State Legislators will be returning to the Capitol today for the beginning of the 2025 Legislative Session. We’ll be tasked with putting together a state budget for the next two years and a $5.1 billion budget deficit is right around the corner – we have a lot of work ahead of us.
Reigning in the out-of-control spending by Democrats the last two years will be a top priority in balancing the budget, but Senate Republicans will also be focused on helping Minnesotans afford the high cost of living, keeping our communities safe, and cracking down on the waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars that has gone completely unchecked.
I’m ready to get to work for you here in Saint Paul. My office has been busy drafting bills, so we’re ready on day one to work to provide property and income tax relief, safeguard your Second Amendment Rights and ensure Minnesotans can protect their homes, authorize a wolf hunt, and create fairness for homeschool and charter students in sports.
This is sure to be a busy session made even more unpredictable by the shifting political layout in both the House and the Senate. After many hours of negotiations, Senate Republican and Democrat leaders reached a power-sharing agreement on Sunday as a result of the current 33-33 tie. A few key items of the agreement include:
This agreement is a reflection of the makeup of the Senate and will allow us to better represent the residents of Minnesota. It will be in effect until there are 34 votes to remove the agreement. I am excited to get to work on your behalf, but I need your help. Please contact me and let me know what you think about the issues facing our state, so I can be the best possible representative of your voice in the Senate.
An array of new laws recently went into effect in Minnesota on January 1. These changes were passed during the 2023-2024 Legislative Session and include the PFAS ban you may have heard about. Its effect will be felt across almost all industries. Unfortunately, this law moved faster than industry in removing chemicals - raising costs for consumers, small businesses, and in some cases, banning products from the marketplace altogether.
