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March 14, 2025
Legislative Update
Friends and Neighbors,
We’ve been hard at work at the Capitol addressing the priorities that matter most to Minnesotans—fiscal responsibility, government accountability, and protecting our young women and children. Unfortunately, the latest budget forecast brought bad news, revealing serious financial challenges ahead. Rest assured, I will continue working toward common-sense solutions that put taxpayers first and keep Minnesota on a sustainable path.
My First Bill on the House Floor – Fighting Child Sex Trafficking
Last week, my first bill, House File 129, made it to the House Floor and passed unanimously with a 132-0 vote. This legislation ensures greater accountability and transparency in Minnesota’s efforts to combat child sex trafficking by requiring a comprehensive program evaluation to be submitted to the Legislature every two years.
Few crimes are more horrifying than child sex trafficking and stopping it must be a top priority. Right now, reports on trafficking prevention efforts and victim services are only sent to the Commissioner of Health, leaving lawmakers in the dark about whether these programs are working. HF 129 extends that report to members of the Health and Public Safety Committees, ensuring lawmakers have the data they need to strengthen protections for victims and hold traffickers accountable.
I’m proud to have bipartisan support for this important measure, and I will continue working to ensure that Minnesota’s policies are as strong and effective as possible when it comes to protecting our children.
Minnesota’s Budget Crisis
The latest budget forecast confirms that Minnesota is heading toward a $6 billion deficit by Fiscal Year 2028-29, a massive shift from the $18 billion surplus we had just two years ago.
This growing deficit is the direct result of unsustainable spending and tax increases passed over the last two years. Rather than exercising fiscal restraint, Democrats spent every penny of the state’s record $18 billion surplus, raised taxes by more than $10 billion, and expanded government by 40%. Now, taxpayers are being left to clean up the mess.
I firmly believe that raising taxes again is not the answer. Minnesotans are already struggling with inflation, rising property taxes, and economic uncertainty. Instead of asking hardworking families to pay more, we need to rein in spending, find savings, and restore fiscal responsibility to state government.
Preserving Girls’ Sports Update
Earlier this month, the Preserving Girls’ Sports Act (HF 12) was heard on the House floor, and I was proud to stand in support of fairness in women’s athletics. We also welcomed 12-time All-American swimmer and girls' sports advocate Riley Gaines, who joined us for a rally at the Capitol alongside athletes, parents, and supporters who believe that girls deserve a level playing field.
Unfortunately, not a single Democrat voted for this bill, despite overwhelming public support. Every Republican voted to protect girls' sports, but we needed 68 votes to pass. While the bill has been tabled for now, this fight is far from over.
Have a Great Weekend!
There’s still a lot of work ahead, and I remain committed to bringing accountability to government, balancing the budget responsibly, and standing up for Minnesota values. If you have any questions or thoughts on these issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Have a great weekend!
Rep. Aaron Repinski
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