Legislative Update

Good morning,

We are heading into the last weekend of the session, which is sure to be a busy one. I will get into the business details here shortly, but first I want to address recent events in Northern Minnesota. With weather conditions as they were this week, several wildfires broke out in northeastern Minnesota, burning more than 20,000 acres. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected. Thank you to the many emergency responders, including the National Guard, who are in the area fighting the fires.

National Police Week

Speaking of emergency responders, this week is National Police Week. It is a time to recognize and honor the critical work done by law enforcement officers across our state and country. The daily commitment and courage shown by our police officers are what keep our communities safe, stable, and protected. They respond to emergencies, uphold the law, and maintain order in an increasingly unpredictable world. Thank you to all of the men and women who wear the badge and sacrifice so much in service to others. Last night our very own Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association honored our fallen officers on the Capitol grounds. Fortunately, the adverse weather held off and we witnessed a very solemn and special event. Unfortunately, several more officers were added to the list of fallen this year making the total 311 officers who sacrificed their life to serve all of us in the State of Minnesota. Please take a moment to remember them and their families this week.

This photo is from a committee hearing earlier in the session with two of our local law enforcement officers.

Capitol Update

As I’m sure you’re aware, budget negotiations have been ongoing for more than a month now. On Wednesday, we had a break-through that will allow us to proceed with our joint Senate and House conference committees. I will definitely provide more information next week as we move forward. With the constitutional adjournment date quickly approaching this coming Monday, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Legislature may not be able to wrap up all outstanding work before the deadline. While that’s not the outcome anyone hoped for, it’s the reality we’re facing due to the complexity and scope of the issues at hand.

Despite the gridlock, our priorities remain clear and unchanged. House Republicans are standing firm in our commitment to protect Minnesotans from further tax hikes. At a time when families and small businesses are already struggling with rising costs, we believe the last thing government should be doing is adding to that burden.

We are also taking a strategic and responsible approach to addressing the looming $6 billion budget shortfall projected in the next biennium. This means setting clear spending limits, making tough but necessary decisions, and prioritizing core functions of government. We cannot spend our way out of a deficit. Instead, we need to refocus on sustainable, long-term budgeting that respects taxpayer dollars and restores fiscal balance.

House Republicans will continue to advocate for practical solutions, transparency in the process, and accountability in how funds are allocated. Minnesotans deserve a government that plans ahead, not one that patches holes with short-term gimmicks or burdens future generations with more debt.

Energy Conference Committee

I am excited to share that I have been selected to serve on the energy conference committee. I briefly mentioned last week that conference committees meet after the bills have passed both the House and Senate. The purpose of conference committee is to reconcile differences between the two different versions so that an identical bill can be passed in both chambers. It is not typical for a freshman member like myself to be named to a conference committee, and I am honored to have this responsibility.

Goals for the Energy Bill

In my role on the conference committee, I will have the opportunity to provide input and vote on changes to the energy bill. This is a key position that allows me to directly influence how the final legislation will take shape. I am very invested in this bill and both the good and bad it could do for Minnesota. Energy policy has long-term impacts on our economy, our infrastructure, and our families. We need to approach it carefully and responsibly.

Here are my goals for the final bill:

Reduce or eliminate surcharges on dry cask storage containers, where funds are currently not reinvested in the industry.
Re-evaluate the effectiveness and long-term value of subsidizing solar projects. The price and efficiency of solar panels continues to improve. Thus, we should be looking at ways to transition away from subsidizing the renewable energy transition. Our free-market system is the best in the world. Let’s allow it to work in our efforts to create an “all-in” approach to our energy transition.
Find a fair pricing structure between wholesale and retail rates when it comes to selling solar power to back to our neighbors next door who are part of our electrical cooperatives. Net metering helped encourage individuals to invest in solar when it was more expensive and sell back excess electricity onto the electrical grid. However, it’s time to reduce this subsidy and allow solar to be the right choice for people who want to make the energy transition at their own pace.

These goals align with our broader commitment to make Minnesota more affordable and to increase oversight and accountability in state government. That means questioning policies that drive up costs to our neighbors, demanding transparency on how funds are used, and building an energy system that is reliable, affordable, safe, and sustainable for the long term. I will continue to push for thoughtful, balanced solutions that reflect those values.

Meeting U.S. Representative Tom Emmer

It was an honor to meet Congressman Tom Emmer this week. He previously served as a Representative in the Minnesota House, and now serves as one of our State Representatives in D.C. I appreciate the partnership that we have with Rep. Emmer and others, and I appreciate the time he took to check in!

Coffee with Tom

Just a reminder still that our ‘Coffee with Tom’ meetings are on pause until session wraps up. We will adjourn on Monday, but if our business is not finished then we will have to stick around until it is. I look forward to resuming our meetings as soon as possible and I apologize for the hiatus!