Hello from the State Capitol,
Last week, the nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) shared its findings of voter integrity in the State of Minnesota. It highlighted major loopholes in the system, as thousands of voters were allowed to register and cast a ballot on Election Day but couldn’t be verified as legal voters. It also showed the Secretary of State’s Office does not follow the law for inactive voters, choosing to leave voters on the rolls years after they should have been deactivated.
None of this is breaking news. Months ago, it was learned that Hennepin County alone had nearly 8,000 challenged voters on its master list because of questions about their eligibility to vote.
The Secretary of State’s Office puts a much higher priority on counting ballots than verifying them. This is why election integrity is such a problem in this state, because races are decided long before an illegal or ineligible voter’s status comes to light – if it comes to light at all.
U.S. SUPREME COURT PROTECTS FEMALE ATHLETES AND THEIR ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS
As you have likely seen, the U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed states to continue enforcing laws that protect girls' sports by limiting participation in female athletic competitions to biological females. The decision represents another step toward restoring fairness in women's athletics and recognizing the authority of states to establish policies that protect female athletes.
For years, Title IX has protected women and girls by ensuring equal educational and athletic opportunities. Unfortunately, policies adopted by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) have moved in the opposite direction by allowing biological males to compete in girls' athletic competitions and access girls' locker rooms and other private spaces based on gender identity. I believe these policies undermine the intent of Title IX and compromise the fairness, safety, and privacy that female athletes deserve.
This session, House Republicans supported the Preserving Girls Sports Act to restore those protections. The bill simply states that athletic teams and sports designated for girls and women are reserved for biological females. In the event of a dispute, the legislation requires a signed physician's statement verifying a student's biological sex based on objective biological criteria, including anatomy, naturally occurring testosterone levels, and chromosomal analysis.
When the bill came before the House, every Republican voted in favor of protecting girls' sports, while every Democrat voted against the measure.
The Preserving Girls Sports Act does not prevent anyone from participating in athletics. Every student would still have opportunities to compete. The bill simply ensures that girls' and women's sports remain reserved for biological females, preserving fair competition and protecting the opportunities generations of women have fought to secure under Title IX.
I will continue to support policies that protect women's sports, defend parental rights, and preserve fairness for Minnesota's female athletes.
PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND
I’m often asked about school funding and what happened in the education area this past session. This year, we approved legislation focused on strengthening the Permanent School Fund and improving the long-term stewardship of Minnesota’s school trust lands. This bill creates additional accountability, transparency, and stronger long-term investment strategies designed to maximize resources that ultimately go to support Minnesota students, educators, and schools for generations to come.
ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!
Under state law, legislators can't send unsolicited updates beginning tomorrow, which is 60 days after the Legislature adjourned for the year. That means this will be my last legislative update until after Election Day.
Even though you won't be hearing from me through these updates, I'll still be sharing news and information on Facebook, so I hope you'll stay connected there.
And remember, my office is still open and here to help. If you have questions about state government or need assistance with a state agency or other constituent services, don't hesitate to reach out. If you contact my office directly, I can and will respond.
Have a great summer!
Marj