Legislative Update
 Dear friends and neighbors,
This week officially marks the halfway point until we adjourn on May 17th. While the session can sometimes feel like a bit of a slow burn, we are finally beginning to see the fruits of our labor.
A few weeks back, I talked about House File 1338, which would create an independent Office of the Inspector General. Just as a quick recap: this legislation passed the Senate unanimously, 60-7. That’s about as bipartisan as it gets. But when it made its way to the House, it was quickly shut down by the DFL.
Now, here’s the bigger picture. For years—really, the better part of a decade—there has been solid evidence of fraud in Minnesota’s state programs. There have been those who have denied that fraud existed—any idea why? Recently we have begun putting real guardrails in place to close the loopholes fraudsters have been exploiting. Because of that work, we’re finally seeing results: fraud is being proven on a massive scale, in greater detail, with actual names and addresses tied to it. That means something important—we can hold people accountable, and we can work to recover taxpayer dollars instead of just writing them off and moving on.
In other words, we’re finally getting somewhere. Specifically identifying fraudulent activity and quantifying it will enable us to solve it.
But cleaning up fraud shouldn’t depend on who’s in charge or which party holds the gavel. That’s exactly why this bill matters. It creates a fully independent Office of the Inspector General—completely nonpartisan and not under the thumb of any politician. No games, no excuses—just solid accountability.
Here’s the good news.
On Tuesday morning, the House State Government Committee recommended an OIG bill for passage that closely mirrors the version already passed by the Senate with strong bipartisan support.
There were attempts to water it down, but we held the line—because this bill is too important to weaken. The law enforcement provisions are staying. The guardrails around the appointment process are staying, meaning no one gets to simply handpick their own inspector general. That independence is the whole point.
We’ve brought this bill forward multiple times, and each time we were met with resistance. But we didn’t back down. Eventually, I think it became clear—we were serious about finishing the bipartisan, bicameral work already done, and we weren’t going to settle for anything less.
Funny how things start moving when you stop taking “no” for an answer.
The bill now heads to the House Ways and Means Committee, and there’s a high probability that it will make it to the governor’s desk for signature before the end of session. If you think of it, you may want to give the Governor a call and remind him how important it is to use his pen for something this important.
This is a step in the right direction, and I’ll keep pushing every day to make sure it gets across the finish line.
A Day That Fills the Capitol, and Your Heart!
 This week, we hosted Disability Services Day at the Capitol—and wow, what an incredible turnout!
This is the largest rally in Minnesota dedicated to advocating for people with disabilities, their independence, their dignity, and the support systems that make full, meaningful lives possible.
It was a powerful reminder that behind every policy we debate are real people, real stories, and real lives being impacted.
There’s something very grounding about stepping out of committee rooms and into a space like that, where you can connect face-to-face with the people who depend on us getting this right.
Days like this leave me especially grateful—not just for the work we get to do here, but for the people who show up, speak out, and make sure these voices are heard loud and clear.
Safe to say, this was one of those days that sticks with you.
The Heart Behind the Bill
 One of the highlights of my week came during a really thoughtful exchange with my colleague, Rep. Mary Franson. I have to say—she absolutely knocked it out of the park testifying on her bill. Rep. Franson went beyond merely “checking all the boxes” to assure passage of her bill. She genuinely saw something that was wrong and is seeking to make it right.
Because at its best, legislation isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet or lines in statute—it’s about people. And this bill is exactly that.
House File 4288 focuses on reinstating payment rates for family residential services under Minnesota’s Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS). If any of you are feeling your eyes rolling up and your head nodding, hang in thee, because this is where it gets interesting.
These services support individuals with disabilities living in family foster care settings—real homes, real families, real care. We’re talking about everything from daily support and skill-building to long-term residential care, all tailored to the individual’s needs.
A few years ago, these services were pulled out of the DWRS framework, which created uncertainty in how they’re funded and sustained. This bill simply brings them back into a system designed to provide consistency, fairness, and stability across the state.
And here’s the thing—when you’re talking about care for vulnerable Minnesotans, “consistency and stability” aren’t just nice ideas… they’re essential.
So yes, this may not be the flashiest bill of the session—but it’s one of those quiet pieces of work that makes a real difference in people’s lives.
I’m incredibly grateful for the heart, intention, and care Rep. Franson brought to this conversation. It was one of those moments that cuts through the noise a bit—and reminds you that good policy starts with actually listening.
If you haven’t already, I’d encourage you to take a moment to watch the clip above. It’s well worth it.
Tab Fees Increase, AutoValue Decreases—Welcome to Minnesota
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A few weeks ago, we heard a pretty jaw-dropping comment from a first-term DFL legislator, suggesting that at some point she may offer an amendment to quintuple the price of car license tab fees. Five times. As in, “maybe your car payment wasn’t quite stressful enough already.”
Joke or not, I don't think Minnesotans found it funny at all.
In fact, we’ve been hearing loud and clear from folks across the state who are already fed up with rising license tab fees. In a story from WCCO this week, one Minnesotan stated: “We paid the tab on it for the first time and the next year it was more expensive. The car depreciates, but the tax goes up? Really? Is that how that’s supposed to work? I don’t think so.”
And he’s absolutely right.
The reality is Minnesota is facing an affordability crisis—and frankly, the entire country is. But it’s our job as legislators to make sure Minnesota remains a place where folks can raise their families, work, and most importantly afford to live here, and I wish Twin Cities Liberals would snap out of this delusion that raising taxes across the board is somehow a logical solution.
That’s why I'm grateful to my colleague Patti Anderson (R-Dellwood) for taking those remarks seriously—and more importantly, for taking Minnesotans seriously. On Wednesday, she introduced legislation to roll tab fees back to pre-trifecta levels—before they were boosted as part of over $10 billion in new taxes. I am among the Co-Authors of that bill.
Right now, drivers are paying about 20% more just to keep their vehicles on the road, while neighboring states like Wisconsin and North Dakota keep it simple with flat fees around $85. Minnesota? Not so much.
Rep. Anderson’s bill would reverse those increases and deliver nearly $1 billion in relief to drivers across the state.
This is the real relief Minnesotans are calling on us legislators to deliver, I just hope Twin Cities Liberals will come to the realization sooner rather than later.
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Great Capitol Visits from this Week
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