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Good morning!
We are back in St. Paul after our week-long break for Easter and Passover, and we immediately jumped back into a busy schedule at the Capitol. With only a few weeks remaining in the legislative session, there is still a significant amount of work ahead, and conversations around key policy priorities are ramping up quickly.
As we head into the final stretch, I remain focused on the issues I hear about most from families and businesses across our district. That includes working to improve affordability, pushing to stop fraud and protect taxpayer dollars, and standing up for fairness and safety by protecting girls’ sports. These priorities will continue to guide my work as we move closer to the end of session and work toward responsible solutions for Minnesota.
Preserving Girl's Sports
Protecting opportunities for girls in athletics continues to be a top priority this session. The House considered several bills, including HF12, HF2685, and HF1233, aimed at ensuring that girls’ sports remain reserved for biological females. These proposals are focused on fairness, safety, and giving female athletes a chance to compete on a level playing field, while providing clear guidance for schools, athletic programs, and families.
The importance of this issue is recognized at both the national and international level. The International Olympic Committee has emphasized policies that maintain competitive integrity for women’s athletics, and federal rulings under Title IX support protecting girls’ sports and opportunities for female athletes. These protections also reflect the broader principles of equal opportunity and fairness found in federal law and the U.S. Constitution, ensuring that girls have the resources and space they need to succeed.
Although these bills did not pass this week, because the DFL thinks that gender is a "colonial export," the discussion reinforced the need to continue advocating for girls’ athletics. Preserving fair and safe competition is critical for athletes, families, and communities across Minnesota. I remain committed to working toward solutions that protect these opportunities and ensure every girl has the chance to compete, grow, and succeed in sports.
 Minnesota’s Competitiveness and PFML Fraud Concerns
Minnesota’s business community is facing real challenges, and rising concerns about competitiveness and fraud are part of that conversation. Recent reporting highlights that our state’s regulatory and tax climate is testing the foundation that made Minnesota competitive in the Midwest, with new taxes and mandates now affecting employers across industries.
A major issue this session has been the rollout of Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. Two months after its implementation, employers and business groups have raised concerns about the impact on operations, hiring, and costs. Reports indicate that in the first months of the program, usage has surged, and some employers are seeing patterns that are difficult to manage without stronger oversight.
Alongside concerns about competitiveness and business costs, Minnesota continues to grapple with fraud in several state-administered programs. Audits have uncovered gaps in how fraud is defined and addressed, which could limit the state’s ability to suspend payments while investigations are underway. In Medicaid as well, cases have shown fraud going undetected for long periods because billing continued even after bans were in place. These issues have put pressure on law enforcement and state agencies to modernize systems and close loopholes that waste taxpayer dollars.
Addressing fraud is not just about enforcement; it’s about restoring trust in government programs and making sure Minnesota remains a place where businesses can grow and taxpayers see results from their investments. I am continuing to work with my colleagues on solutions that tighten oversight, improve accountability, and strengthen the state’s economic competitiveness in the years ahead.
An Update on the Road Project in Sauk Centre
As you may remember, I wrote a letter to MNDOT in March expressing my concerns (with much community input) about the proposed road project in Sauk Centre at the intersection of Highway 71/Main Street and Sinclair Lewis Avenue. If you would like to reference my letter to them, you can find it in this newsletter.
Just this week, I received a response from MNDOT regarding the concerns I laid out in my initial letter. You can see the response below:
While it appears that some of the concerns raised by residents are being considered, it is also clear that not all of those concerns are being addressed. I appreciated the recent informational open house, which gave community members an opportunity to ask questions, share feedback, and learn more about the project. Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend and make their voices heard.
At this point, the project continues to move forward, and I understand that many residents remain concerned about the potential impacts. I will continue to stay engaged, monitor developments, and advocate for minimizing negative effects on the community wherever possible. I will also keep you informed as more information becomes available.
If you have questions or concerns about the project, please do not hesitate to reach out. Hearing directly from residents helps ensure that your perspectives are part of the ongoing conversation.
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