Hello from the State Capitol,
The 2026 legislative session has come to an end after a final push to meet the midnight deadline at the Capitol. This was one of the most closely divided legislatures in recent history, with a tied House and only a one-seat majority in the Senate. That balance of power mattered. It meant no single party was in full control, and it forced negotiation on every major decision.
It also means something important: if Democrats had full control of state government, many of the tax relief measures and reforms that passed this year would not be law today.
Tax Relief Delivered Under Divided Government
Because of the narrow margins and divided control, Republicans were able to help secure meaningful, targeted tax relief for Minnesotans. This session included an expansion of the property tax refund to help homeowners keep up with rising costs. We also secured a one-time reduction in vehicle tab fees to provide some relief for drivers, who are facing higher costs across the board.
These are practical changes that put money back in the pockets of Minnesotans. Under full one-party control, these kinds of targeted relief measures would not have been prioritized or included. We also supported investments to modernize county IT systems, which will help improve efficiency in local government and reduce the risk of fraud, waste, and system failures.
Accountability and Fraud Prevention
Minnesotans have seen too many examples in recent years of taxpayer dollars being misused or lost due to weak oversight. In response, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law the creation of an independent Office of the Inspector General. This new office has law enforcement authority and operates independently from the Governor’s office. Its purpose is to investigate fraud and misuse of public funds without political interference and ensure stronger accountability across state government. This is a step forward, but it is not a final solution. Oversight only works if it produces real results, and we will be watching closely to make sure it does.
Stopping Tax Increases and Problematic Proposals
Just as important as what passed is what we stopped that the Democrats wanted. We were able to prevent a number of proposals that would have increased taxes and costs for Minnesotans. These included a new top income tax bracket, a broad wealth tax on farms, homes, businesses, and investments, and significant increases in vehicle registration fees. These proposals would have increased costs for families, farmers, and small businesses while adding new layers of complexity and uncertainty to how property and income are taxed.
We also raised serious concerns about proposals that went too far on gun regulation and raised constitutional questions for law-abiding citizens. Extreme and unconstitutional gun control measures would have made hunters and high-school trap shooters into felons overnight. There was no way that we were going to let that happen. These measures were debated extensively, and ultimately did not become law.
Looking Ahead
The legislative session is now over, but the work is not done. We will continue focusing on tax relief, protecting constitutional rights, and holding government accountable for how it spends your money.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve.
Sincerely,
Jimmy