Legislative Update
 Dear friends and neighbors,
With just three weeks remaining in the 2026 legislative session, the pace at the Capitol has shifted from a jog to a sprint. The Higher Education, and Public Safety Committees have officially wrapped up their work for the year, but the Taxes Committee will continue meeting right up until we adjourn sine die on May 17th… so there's no slowing down just yet!
Last Friday marked our third and final policy deadline, meaning every bill we hope to see included in the final budget has now made its way through each respective committee. From here on out, it’s all about refinement, negotiation, and making sure the priorities Minnesotans care about stay front and center as decisions are finalized.
Even though the third deadline has passed, my door is still wide open. So don't be shy, reach out! The work doesn’t stop when the deadlines do. During the interim, I’ll be meeting with our community's leaders, listening to neighbors’ concerns, and shaping the next wave of legislation for the upcoming budget cycle; the best ideas always start at home.
It’s been a very productive (and very busy) week at the Capitol—so let’s dive into some of the highlights!
Aging Well in Minnesota; Your “Golden Years” Should Actually Shine
It was great to sit down this week with representatives from LeadingAge to talk about something that impacts every single one of us: how we care for and support our aging population.
If you’re not familiar, LeadingAge is a nationwide community of more than 5,300 nonprofit providers and mission-driven organizations, all focused on serving older adults with dignity, innovation, and compassion. During our meeting, we covered everything from strengthening long-term care options to making sure seniors can stay safe, independent, and connected to their communities.
Here’s the bigger picture: every family, at some point, is touched by these issues; whether it’s helping a parent, a grandparent, or planning ahead for ourselves.
The goal? Keep Minnesota not just a great place to grow up or raise a family—but a place where you can age with dignity, support, and maybe even a little peace of mind (and yes, we’ll keep working on the “affordability” part too).
Conversations like this matter. They’re where good ideas start, and where meaningful policy begins to take shape. And if we do it right, the results won’t just look good on paper… they’ll show up in every MInnesotans lives.
Fraud Isn't Free!
This week, House Democrats voted against adding Representative Harry Niska’s Fraud Isn’t Free Act as an amendment to a bill this week; for Minnesotans who have been demanding accountability from their government, this is essentially a slap in the face.
This bill enforces accountability to the highest degree. And under the Walz administration, we’ve seen a clear need to hold departments and employees accountable for their failures.
The Fraud Isn’t Free Act begins to close the gap. We have seen proof that passing this legislation is necessary, because the administration itself has admitted it! In the O’Malley Report issued last February, officials acknowledged a “compassion over compliance” culture that has existed for years in the Walz administration, describing it as 70 percent compassion and 30 percent compliance. That is completely unacceptable. Here's the kicker: compliance isn’t supposed to be optional or partial, it’s supposed to be the baseline. All of it. Every time.
And unfortunately, we’ve seen real-world examples of what happens when that standard slips. A compliance lead—someone whose job was literally to ensure accountability—was shown on video committing felonies while on the clock and still remained employed. DHS employees were found backdating documents to conceal their own failures from auditors. And the only state worker fired in connection with fraud? That happened the day before he was scheduled to testify before a House committee on fraud.
That’s a system in need of serious reform.
Representative Niska’s Fraud Isn’t Free Act would start to closing those loopholes. It imposes a five-year ban on state employment for negligent staff and reduces salary for agency heads when oversight failures occur. Essentially: if you’re responsible for managing public dollars, accountability isn’t optional.
Right now, it too often feels like failure is rewarded. That has to change. Minnesota’s government should be held to the same standard as everyone else—no exceptions, no double standards.
Minnesotans expect oversight to mean something. And I’ll keep working hard every day to ensure we can make that a reality. You can watch my comments from the discussion by clicking on the photo above!
Strengthening Care from the Ground Up
Had a great meeting this week with the AFSCME Council to talk about an issue that’s hitting too many of our care facilities: the shortage of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), including at places like the state hospital in St. Peter.
This is a real workforce challenge that's impacting patients, staff, and families all across Minnesota. We talked about how we can better support those on the front lines and, just as importantly, how we can build a stronger pipeline into the profession itself.
A big part of that conversation focused on ways we can create and strengthen programs that incentivize people to pursue LPN training—because when we invest in training and workforce development, we’re also investing in better care for Minnesotans who depend on these services every day.
Grateful for the conversation and the continued partnership as we work toward practical solutions.
Bringing A Little Wild Pride to the House Floor
 It’s always a treat having the Minnesota Wild’s very own anthem singer John deCausmeaker in the House! You can watch the clip from Thursday's floor session by clicking the photo above.
Always great to see him bring that same energy and pride we feel across the State of Hockey. Wishing the Minnesota Wild a victory over Dallas tomorrow night
Go Wild!
The Finish Line Is in Sight, Let's Stay Connected!
Many of you know the drill at this point, but as we head into the final few weeks of session, your voice is as important as ever. Please do not hesitate to reach out. I am focused on making life in District 18A better, and that includes making it more affordable for you and your family.
I promise to continue working every day to serve our community to the very best of my ability. I truly appreciate everyone who has taken the time to share concerns, offer ideas, and partner with me to improve life across our district.
You can always reach me at rep.erica.schwartz@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651.296.8634.
Until next time,
— Representative Erica Schwartz
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