Hello from the State Capitol, 

We officially adjourned the 2025 legislative Special Session on Monday. The legislature conducted a one-day special session this week to wrap up business that remained unfinished at the May 19 deadline for this year’s regular session to adjourn. We were set back from the start when House Democrats stayed home instead of showing up for work the first 23 days of the regular session. 

In any case, there is a lot of good news to share, especially regarding Minnesota’s new two-year budget. We were able to control excessive spending and unnecessary tax increases that Minnesota has been suffering under one-party control the last two years. The 40-percent increase in state spending and $10 billion in tax increases they passed unchecked put us on an unsustainable path, with a $6 billion shortfall projected. 

Republicans gained equal power in the House last November and we worked hard to restore balance at the Capitol. We did so by delivering the largest reduction to government spending in state history with $2 billion in budget cuts. In all, there is $5 billion less spending than the previous budget. 

We also blocked all proposals to further raise taxes on Minnesota families. We prevented the creation of a fifth-tier income tax bracket ($8 billion), defeated the governor’s sales tax increase ($400 million), and stopped the expansion of sales taxes to professional services ($334 million) to name a few. 

We also were able to end illegal immigrant health insurance for adults, which would have cost us half a billion a year. Starting this Jan. 1, the free health insurance program for adults here illegally will end, and no new enrollments are allowed starting now.  

While there is still work to be done, I am happy with what we were able to accomplish with half the house and one third of the legislature.  

I am excited to be back in district, and I hope everyone has a great summer!