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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We continued the fight to address fraud with a new package of legislation this week. The ‘Fraud Isn’t Free’ Act was introduced in committee and would provide another layer of oversight/punishment for fraudsters, in addition to the work we are trying to do with the OIG bill. I will unpack the details below, thanks for engaging!
The ‘Fraud Isn’t Free’ Act
The ‘Fraud Isn’t Free’ Act, authored by Leader Harry Niska, was presented in committee as part of a broader effort to strengthen accountability in state government. The goal of the proposal is straightforward: when fraud is uncovered in a state program, there should be clear steps taken to correct the problem and prevent it from happening again.
Under the legislation, agencies would be required to submit a corrective action plan to the Legislature if evidence of fraud is identified. Enrollment in the affected program would be paused while the issue is addressed, and leadership directly responsible for overseeing the program could be removed. The bill also includes temporary budget reductions and salary adjustments tied to how quickly agencies respond, refer cases to law enforcement, and recover funds. In addition, Minnesota Management and Budget would be required to include estimates of fraud losses in future budget forecasts, and the state’s authority to withhold payments due to suspected fraud would be extended.
The intent of the package is to create consistent standards across agencies and ensure that fraud prevention and response are treated as core responsibilities. By improving oversight and increasing transparency, the proposal aims to protect taxpayer dollars and strengthen confidence in the programs that serve Minnesotans.
 Update on Bills
I have been working nonstop behind the scenes on several very important pieces of legislation for our district, the Iron Range, and the state overall. The bill topics include housing, the nuclear moratorium, and school trust lands. Check out the video, also linked below, for more details on these bills.
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