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March 7, 2025
Legislative Update
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we move further into the legislative session, there’s a lot happening at the Capitol. From addressing Minnesota’s growing budget deficit to protecting opportunities for young athletes, I’m working on solutions that put people first. I’ve always believed that common sense and fairness should guide our decisions—and I’ll continue to push for policies that make life better for families, workers, and small businesses across the state.
Budget Forecast: Minnesota’s Growing Deficit
We received an updated budget forecast this week, and the numbers don’t look good. Minnesota is now projected to hit a $6 billion deficit by 2028-29, which is even worse than the $5.1 billion shortfall we were expecting just a few months ago. This is a big concern because it affects everything—from roads and schools to tax policy and job growth.
So how did we get here? Over the past two years, the state spent every dollar of an $18 billion surplus, added $10 billion in new taxes, and expanded government spending by 40%. A lot of that money went to one-time projects with no long-term funding, which means we’re now left with programs that don’t have the resources to continue. That’s not how families or businesses balance their budgets, and it’s not how we should run a state either.
I believe we need to get back to responsible budgeting—focusing on essential services, reducing waste, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. I’ll keep pushing for fiscal responsibility so that we don’t leave future generations stuck paying for today’s bad decisions.
Standing Up for Fairness in Girls’ Sports
One of the biggest debates at the Capitol this past week was House File 12, the Protecting Girls’ Sports Act. The bill is simple: it ensures that girls’ sports remain for biological girls, keeping competition fair and protecting scholarship opportunities for female athletes.
Before Monday’s hearing, hundreds of people gathered on the Capitol steps to support the bill, including 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer Riley Gaines, former Gopher and Super Bowl champion Ben Utecht, and former Vikings captain Jack Brewer. Their message was clear: this is about fairness and opportunity.
The rally also brought out countless young girls who are fighting for their future in sports—something the other side is trying to dismiss as “political clickbait.” But this is real. This matters. When girls lose championships and scholarships because they are forced to compete against biological males, that’s not equality—that’s discrimination against women.
Unfortunately, when the vote came up on Monday, every single Democrat voted against the bill, leaving it one vote short of passing. All 67 Republicans voted to protect girls’ sports, but in the House, 68 votes are needed to pass a bill. That means just one Democrat could have done the right thing and helped ensure fairness in girls’ athletics—but instead, the bill was tabled.
This issue isn’t going away, and I will continue to stand with young female athletes who are fighting for a level playing field. They deserve better, and I won’t stop fighting for them.
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Addressing Minnesota’s Housing Crisis
Across Minnesota, families are struggling with high housing costs and a lack of affordable options. Whether it’s young professionals looking to buy their first home, workers needing housing closer to job opportunities, or seniors hoping to downsize, the reality is clear—we’re not building enough homes to meet demand. Right now, Minnesota has a shortage of more than 100,000 homes, and the lack of supply is driving prices up, limiting choices, and making it harder for people to live where they work.
That’s why I’m supporting a bipartisan housing package designed to remove unnecessary barriers, increase the supply of housing, and make homeownership more attainable. This plan focuses on cutting excessive regulations, streamlining the approval process, and ensuring that more starter homes, townhouses, and workforce housing projects can get built. By taking these steps, we can help lower costs, expand opportunities, and create stronger communities across the state.
I recently attended a press conference about this critical issue. You can watch the full discussion here.
Photos
 Great to meet with some of our local area teamsters.
 Had a great time at the annual MCCL Gala with constituents standing for life.
 Great having the team from Pine County Water stop by the Capitol.
 Great having Connor Boorman stop by the Capitol today to learn how to get more actively involved in politics and public service.
 Always good to have Chief Jessie Buhs as well as Nathen Barta stop by the Capitol to discuss Cloquet Fire District
 Great meeting with ATV clubs of Minnesota thanks for stopping by the Capitol.
 It was great to see so many local residents down at the Capitol for MN Association of Professional Employees Day. Thank you for being open and transparent.
 Had a great meeting at the State Capitol with Ryan Pervenanze, Director of Economic Development for Carlton County.
There’s still a lot of work to do in the final months of session, and I’ll keep fighting for fiscal responsibility, fairness in sports, and policies that make life better for Minnesota families.
As always, please reach out anytime with your thoughts or questions. I’m here to represent YOU, and your input is what helps me do my job best.
Take care,
Jeff
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