenny Mongeau, and Meeker County Commissioner Steve Schmitt for taking the time to testify in support of my bill, House File 4407, this week. I’m incredibly grateful for leaders like them—people who see firsthand how policy impacts their communities every single day and aren’t afraid to step forward and speak up. Their willingness to use their voices on behalf of those who often go unheard is exactly the kind of leadership that makes a difference in Minnesota.  It was also great to have Monty Morrow and his lovely wife Carmen as guests at the Capitol today! They were here advocating for House file 4052, a bill designed to modernize Minnesota’s telecommunications statutes, which haven’t been updated since the pre-2000’s. I am grateful to have such amazing advocates for Minnesota’s long term digital competitiveness! Small Business Spotlight! I want to give a huge shoutout to my good friend Dean Bertram, who has been named the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business Person of the Year for Minnesota! In May, Dean will be heading to Washington, D.C. to accept this prestigious honor at the national SBA ceremony. I couldn’t be more proud to see him represent our district—and Minnesota small business—on that national stage. Congratulations Dean! Taking Flight with the Civil Air Patrol I’m excited to share that I received my 2026 Civil Air Patrol identification card this week, as part of the Minnesota Wing Civil Air Patrol Legislative Squadron. The Minnesota Wing Civil Air Patrol currently includes 80 members of the Minnesota Legislature, bringing together lawmakers from across the state in a bipartisan setting focused on service, leadership, and mission readiness. The Legislative Squadron was created to give legislators a direct way to engage with CAP’s mission and better understand the critical work they do across our state. I’m looking forward to getting involved with a unit near my home or in the Twin Cities during session, connecting with CAP members, and supporting efforts that strengthen the Civil Air Patrol’s mission here in Minnesota. Stay Connected!As 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.daw.gillman@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651.296.6746. I’m here to listen and work together for our community's success! Sincerely, —Representative Dawn Gillman |