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*02/07/25*
Legislative Update
Greetings from St. Paul.
It’s been an incredible week for House Republicans and the State of Minnesota.
As many of you know, the legislative session was delayed due to the absence of a quorum, which is the minimum number of members required to conduct official business. According to the Minnesota Supreme Court, at least 68 members must be present for the House to function. With Republicans holding 67 seats and Democrats holding 66, the absence of Democrat legislators left us in limbo.
The new agreement establishes a solid framework that allows legislative work to resume while ensuring fair representation for both parties. Here's what's in store:
* *Republican Leadership for the Biennium:* Rep. Lisa Demuth will remain Speaker of the House for the entire 2025-26 legislative biennium, ensuring continuity in leadership and allowing the House to move forward with its work.
* *Committee Structure and Control:* For the first five weeks following the agreement, Republicans will chair all committees and hold a one-vote majority. This temporary structure allows legislative priorities to be advanced after weeks of delay.
* *Bipartisan Committee Co-Chairs (If Necessary):* If the upcoming special election in Roseville results in a 67-67 tie in the House, committees will transition to a co-chair system, with equal membership from both parties. In this case, committee control will rotate between parties, ensuring shared decision-making.
* *Oversight and Accountability:* The agreement also creates a new House Fraud and Agency Oversight Committee, which will have a permanent Republican chair and a 5-3 Republican majority for the entire biennium. This committee will be responsible for investigating fraud, waste, and abuse in state government programs, reinforcing the need for fiscal responsibility and transparency.
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*What Comes Next?*
Minnesotans can look forward to a legislative body that’s ready to hit the ground running. We’ve been listening to our constituents and gathering their feedback. And, for the past four weeks, we’ve been crafting legislation that's centered around affordability, education, public safety, and government waste, fraud, and abuse.
We will be introducing bills to:
* Repeal harmful taxes like the ones on delivery, social security, and gas.
* Reverse policies that drive up energy costs.
* Ensure Minnesota's tax dollars are used for Minnesotans.
* Improve our children’s education by raising standards and reducing mandates.
* End soft-on-crime policies that endanger our communities.
* Establish oversight and additional vetting procedures in government grant programs.
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*Capitol Meetings*
As always, it’s a pleasure to meet with constituents and learn more about how I can better serve my community and the State of Minnesota. Thank you to everybody who visited me at the Capitol!
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*Kourtney Harms*
On Monday, I visited with Vice President Kourtney Harms, a collegiate DECA member from Norwood Young America. She shared with me some of the positive impacts of career and technical student organizations.
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*Hope Grams*
Hope Grams served as a House Page this week and did an excellent job! Hope is a student at Sibley East in Arlington.
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*Zac Holland*
Zac Holland, an optometrist from Carver, discussed the outdated restrictions around optometry and his proposals for modernizing legislation that would increase access to critical eye treatment and improve care for Minnesotans.
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Please Contact Me
It’s an honor and privilege to work for you at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas. I am here to serve you!
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/RepBobbieHarder
2nd Floor Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55155
651.296.4229
[email protected]
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