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Gander




*May 24, 2026*






End of session Update
Gander

Dear friends and neighbors,

This past Sunday marked the end of the 2025-26 legislative session, and while I’m still catching up on sleep and coffee consumption, I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish for Minnesota families, taxpayers, students, and our Northern Minnesota communities.

Even in a year that occasionally felt like a group project where two sides couldn't agree on a common goal, we still managed to get meaningful work done. So, let's dive into some of the highlights!

 

Working in a Tied House
Gander

This was the second half of the biennium, and once again, we operated in a tied House. With a 67-67 split, the reality was this: nobody was going to get everything they wanted, and every serious bill required bipartisan support to cross the finish line.

Now, I’ll be honest, at times that can make the process frustrating. There were plenty of long days, complicated negotiations, and moments where progress moved at about the speed of road construction in July.

But I didn’t come to St. Paul to spend months crafting messaging bills that make a nice headline but never actually become law. I came here to do the job my constituents sent me to do: solve problems, represent our communities well, and fight for policies that make life better for the people back home. That’s what you deserve, and nothing less.

 

Fighting Fraud and Protecting Taxpayers

One of our biggest priorities this session was tackling fraud and protecting taxpayer dollars because Minnesotans work too hard to watch their money disappear into government black holes and criminal schemes.

This session, we passed several important reforms, including:


* *Creating an independent statewide Office of Inspector General* to investigate fraud across state government, strengthen oversight, provide real investigative authority, and improve coordination across agencies.
* *Passing stronger tools to recover stolen taxpayer dollars* so the state has a better ability to go after money that was taken through fraud.
* *Establishing a 100% tax penalty on money obtained through fraud,* making clear that fraudsters will not be allowed to profit from stolen taxpayer dollars.
* *Increasing oversight and reporting requirements for state programs,* giving the Legislature and the public better information about how taxpayer dollars are being used.
* *Locking in Medicaid work requirements to align with federal law*, which will strengthen accountability, encourage workforce participation, create long-term savings, and help protect these programs for the Minnesotans who truly need them.

 

Modernizing Government Systems

We also made important investments in technology modernization. I know “government software upgrades” doesn’t exactly sound thrilling, but outdated systems make it harder to prevent fraud, verify eligibility, and efficiently deliver services.

Modernizing these systems will help counties operate more effectively, save taxpayer dollars over time, reduce pressure on property taxes, and help ensure benefits go to the people who actually qualify for them. 

 

Making Minnesota More Affordable

Affordability continues to be one of the biggest concerns I hear from families across our district. Groceries cost more, energy costs more, and even paying your car tab fees now feels like making a luxury purchase.

This session, House Republicans secured:


* $125 million in property tax relief
* $250 million in car tab fee reductions
* An end to the Ballpark Tax
* Federal tax conformity measures, including an extension of the pass-through entity tax provision, delivering meaningful relief for Minnesota businesses at zero additional cost to the state

Minnesotans deserve to keep more of what they earn. Plain and simple.

 

Protecting Every Student in Every School

School safety was deeply personal to me this session. We approached this work with three priorities in mind:


* It needed to address real safety concerns.
* It needed to actually have a path to becoming law.
* It needed to protect *ALL* students in *ALL* schools.

That last part mattered a great deal to me. A student’s safety should never depend on their ZIP code or whether they attend a public, nonpublic, or Tribal school. Every child deserves to feel safe when they walk through those school doors.

This session, we secured:


* *$5 million* for anonymous threat reporting systems
* *$12.5 million* for school-linked behavioral health grants
* *$3.8 million* for mobile crisis grants

Importantly, these resources are available to public, nonpublic, and Tribal schools because protecting students should never be selective.

We also advanced legislation to criminalize grooming and improve reporting systems for the maltreatment of minors so warning signs can be identified earlier and predators can be stopped sooner.

I’m proud of those wins.

But I also want to be honest with you: I’m not fully satisfied with where we ended.

There is still more work to do, especially when it comes to the physical security side of school safety. Schools continue to need stronger support for building security, emergency planning, threat response, and the practical tools that help keep students, teachers, and staff safe every single day.

This issue is too important to declare victory and walk away. I certainly won’t.

 

safety

"From Water Lines to Food Banks: Delivering for Northwest Minnesota"

This session, I was proud to help secure major investments that will make a real, lasting difference for families across District 1B and greater Northwest Minnesota. From clean water and flood protection to agriculture, food access, and emergency response, these wins will strengthen the place we call home for years to come.

 

Clean Water That Communities Can Count On

One of the biggest wins this year is *$9.7 million for Phase 1 of the West Central Regional Water System*, expanding reliable drinking water infrastructure across Norman, Clay, and Polk Counties.

Clean water isn’t optional—it’s foundational. And in rural Minnesota, it’s something communities have to plan, maintain, and worry about far more than most people realize.

This investment means fewer sleepless nights over aging systems and more focus on what really matters: raising families, growing local businesses, and keeping our communities strong for the long haul.

 

Preparing for Flooding Before It Hits

Anyone who lives in the Red River Valley knows flooding isn’t a question of "if"—it’s "when".

That’s why I was glad to help secure funding for flood mitigation efforts across the region, including the Mustinka River Rehabilitation Project, Klondike Clean Water Retention Project, Cass County flood mitigation, and the Roseau Lake Rehabilitation Project.

We cannot keep expecting communities to rebuild every time waters rise. These investments are about getting ahead of the problem instead of chasing it after the damage is already done.

 

Bringing Innovation to Rural Health Care Access

We also secured funding to improve aviation and medical transport infrastructure, including the use of unmanned aircraft systems to help deliver medical supplies to rural areas.

In rural Minnesota, distance is always part of the equation. What might be a five-minute drive in the metro can be an hour or more here. If there’s technology that can safely and quickly get medicine and emergency supplies where they need to go, it’s worth pursuing.

 

Supporting Agriculture and Local Industry

The bonding bill also included more than *$2 million for upgrades to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Potato Inspection Facility in East Grand Forks*, strengthening one of the key industries that anchors our regional economy.

Agriculture is not just part of Northwest Minnesota—it "is the heart" Northwest Minnesota. Investing in it means investing in jobs, food production, and the future of our communities.

 

Fighting Food Insecurity

I also supported passage of the *Regional Food Bank Grant Program*, which provides ongoing funding for food banks and tribal governments working to address food insecurity.

It’s heartbreaking that so many families are feeling the strain of rising grocery costs. But I’m grateful we were able to take a step toward making sure food shelves have the resources they need to meet that demand. Supporting families in need is not about politics—it’s about basic human decency.

 

Investing in Students and Special Education Needs

Northwestern Minnesota is currently the only region in the state without a Level IV Educational Facility for students with high behavioral needs.

After years of effort from local educators, administrators, and legislators, that will finally change. This year’s bonding bill includes *$6.5 million to establish this facility*, serving 11–13 school districts across the region.

I want to recognize the work of Senator Mark Johnson, Representative John Burkel, and so many local education leaders who never stopped pushing to make this a reality. This is a long-overdue investment in students, families, and schools across our region.

 

Still More Work Ahead

While I’m proud of what we accomplished, there are still important projects left unfinished. I am already working on opportunities through the Minnesota Local Road Improvement Program for Red Lake Falls infrastructure, and continuing to advocate for future bonding requests in East Grand Forks, including industrial park infrastructure and water tower improvements.

The Border-City Tax Bill will need another year after being blocked statewide, but I remain committed to pushing it forward as part of our broader effort to support local growth and economic development.

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"*A Warm Northern Minnesota **Welcome*"
fosston

One of the highlights of our final week at the Capitol was getting to welcome a wonderful class from Fosston to the Minnesota House! Senator Johnson was able to join us for the visit, which made the day even more special.

There is something incredibly meaningful about seeing students from Northern Minnesota walk through the Capitol halls and take such a genuine interest in how their government works. It was a joy getting to show them around, share a little about the legislative process, and hear their thoughtful questions about leadership, public service, and the work we do here in St. Paul.

The future of our communities is bright, and it was an honor to spend part of the day with such kind, curious, and engaged young people from back home.

I’m so grateful they made the trip down to the Capitol, and I hope they headed back up North with not only a little more insight into the work we do here, but also the reminder that their voices, ideas, and future matter deeply to the state of Minnesota.

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"A Session of Progress, Partnership, and Gratitude"
Gander

There is always more work to be done, and I certainly won’t pretend we accomplished everything we fought for this session. But in a tied House, I’m proud that we were still able to make meaningful progress on issues that matter deeply to Minnesotans across the state and especially to the communities I represent in Northwest Minnesota.

From investing in clean water and flood mitigation, to strengthening rural infrastructure, supporting agriculture, improving access to emergency care, expanding food support, and finally moving forward on long-overdue educational facilities for our students—these are the kinds of results that don’t always make the loudest headlines, but they absolutely make a difference in people’s everyday lives.

Serving my first term in the Minnesota House has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life. I’ve learned quickly that this work is never just about votes or bills—it remains about people. Every conversation, every email, every handshake at a community event, and every story shared with me along the way has grounded me and reminded me exactly who I’m here to serve.

To everyone who took the time to reach out this session—whether to share concerns, ask questions, offer ideas, or simply stop and say hello—I am genuinely grateful. Your voices shaped my work more than you know, and I don’t take that trust lightly for a second.

I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to serve, and I look forward to continuing to elevate your voices, fight for our communities, and represent you for as long as you’ll allow me to.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend as we honor Americans who have given their lives in service to our country's armed forces. And thank you again for the honor of serving you in the Minnesota legislature.

Until next time,

"—Representative Steve Gander"











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Saint Paul, MN 55155
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