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Legislative Update

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

With a little more than two weeks left in the legislative session, the pace at the Capitol has picked up significantly. Almost all of our committees are wrapped up, many bills are being considered on the House floor, and ongoing conversations are happening across the building as lawmakers work toward the constitutional deadline for adjournment.

This stage of session is where much of the final outcome gets shaped. Priorities are being narrowed, differences between proposals are being worked through, and decisions that will affect Minnesotans for the years to come are being finalized. The workload is heavy, the timelines are tight, and there is very little room for delay.

In these final weeks, my focus remains on advancing meaningful legislation, resolving outstanding issues, and ensuring the outcomes reflect the needs and priorities of the people I represent.

Taking Action on Fraud in the Twin Cities

This week, federal agents with the FBI carried out more than 20 search warrants [ [link removed] ] across the Minneapolis area as part of a major investigation into alleged fraud tied to publicly funded social service programs, including autism services, childcare providers, and related organizations. For example, one of the investigated businesses was the infamous Quality Learing Center! The scale of the operation points to serious concerns about how taxpayer dollars have been used and the extent of potential fraud networks operating in these programs.

I appreciate the work of federal law enforcement for stepping in to investigate and take action. At the same time, it is concerning that this level of federal involvement was required to address issues that should have been identified and handled sooner at the state level. Governor Walz and AG Keith Ellison have been entirely complicit in the massive fraud scandal here. Minnesotans expect strong oversight when public dollars are involved, especially in programs designed to serve vulnerable populations.

These events underscore the urgent need to strengthen accountability and oversight systems in Minnesota. Fraud must be detected early, stopped quickly, and prosecuted fully. Restoring confidence in these programs means ensuring taxpayer dollars are protected and directed where they are intended to go, not lost to abuse or exploitation.

Metro Control over the State Flag?

The debate surrounding Minnesota’s state flag has brought renewed attention to the importance of local control in government decision-making. Cities and counties across the state reflect different communities, values, and perspectives, and those decisions are best made by local leaders who are in contact with and accountable to the people they serve.

For those who don't know where the flag came from, the redesigned state flag came out of a contest and commission created during the 2023–24 DFL trifecta. With Democrats in control of the House, Senate, and Governor’s office, Republicans had no meaningful ability to influence the decision to move forward with a redesign. I was in St. Paul at the time and opposed the effort, voting against it, but without the votes to stop it, the measure ultimately passed. The process itself was approved by Democrats in the Legislature, and the final design was selected by a small, appointed group rather than through a broader vote of Minnesotans. In the end, cities and counties across the state were expected to adopt and fly the new flag.

HF 5077, introduced this week by a group of metro-area Democrats [ [link removed] ], would impose a state mandate tied to financial penalties. Under the bill, local governments that choose not to fly the newly adopted state flag would face a 10 percent reduction in local government aid. That kind of penalty would not be symbolic, it would directly impact core services like public safety, infrastructure maintenance, and other essential local responsibilities.

Using state aid as leverage to enforce compliance with a uniform requirement sets a troubling precedent. It shifts authority away from local governments and concentrates it at the state level, replacing local decision-making with top-down mandates backed by funding threats. That approach undermines the principle that communities should be able to govern themselves based on what their residents want and value.

Local control matters. Cities and counties should retain the freedom to make their own choices on issues like flags and local symbols without pressure or financial punishment from the state. Government works best when decisions are made closest to the people, not imposed through statewide mandates from St. Paul.

flag issue
Standing up to Protect our Students

On Monday, HF 3489 [ [link removed] ] passed the House floor, marking a clear step toward stronger protections for Minnesota students. The bill strengthens school safety and accountability standards, including more consistent field trip requirements so students are properly supervised when they are off campus.

It also improves oversight by requiring certain misconduct to be reported to professional licensing boards, ensuring serious concerns are not contained within a single school or district. Most importantly, it establishes a criminal offense for grooming, giving law enforcement a stronger and earlier tool to intervene in cases of predatory behavior.

This is a concrete improvement in how Minnesota protects students and holds systems accountable when safety is at risk. Parents across the state entrust schools and educators with their children every day, and when that trust is violated, there must be real consequences. I am grateful this bill made it across the finish line this week. You can view my floor speech on the bill here [ [link removed] ] or below:

Floor speech [ [link removed] ]




Events

Upcoming: the Menahga First Response Team Pulled Pork Dinner Fundraiser [ [link removed] ] is next Saturday, May 9th from 4:00-7:00pm, at the Menahga Fire Hall. This free will donation event will support the vital work of our local first responders. 

Shoutouts

Congratulations to our Pine-River Backus Educators of Excellence: Makyla Jorgensen, Autumn Loge, Tiffany Bergem, & Neil Travis. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our students.

teachers

Shoutout to Park Rapids' Matt Clark on being inducted into the 2026 Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame!

Wrestling hall of fame





Please Reach Out

You can reach my office at [email protected] <[email protected]> or by phone at 651-296-9918. Follow me on Facebook [ [link removed] ] for more frequent updates.











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2424 Centennial Office Building          658 Cedar St.
Saint Paul, MN 55155 [email protected] 651.296.9918







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