Legislative Update Dear friends and neighbors, On Monday, we reached our third and final session deadline. Although we worked around the clock to try to finish on time, we came up just short of it. And unfortunately, what we didn’t finish may be just as important as what we did. One of the biggest disappointments? The failure to pass a critical government accountability bill that would have established an Office of the Inspector General—a long-overdue watchdog to help root out fraud, waste, and abuse in our state programs. Over the past year, nearly one billion dollars in fraud, waste, and abuse have been uncovered in Minnesota’s state-run programs. One. Billion. Dollars. I don’t know about you, but I’m not okay with that—not even a little bit. We had a clear opportunity on Monday night to do something about it. The Senate had already passed a strong, bipartisan bill to create an Office of the Inspector General—a real watchdog for your tax dollars. Over in the House, we worked on this all session long. Rep. Patti Anderson (R–Dellwood) did the heavy lifting, getting the bill through every committee it needed to pass. And then… House Democrats killed it. Let me tell you—this wasn’t some rushed, half-baked proposal. This was version twelve of the bill. Cleaned up, tightened, and the result of honest compromise across party lines. We had it ready. And they walked away. You have to ask: Why? Who benefits from blocking accountability in government? Minnesotans deserve better. You deserve to know that your hard-earned dollars are being spent wisely—and that someone’s keeping an eye on the system to prevent this kind of waste. So here’s my question to you: Do you want real oversight of state agencies, or are you okay watching your money disappear into a black hole of mismanagement? We don’t need more empty promises. We need action. And we need your voice in this fight. I’m not giving up—and I hope you won’t either. Let’s stay engaged, keep asking the hard questions, and make our priorities known—whether it’s in a special session or the next time you vote at the polls. A+ for Retirement Reform We all remember that one teacher who changed our lives—and now, House Republicans are working to return the favor. Minnesota’s teachers are facing burnout, rising expectations, and a retirement system that just doesn’t stack up against neighboring states. Nearly every teacher I talk to asks the same question: when is the legislature going to fix pensions? Last year, Democrats controlled the House, Senate, and Governor’s office. They had a record $18 billion surplus, raised taxes by more than $10 billion, and still didn’t lift a finger to address the teacher pension crisis. If they won’t act when the money is there, when will they? House Republicans listened to educators and offered real solutions—like House File 2318, which allows teachers to retire with an unreduced pension at age 62 with 30 years of service, and House File 2329, which expands early retirement options to age 60. We even proposed redirecting funds from the school lunch program for high-income families to help stabilize the Teachers Retirement Association—freeing up $111 million for teacher pensions. Unfortunately, the teachers’ union, Education Minnesota, opposed that idea, making progress harder. But we didn’t give up. On the final day of session, we passed a commonsense reform: teachers can now retire as early as 60 with a more reasonable pension benefit—still reduced, but not as harshly. It's a step in the right direction. We’re also investing $40 million every two years to help schools cover increased pension contributions, easing the strain on local budgets and helping districts keep great teachers without cutting classroom resources. This isn’t just smart policy—it’s how we make Minnesota a place where excellent educators want to teach, stay, and retire with dignity. Because supporting our educators means supporting our students—and that’s a lesson worth passing on. Capitol Visitors from Up North! Senator Mark Johnson and I had some fantastic visitors at the Capitol this week—6th graders from Fosston and Ada-Borup made the trek down to St. Paul, and let me tell you: they brought the energy! It’s always a treat to see our students roaming the halls of the Capitol, wide-eyed and curious, asking sharp questions and soaking it all in. There's something really special about watching future leaders see the heart of state government up close—maybe even picturing themselves here one day! A big shoutout to the teachers, chaperones, and school staff who so graciously wrangled the excitement, coordinated the chaos, and made these visits possible. You deserve a gold star (or maybe a long nap). To the students—thanks for bringing a little northern charm to St. Paul. Come back anytime!  Session’s Over… Sort Of. Let’s Talk Special Session.As we wrap up the 2025 legislative session and roll right into a special one (because apparently we just can’t get enough lawmaking), I want to take a moment to thank you for trusting me to represent our strong, engaged, and downright impressive community. The pace at the Capitol has been intense—think coffee-fueled marathons and lots of hallway huddles—but through it all, your voices have remained front and center in my work. Whether you’ve emailed, called, or stopped me at the grocery store (yes, I do read the emails and yes, I did get your message about that pothole), you’ve helped shape how I vote and lead. Now, even though the regular session has ended, the work continues. The special session means we’re back at it, ironing out key issues that didn’t quite make it across the finish line. If you have thoughts, questions, or just want to double-check that your tax dollars aren’t being used to name a state lizard (they’re not—yet), I’m all ears. Email me at Rep.Steve.Gander@House.MN.Gov
Call my office at 651-296-5091
(Just a quick note: replies to this newsletter won’t reach me, so please use my direct contact info above.) Want live updates and behind-the-scenes snapshots from the House floor? Follow my official Facebook page. I promise to keep it informative, timely, and only mildly sarcastic. Thank you for staying engaged. I’m honored to do this work with you and for you—and I’ll keep doing my best to make sure your voice is heard, even when the legislative calendar says “overtime.” Onward, Representative Steve Gander Minnesota House of Representatives, District 1B |