Legislative Update: 07.15.2026

Interim Update 

Friends,

The cost of living continues to be one of the greatest concerns I hear from people throughout our district. Families are paying more for groceries, housing, utilities, insurance, and nearly every other necessity. At a time like this, state government should be looking for every opportunity to ease the pressure, not add to it.

We made progress this session by delivering meaningful property tax relief and reducing vehicle tab fees. These were important steps that will allow Minnesotans to keep more of what they’ve earned, but our work can’t stop there.

We need to build on that progress with broader tax relief, further reductions in property taxes and tab fees, and a serious effort to control the mandates and regulations that increase costs for families and local businesses. State government must also do a better job of eliminating fraud and making sure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.

Minnesotans are expected to live within their means, and their government should be held to the same standard. Making Minnesota affordable will require government to demand less from its citizens while citizens demand greater responsibility from their government.

Paid Leave Moves Us in the Wrong Direction

Minnesota’s new Paid Leave program is a prime example of the kind of approach we should be moving away from.

Helping workers care for a newborn, recover from a serious illness, or support a family member is a worthwhile goal. But the state created an expensive new program funded by another tax on workers’ paychecks and another cost for Minnesota employers.

The numbers are already moving in the wrong direction. The program has paid out nearly $600 million while collecting approximately $344 million through the payroll tax, and applications are coming in much faster than the state projected.

Rather than recognizing those warning signs and addressing the program’s long-term affordability, state law allows the payroll tax to increase from its current rate of 0.88% to as high as 1.1% without another vote by the Legislature.

Doing so means making the same mistakes that got us here. When a state program costs more than anticipated, the first response shouldn’t be to reach deeper into the pockets of workers and employers.

We need a thorough review of the program’s finances, stronger protections against fraud and abuse, and reforms that prevent its costs from continuing to grow unchecked. Small businesses, farms, schools, local governments, and working families shouldn’t be left carrying the burden for poor planning in St. Paul.

AG Ellison & Walz Pardon Child Sex Offender

I also want to address the decision by Governor Walz, Attorney General Ellison, and Chief Justice Hudson to pardon Tou Lue Vang, who was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for repeatedly assaulting a 10-year-old girl.

As a father of three daughters, I cannot understand using the power of a pardon in a case like this. There are people who earn a second chance, but there are crimes so serious that accountability must come first. The repeated sexual abuse of a child is one of them.

This pardon appeared aimed at helping Vang avoid deportation. Fortunately, federal authorities later removed him from the country. That was the right outcome, and it showed that we do not have to accept keeping serious criminals here when federal authorities have ordered their removal.

The safety of our children and our communities should always come first. It should never be treated as a political calculation or take weeks to form an opinion on something so heinous. 

Keeping Costs Down

As we prepare for the next legislative session, I’ll continue working to make Minnesota a more affordable place to live, work, raise a family, and retire.

That means building on the property tax relief and tab fee reductions we delivered, pursuing broader tax reductions, addressing the rising cost of Paid Leave, eliminating fraud, and bringing greater accountability to state spending.

Minnesotans work hard for every dollar they earn. State government should respect that by taking less, wasting less, and delivering better results with the resources it already has.

Notice

Under House election-year rules, this will be my final official email update until after Election Day.

My office will remain open, and I’ll continue meeting with people across the district, listening to your concerns, and working on the issues that affect northern Minnesota families. Please continue to reach out whenever I or my staff can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Rep. Bidal Duran