Legislative Update
 Dear friends and neighbors,
We’ve officially hit the halfway point until we adjourn sine die on May 17th. While this session has felt like a bit of a slow burn at times, we made some real headway this week.
A few weeks back, I talked about House File 1338, which would create an independent Office of the Inspector General. Just as a quick refresher: this legislation passed the Senate unanimously, 67–0. That’s about as bipartisan as it gets. But when it landed in the House? It was quickly shut down by the DFL.
Meanwhile, Minnesotans have been watching major fraud cases unfold for years. And somehow, the idea of independent oversight became controversial—for reasons that still don’t quite add up. Cleaning up fraud shouldn’t depend on who occupies the Governor’s office. That’s exactly why this bill matters so much. It establishes a truly independent, nonpartisan Office of the Inspector General—free from political influence. No games, no excuses—just real accountability.
Now, here’s some good news
The House State Government Committee recommended an OIG bill for passage Tuesday morning that closely mirrors the version already passed by the Senate with strong bipartisan support.
House Democrats pushed to water down key provisions, but we held the line, because this bill is just too important to weaken.
We 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 preserving the bipartisan, bicameral work already done in the Senate—and we weren’t going to accept 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 real hope it could make it to the governor’s desk before the end of session.
It's a great step forward, and I’ll keep pushing every day to make sure it gets across the finish line.
Putting the Brakes on Rising Tab Fees
 Affordability for Minnesota families remains at the top of our priority list as we move into the second half of session. You might remember a clip I shared on Facebook a few weeks ago referencing an outrageous remark from one of my DFL colleagues during a taxes committee meeting—suggesting she may offer an amendment to quintuple car tab fees for Minnesotans across the state.
Joke or not, there’s nothing funny about it.
We are facing a very real affordability crisis across Minnesota, and comments like that only further prove how out of touch some of these proposals have become. According to the Star Tribune, Minnesota’s car registration fees are already higher than ever—and without action, they’re not expected to come down anytime soon.
As Patti Anderson put it best: “In a time when everyone is struggling to make ends meet, to put food on the table, the fact that we’ve made driving unaffordable for people is wrong.” She’s absolutely right.
That’s why I’m grateful that this week, Rep. Anderson introduced legislation to bring tab fees back to pre-trifecta levels, with a hearing in the Transportation Committee. It’s a commonsense step toward giving Minnesotans some much-needed breathing room.
Because here’s the reality: during the trifecta, Democrats passed over $10 billion in new taxes, including changes to the tab fee formula that increased costs by roughly 20%. Now, Minnesotans are paying more just to drive their own vehicles—while proposals to raise those costs even further are still being floated. At the same time, our tab fees are already far higher than neighboring states like Wisconsin and North Dakota.
House Republicans are working to reverse these increases and return rates to where they were before—delivering nearly $1 billion in relief back to Minnesota drivers. Because paying over $1,000 for tabs on a single vehicle isn’t normal, and it certainly isn’t affordable for anyone.
Yet despite that reality, our DFL colleagues continue to defend keeping these costs high. As Rep. Brad Tabke (D-Shakopee) argued during debate, “You know this is wrong. You know that we can’t do this.” To which Jon Koznick (R-Lakeville) responded: “No, it’s not wrong. Families are working harder and harder every year to pay their taxes. Minnesota taxpayers are concerned about rising tab fees.”
And he’s exactly right.
The last thing Minnesotans need right now is higher fees, they need relief
Clearing the Runway for Growth in Mankato
 This week, I was proud to see some real movement on a bill I’m carrying to support the Mankato Regional Airport.
The bill provides $1.265 million in funding to design, construct, and equip a new air traffic control tower at the airport. This investment is all about improve safety, efficiency, and supporting continued growth in the region’s aviation infrastructure.
My bill has now been laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill, which means it’s officially in the mix as we head into final budget negotiations.
This is a huge win for our district. Not only does it strengthen infrastructure we rely on today, but it also sets the stage for future growth—more opportunities, more economic activity, and more pathways for the next generation of pilots coming out of our region.
We’re not just talking about supporting our communities—we’re actually doing it. And I’m excited to keep pushing to get this one across the finish line.
Stay in Touch & Soak Up the Sunshine!
As always, please keep reaching out and sharing your thoughts, concerns, and ideas—I always appreciate hearing from you. I’ll keep pushing to bring some much-needed fiscal sanity back to St. Paul.
Enjoy the warmer weather this weekend, we’ve earned it!
Sincerely,
—Representative Erica Schwartz
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