Hello from the State Capitol,
State lawmakers have returned to St. Paul to begin the 2026 legislative session. You can tell we have entered a “new normal” at the Capitol, and it’s something that’s going to impact you if you’d like to stop in and visit.
Weapons screening is now taking place as you enter the Capitol building, so understand you will have to wait in line to be screened, and allow for a bit more time before you can enter.
PRIORITY 1: ADDRESSING FRAUD
With Minnesota having lost nearly $9 billion in taxpayer funds to fraud – that we know about – there’s not a Republican around that doesn’t want this epidemic to end. It doesn’t feel like a real number until you break it down. It equates to roughly $3,840 per Minnesota household. Democrats looked the other way for years and it was far from a one-time mistake.
I’ve heard from a handful of people who have suggested this is a “victimless crime.” I think that’s nonsense. In fact, it’s actually a double whammy: the taxpayers get burned by having their money stolen, and those who actually need the benefits and depend on the programs suffer from lost funds.
After session ended in May, it seemed like we were hearing new fraud reports every week. So how have Democrats responded? On Wednesday, our health and human services committee approved a bill that would repeal the Housing Stabilization Services program, which was riddled with fraud and has cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Democrats offered amendment after amendment that tried to keep it around, did little to address fraud, and basically take the teeth out of it. It is so sad that fraud has become a partisan issue, especially since Democrat and Republican taxpayers are all getting ripped off.
LOCAL PRIORITIES
I have a handful of provisions I will be pushing this session. They include:
NORTH ZUMBRO SANITARY SEWER DISTRICT: My legislation would help fund the North Zumbro Sanitary Sewer District, serving residents in Goodhue, Zumbrota, Wanamingo, Pine Island, and the Prairie Island Indian Community by having a centrally located wastewater facility in Zumbrota. I helped secure $10 million for the project in 2023, and my bill this session would finish the job. The bill would save taxpayers $50 million over the life of the project. Not only would it lower costs for all involved, but it would also better protect our environment.
AG WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION TAX CREDIT: I will also continue to promote my legislation providing any farmer in the Karst Region with a $5 per acre tax credit for any ag land that is placed in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). The plan would prevent future nitrates from entering the ground water and eliminate other pollutants that are often associated with ag land.
OFFICER GARY SCHROEDER HIGHWAY DESIGNATION
I’ve heard from many in Zumbrota who would like to remember former city police officer Gary Schroeder by renaming a portion of Highway 58 after him. The popular retired officer suffered from in-the-line-of-duty PTSD and is no longer with us, and I’ll do what I can to move legislation forward that salutes his memory.
KEEPING AN EYE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES AND THE DNR
As a member of the environment committee, there is rarely a hearing that goes by without a state environmental agency or the DNR looking to expand their authority or their department’s budget. With a projected budget deficit looming, our state literally cannot afford to spend money it doesn’t have.
KEEP IN TOUCH
As always, my door is always open. If you ever have any legislative questions, please contact me. I can be reached at rep.steven.jacob@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651.296.2273.
Have a good weekend,
Steve