Having trouble viewing this email?  [ [link removed] ]View it as a Web page [ [link removed] ].






Robbins Banner




*February 22, 2025*






1

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

It’s been another fast-paced week at the Capitol as we dive deeper into committee work and tackle critical legislation that directly impacts our communities.

In the Fraud Prevention Committee, we examined the serious gaps in the state’s grants management system, revealing just how much work still needs to be done to hold agencies accountable. Meanwhile, we continued efforts to reverse harmful restrictions on charitable gambling—rules that have unfairly burdened veterans’ organizations, youth sports leagues, and local charities. We also fought to protect girls and women’s sports, pushing back against policies that erase opportunities for female athletes and undermine decades of progress.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend – excited to get outside now that the frigid cold is over! I was happy to celebrate the return of Paul Bunyan’s Axe to the Capitol when University of Minnesota students came for a day on the Hill! My husband and I will be cheering on the Gopher Men’s Hockey team tonight! Go, Gophers!







Executive Summary

*
Fraud Committee Update

*
Supporting Veterans & Charitable Gambling

*
*Protecting Girls' & Women's Sports*

*
Recap of Last Week's Coffee with Constituents

*
*Photos*






*Fraud Committee Update*

The House Fraud and Agency Oversight Committee held an important hearing this week examining state grants and the effectiveness of the Office of Grants Management (OGM). OGM, established in 2007 within the Department of Administration, is responsible for overseeing state grants administration by standardizing and improving grant-making practices. However, despite efforts to streamline grant processes, the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) recently identified serious gaps in oversight and enforcement.

Under new grant oversight laws enacted in 2023, OGM now has the authority to terminate grants deemed not in the state’s best interest, as well as the power to suspend or prohibit grantees from receiving future funding due to financial mismanagement. *In practice only a few grants have been terminated and training modules do not include training grants managers in internal controls or fraud prevention/detection.*

A pre-award risk assessment process has been implemented to evaluate grantee qualifications before funds are awarded, but initial reports suggest a high-risk determination doesn’t mean funds are not awarded.

*The committee also discussed the need for stronger fraud prevention efforts, including more unannounced site visits to ensure that funds are being used appropriately.* Too often, state programs rely on monitoring by phone call or self-reporting rather than active or unannounced monitoring.

*I am working on a bill that will give even stronger authority to OGM and agencies to terminate grants that fail to meet requirements – current language says they “may” terminate in different conditions, but I want to change that to “must” terminate* in certain circumstances. In addition, training is currently optional. *I want to require employee training to ensure that everyone who has grant management responsibility knows the full scope of their responsibilities.*






*Restoring Charitable Gambling & Supporting Our Communities*

Minnesota’s charitable gambling sector has long been a vital source of funding for Veterans’ organizations, youth sports leagues, and local charities. *However, in 2023, after the Vikings Stadium was paid off with charitable gaming revenue, Democrats passed restrictions that significantly changed electronic pull tabs, a major revenue generator for many of these organizations.* These changes were widely criticized for undermining community groups that rely on charitable gambling to stay afloat.

The damage caused by these restrictions cannot be overstated. Many local organizations have seen their fundraising efforts cut in half, leading to difficult decisions about program funding and community support. Veterans’ posts, which rely on charitable gambling to provide assistance to service members and their families, have been among the hardest hit. Youth sports leagues, already struggling with rising costs, are now facing further financial strain due to lost gambling revenue.

Adding to the problem, Minnesota imposes an excessive tax burden on charities. *The state taxes most charitable gaming proceeds at a rate of 33% - often taking in more money than the charities themselves.* When combined with rent, licensing fees, and other costs, many organizations are left with little to reinvest in their communities. This system enriches the state General Fund at the expense of local charities who do so much good for local communities.

HF 733 [ [link removed] ] was heard in the Veterans’ Committee this week to restore fairness in charitable gambling. *The bill removes unnecessary restrictions on electronic pull-tabs and ensures that charities can continue using these devices to raise funds.* Instead of treating charitable gambling as a revenue source for government coffers, we should be supporting the organizations that rely on these funds to do meaningful work in our communities. This bill will now go to the Commerce Committee.

*My bill, HF 753 [ [link removed] ], was also passed out of the Veterans’ Committee this week. This bill would allow Veterans’ organizations to use some of their charitable gaming proceeds to improve or repair their buildings.* Many of the American Legions and VFWs around the state are in disrepair, *yet Veterans’ groups are prohibited from the using the money they raise through charitable gaming for upkeep or repair* – as noted above they must pay a 33% tax to the state General Fund, but can’t use for their own buildings.

I have been carrying this bill for at least 4 years and am excited that this common-sense bill to allow Veterans’ groups to keep more of their own money to repair and upgrade their buildings passed unanimously! Local Legions and VFWs provide a welcoming space for Veterans, their families and are home to many important community and charitable gatherings. *These Legions and VFWs are often the hub of many smaller communities, and we need to ensure they survive and thrive by letting Veterans’ groups use their own money for upkeep!* I’m hopeful we will get this bill across the finish line this year!






*Protecting Women’s Sports*

Over the past several years, the debate over women’s sports has intensified as policies allowing biological males to compete against female athletes have been implemented at both the state and national levels. This is true at nearly every level from high school, collegiate, and even Olympic level competitions. One of the most notable cases of this happened in NCAA Women’s Swimming, where a talented biological female, Riley Gaines, was blown out of the water by a biological male while competing for a national title. Recently, the Trump administration issued an executive order that banned biological men from competing in women’s athletics, but this policy only applies to programs that receive federal funding.

*The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) has refused to follow the new executive order.* Instead, under state law, schools are now required to allow biological males who identify as female to compete in girls’ athletics, despite the clear and undeniable biological advantages that males maintain—even after hormone treatments. The science is clear: male athletes generally have greater muscle mass, lung capacity, and bone density, all of which contribute to superior speed and strength. Of course, there are always exceptions, but even so, these advantages persist even after hormone suppression, making competition inherently unfair for female athletes.

The consequences of these policies are significant. Young women who have trained for years to compete at the highest levels are being displaced by male athletes in key competitions, losing out on opportunities for scholarships and advancement. Girls and women are also being forced to change with biological males, which makes many feel violated and unsafe. The entire premise of women’s sports—providing a level playing field for female athletes—is being erased in the name of political ideology.

This week, HF 12 [ [link removed] ], a bill would protect women and girls in sports, was passed by the Education Policy Committee. Democrats and representatives from the Minnesota Department of Education opposed efforts to restore fairness in women’s athletics, dismissing the very real concerns of female athletes and their families. This is not a matter of inclusivity—it is a matter of fairness, safety, and protecting the progress women have made in sports over the last century. We should be empowering young women, not forcing them to compete against male athletes with clear biological advantages.

This issue is not just about sports—it is about defending the rights of women and girls to have spaces that are truly their own. We must stand firm against policies that undermine the integrity of women’s athletics and fight to restore fairness in competition. Protecting women’s sports is not anti-inclusion—it is pro-woman, and I will continue to push back against efforts that erase the achievements and opportunities of female athletes.






Recap of Last Week's Coffee with Constituents

3

Great thanks to everyone who came out to my Coffee With Constituents in Maple Grove & Maple Plain today! I really appreciate hearing your ideas and priorities! We had great turnout at both locations - so sorry I forgot to take a photo in Maple Plain - we just dove right into conversation! 







Photos
2

"It was such an honor to celebrate the retirement of Corcoran Police Department Sgt. Steve Warren last night! Officer Warren has served our community countless ways over 28 years & will be greatly missed! Thank you for your leadership & service! "

________________________________________________________________________


4

"Thankful that my bill (HF 750) to require a person’s driver’s license be suspended when there is probable cause they committed CVH or CVO due to excessive speed, not involving alcohol or drugs, passed out of Public Safety! Grateful a constituent brought this idea from tragedy."

________________________________________________________________________


5

"Always fun to meet with students from University of Minnesota Duluth!"

________________________________________________________________________


6

"Also enjoyed catching up with Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association Board Members when they came to the Capitol for Minnesota Rural Electric Association Day!"

________________________________________________________________________












Please Contact Me

Thank you for your continued support. I will keep fighting for transparency, accountability, and fairness in all areas of our state government. Please feel free to reach out with your thoughts or concerns.

Many of you have already been in touch to discuss your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Thank you for sharing your ideas! Please continue to contact me to discuss any matters to which I can be of assistance.

The best way to reach me is by email: [email protected]. For occasional updates, you can follow my Facebook Page at @RepKristinRobbins. You can also leave a voicemail on my office number, 651-296-7806, which is checked every weekday while we are in session.

Of course, if you are coming to the Capitol, I’d love to meet you! Please reach out if you would like to set-up an in-person meeting. 

Have a great weekend!

 

Kristin











Facebook Logo [ [link removed] ]

 

/RepKristinRobbins [ [link removed] ]





239 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.7806







________________________________________________________________________

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

This service is provided to you at no charge by Minnesota House GOP [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota House GOP · 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. · Saint Paul, MN 55155 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]