On Monday May 19th, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Senate File 3045 Conference Committee Report finalizing a bipartisan agreement that delivered on House Republicans priority of stopping fraud, reining in bloated government spending, blocking efforts to grow agency budgets, and advancing common-sense election integrity measures.  

By demanding accountability from state agencies and blocking unchecked spending increases, House Republicans prioritized smart governance and fiscal responsibility for all Minnesotans. 

“I’m proud we were able to come together in a bipartisan way to rein in out-of-control spending and hold state government accountable,” said Republican Chair Jim Nash (R-Waconia). “Minnesotans deserve a government that respects their hard-earned tax dollars, not one that squanders them.” 

House Republicans took decisive steps to strengthen state government oversight and crack down on waste including: 

• Expanded Oversight: Two new positions were funded in the Office of the Legislative Auditor, which now has greater authority to report on how agencies implement recommendations. 

• Smart Budgeting: Proposed budget increases for the Attorney General and Secretary of State were significantly reduced—cutting millions from the original requests and reining in bloated government spending. 

SF 3045 also includes several common-sense reforms to improve transparency and restore trust in Minnesota’s elections. Key changes include requiring party parity among election judges in every precinct, reinstating bipartisan balance at polling places, strengthening ballot handling and chain-of-custody procedures, and rolling back the absentee ballot drop-off deadline to 5 PM on Election Day.

“In contrast to last year’s surplus-driven spending spree, I’m proud to have been able to slow government growth. By holding the line on budget increases and focusing on results, we ensured that government remains accountable to the people it serves”, said Nash.

SF 3045 passed off the house floor 116-18 and will now make its way to be signed by Governor Tim Walz.