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Legislative Update
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Monday night marked the official end of the 2025 legislative session. Unfortunately, we were unable to finalize the full state budget, and a special session will now be required to finish the job.
Despite delays, we did make real progress. Key budget bills passed before the deadline, including those covering Agriculture, Housing, Legacy, Public Safety and Judiciary, State Government, Veterans, and Human Services Policy.
Still, several major areas remain unresolved: Capital Investment, Commerce, Education, Energy and Environment, Health and Children & Families, Human Services Finance, Higher Education, Taxes, Transportation, and Workforce and Labor.
Conference committees are now working to reach bipartisan agreements so that when the Governor calls a special session, possibly next week, we can pass the remaining bills. On my end, I had the opportunity to serve on the conference committee for a DUI Interlock bill, along with fellow Suburban Solutions Caucus member and 27-year police veteran, Rep. Jeff Witte.
Safer Roads: Cracking Down on Repeat Drunk Driving
Keeping our roads safe is always a priority. This session, I served as the Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee and on the conference committee for House File 2130, a bipartisan bill that strengthens Minnesota’s ignition interlock laws. These devices prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver is under the influence, reducing repeat DWI offenses by about 70% while installed.
The bill passed the House with overwhelming support (123-5). I will continue to work in a bi-partisan fashion when it comes to protecting our community.
Strengthening Educator Pensions Supports Schools, Students, and Our Community
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Supporting Minnesota’s educators has been central to my work and the work of the Suburban Solutions Caucus at the Capitol. This session, we made important progress: the 60/30 early retirement option (retire at age 60 with 30 years of service) is now law. Modeled on our bipartisan bill (HF 2329), it gives long-serving teachers more flexibility and security. This not only helps retain educators but allows school district across the state to hire more teachers as more high paid senior teachers choose retirement. This will improve moral, help reduce classroom sizes and provide more resources for our students.
Stopping Fraud: The Work Continues
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One of the most disappointing outcomes this session was the House’s failure to advance the Office of the Independent Inspector General (OIG), a bill I supported alongside fellow Suburban Solutions Caucus member, Rep. Patti Anderson. It would create an independent office to investigate and stop fraud in state programs.
The Senate passed the bill 60-7, and the Governor expressed support. But on the final night of session, half of the House members refused to bring it forward. With nearly $1 billion in known fraud, this is unacceptable. I’ll keep working to get this done in the special session to ensure efficient and effective use of all of our tax dollars.
In the meantime, if you’ve experienced fraud in state programs, please report it at MNFraud.com. We’ve already received hundreds of submissions, and every report makes a difference.
Fighting for Local Infrastructure
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As a member of the Capital Investment Committee, I’m disappointed the bonding bill didn’t move forward before session ended. These bills are how we fund clean water, roads, and infrastructure that supports strong communities and preserving our state assets.
I’ll continue working to ensure the final bonding package is included during special session and that it includes vital local projects for Excelsior, Long Lake, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Shorewood, and Tonka Bay, while also investing in statewide needs and good-paying jobs for Minnesotans.
Recognizing EMS Week: Supporting Our First Responders
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This week is EMS Week, and I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible first responders who serve our communities every day. Here in our district, I’ve been working on solutions to recruit and retain more EMS personnel and to improve local emergency response times. Making sure that help arrives quickly when you or a loved one is in crisis can be the difference between life and death.
We need to ensure EMS providers have the tools, training, and support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. I’ll continue advocating for smart, bipartisan solutions to strengthen our EMS systems, and I thank every first responder for the work you do.
Thank You for Staying Engaged
While this session brought both progress and setbacks, I remain focused on practical, bipartisan solutions that strengthen our communities and respect your tax dollars.
If you have questions or ideas, please reach out. Your voice helps shape this work, and I’m honored to keep representing you.
Have a safe and meaningful Memorial Day Weekend,
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“Your voice has an impact.”
Representative Andrew Myers
House District 45A
Co-Chair of the Suburban Solutions Caucus
Serving Excelsior, Greenwood, Long Lake, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, Shorewood, Spring Park, St. Bonifacius and Tonka Bay
Please Contact Me
Please continue to reach out with thoughts, ideas, and priorities by emailing me directly at rep.andrew.myers@house.mn.gov or calling me at my office at (651) 296-9188 or via my cell at (612) 615-8444. Your voice has an impact and allows me to better address the priorities of you and your neighbors. Thank you and have a great week.
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/RepAndrewMyers
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2nd Floor Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.9188 |
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