2026 Legislative Session in Review
Friends,
The 2026 legislative session is over, and I want to give you an overview of where things stand.
This wasn’t a year where Republicans controlled the Capitol. Just like last year, we held one half of the Minnesota House. Democrats held the other half, the Senate, and the Governor’s Office. That meant every dollar of tax relief, every fraud reform, and every bad idea we stopped had to be fought for in divided government.
With that in mind, I believe we made a real difference.
The top issue for me was accountability. People in our district work hard for what they have. They pay their taxes, follow the law, and expect state government to do the same. They shouldn’t have to keep reading about another fraud scandal, another broken program, or another case where taxpayer dollars disappeared while people in charge acted like no one could’ve seen it coming.
This session, we moved Minnesota in the right direction by passing stronger fraud reforms, including the Office of Inspector General bill. The state needs a watchdog with real independence, real authority, and the ability to follow the facts wherever they lead.
We also passed a 100% tax on money gained through fraud. If someone steals from taxpayers, the state shouldn’t just shrug, issue a press release, and move on. We should go after the money and do everything possible to recover it.
We also locked in Medicaid work requirements under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. I’ve said before that Minnesotans are generous people. We believe in helping others who are going through a hard time. But able-bodied adults who can work, volunteer, or participate in their community should have basic expectations tied to taxpayer-funded benefits. That’s fair to the people receiving help, and it’s fair to the people paying for the program.
Affordability was the other major fight. Whether you live in Bemidji, Lower Red Lake, Northern Township, Baudette, or anywhere else in our area, you know costs have gone up. Property taxes, vehicle tabs, energy, groceries, insurance, and day-to-day expenses have all put pressure on families.
We pushed through $400 million in tax relief for Minnesotans. That includes $125 million in property tax cuts, $250 million in car tab fee reductions, and an end to the ballpark tax. I would’ve liked to see deeper relief, but this is real money back to taxpayers and something to build on.
We also helped businesses by extending the pass-through entity tax provision and conforming to the One Big Beautiful Bill to help job creators. For small businesses already dealing with higher costs and too much red tape, that breathing room can be a difference maker.
Counties were also part of the conversation. Local governments are often left dealing with the cost of decisions made in St. Paul. This session included investments in technology modernization that can help counties operate more efficiently, create long-term savings, and hopefully ease some of the pressure that gets pushed onto property taxpayers.
It’s also important to point out a number of proposals we had to stop from moving forward.
One of the worst was the climate superfund proposal. That plan would’ve raised costs tied to energy, transportation, heating, and everyday goods. In northern Minnesota, those costs aren’t abstract. People drive long distances. Homes need to be heated for a long winter. Farmers, loggers, truckers, resorts, small businesses, and working families all feel it when government makes fuel, power, and transportation more expensive.
We also pushed back against new mandates, tax increases, and spending plans that would’ve made Minnesota less affordable. After the state already burned through a massive surplus and created future budget problems, I’m not interested in asking families in Beltrami County to pay even more because politicians in St. Paul can’t control themselves.
This session wasn’t perfect. I would’ve liked to go much further on fraud prevention, tax relief, public safety, mandate relief, and making life more affordable. Democrats blocked many of those efforts.
But even with only half of one chamber, House Republicans helped move Minnesota in a better direction and stopped several bad proposals from becoming law.
I’m glad we made progress, but I’m not here to pretend the job is done. I’ll keep working for a state government that respects taxpayers and understands that northern Minnesota shouldn’t be treated like an afterthought.
Looking forward to being back in the district this summer. I hope to see many of you at local events, parades, fairs, and community gatherings!
Have a great weekend,
Bidal