A Year in Review
 Friends and Neighbors,
As we wrap up this legislative year, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on everything we’ve been through together. And honestly, the first thing that comes to mind is gratitude.
Serving you down in St. Paul has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I don’t take it lightly—not for a second.
I also want to take a moment to shine a well-deserved spotlight on you—the neighbors who met with me back home, made the trip to the Capitol, sent emails, made phone calls, and spoke up for what matters. Our district is stronger because of your voices, your ideas, and your willingness to be part of the process.
Together, we delivered some real wins for our community this session, and that simply wouldn’t have happened without your partnership. So, thank you for rolling up your sleeves, leaning in, and helping us get things across the finish line. I’m truly grateful for each and every one of you.
A Rocky Start—and a Historic One
When the gavel fell in January, half of the House chamber was empty. For the first time in decades, Minnesota began a legislative session without a functioning quorum. Instead of getting right to work for the people we represent, we found ourselves in a constitutional standoff over attendance, leadership, and basic operations of government.
It was unprecedented.
It was frustrating.
And it delayed the work Minnesotans sent us to do.
Eventually, after court rulings, negotiations, and a special election, we reached something Minnesota hasn’t seen since 1979: a perfectly tied House—67 to 67.
That reality forced compromise, cooperation, and accountability. It also meant every vote mattered, every dollar mattered, and every decision carried real consequences.
A Session Defined by Responsibility
Despite the rocky start, we got to work—and I’m proud of what we accomplished.
This year, the Legislature passed the largest spending reduction in state history, cutting more than $2 billion while avoiding new taxes on Minnesota families. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. With a growing deficit and rising costs hitting families across our state, restraint wasn’t just responsible—it was required.
We proved that you can restore balance without raising taxes, without growing government, and without abandoning the people who rely on critical services.
Standing Up for Rural Minnesota
 Serving on the Agriculture and Human Services Committees gave me the chance to fight for the people who keep our communities strong.
This session, we delivered:
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Full funding for wolf and elk depredation payments for our farmers
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Protection of the Board of Animal Health from political interference
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The defeat of costly, unnecessary mandates on food producers
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Real support for nursing homes and seniors
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Guardrails to stop waste and abuse in human services programs
These may not always make headlines, but they matter deeply to families across northern Minnesota.
Accountability Isn’t Optional
One of the most important developments this session was the creation of a permanent House Fraud and Agency Oversight Committee.
Why? Because Minnesotans deserve to know where their tax dollars are going and to see justice served when those funds are misused.
Over the past year, it has been revealed that billions of taxpayer dollars were lost to fraud—in housing programs, food assistance, autism services, and other social programs. Investigations revealed massive welfare scams, inflated claims in Housing Stabilization Services, and even potential diversion of funds to extremist networks. Internal DHS warnings were ignored, and oversight was treated as optional. Thanks to the tireless work of federal authorities, including President Trump’s administration and FBI Director Kash Patel's team, many of these offenders are now being prosecuted in Minnesota.
This year, we said enough.
We pushed for investigations, demanded transparency, and made it clear that fraud —no matter who commits it—will not be tolerated. Taxpayer dollars are not a blank check. They represent long hours, tight budgets, and real sacrifices made by Minnesota families. We are grateful for the federal partners who have stepped in to help restore accountability and protect the integrity of our state programs.
A Moment That Put Everything in Perspective
 This year also brought heartbreak.
The attacks on Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and on Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were more than political incidents—they were assaults on families, on the sense of safety in our communities, and on the very idea that we can disagree without fear. These are people who wake up every day trying to serve Minnesotans, who love their families, and who, like all of us, hope for a world where civility and compassion guide our actions.
Experiences like this force us to pause and reflect on what truly matters. They remind us that life is fragile, that our words and actions carry weight, and that the bonds of community are precious and easily broken. They call on us to choose empathy over anger, dialogue over division, and humanity over hostility.
There is no place for violence in public life—not in our politics, not in our neighborhoods, and not in our hearts. None.
Ringing in the New Year Together
 Through it all, one thing has remained clear to me: Minnesotans expect honesty, hard work, and common sense from their leaders.
They expect us to show up.
To spend wisely.
To tell the truth.
And to put people ahead of politics.
That’s what I’ll continue to do.
Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me. Thank you for staying engaged. And thank you for being the kind of community that makes this work worth doing.
As we step into the new year, I hope it brings you and your loved ones health, happiness, and plenty of reasons to celebrate. May 2026 be a year of progress, connection, and shared success for all of us.
It’s truly an honor to serve you—and I look forward to the work ahead.
With gratitude,
Representative Steve Gander
Minnesota House of representatives, District 1B
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