Friends and neighbors,
It was a privilege to welcome Wright County township supervisors to the Capitol this week. We had a great discussion about their priorities, concerns, and how the Legislature can help.
We also welcomed Future Farmers of America students to St. Paul. It was great to talk with these young leaders and hear about their passion for agriculture and vision for the future of farming. I came away with real confidence in the next generation of farmers.
Speaking of communities, this week I announced my bonding priorities for District 29. These are critical infrastructure projects that will improve quality of life, protect the health of our families and children, and support local economies. I’m focused on securing funding in this year’s bonding bill to get them across the finish line.
You’ve probably heard about the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) moving through Congress. It’s a straightforward, common-sense bill requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. Democrats in Washington have not taken election security seriously, and some appear willing to leave the system open to anyone in the U.S., regardless of status.
I joined my GOP colleagues in signing a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, urging him to bring the SAVE Act to the floor for an immediate vote. This issue has broad support from the American people, and Congress needs to act. I’ll keep pushing until we see progress.
Next week we take up our first bill on the Senate floor, a Democrat proposal for rental assistance. The bill lacks strong guardrails and could open the door to more fraud in state programs. The last thing Minnesotans need is another government handout vulnerable to abuse. We’ll fight to protect taxpayer dollars and prevent bloated government from growing even larger.
Stay tuned on social media for real-time updates.
Thanks for reading and for your continued support,
Michael
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$37.5 million in bonding priorities for District 29
This week, I released my bonding priorities for the 2026 legislative session, a bonding year at the Minnesota Legislature. The package totals $37.5 million in funds for critical infrastructure and education projects in District 29.
These are critical infrastructure projects that will directly benefit the families of District 29 and help the local economy. If we’re asking taxpayers to fund bonding projects, the projects need to serve critical needs. I hope Democrats use the bonding bill as an opportunity to serve critical needs and not load it up with pork for their pet projects like entertainment and recreation venues. The priority needs to be serious, essential work like clean water infrastructure.
My bonding bills include:
- SF 2223: Appropriates $10 million to the city of Monticello to construct a new water treatment facility, improving water quality and reliability for residents and businesses.
- SF 2582: Appropriates $15 million to the city of Howard Lake to build a new water treatment facility, ensuring safe, manganese-free drinking water for the community and addressing long-standing infrastructure needs.
- SF 3586: Appropriates $10.5 million to Wright Technical Center, a cooperative public high school established in 1972 that provides career, technical, and alternative education. The funding would update aging facilities to better prepare students for careers and post-secondary education.
- SF 3850: Appropriates $2 million to the city of Rockford to design and construct improvements to the city’s existing wastewater treatment facility, enhancing community safety and health.
These projects are critical investments that improve quality of life, protect the health of families, and support the economy in District 29.
Bonding requests will be considered as part of the broader capital investment bill during the 2026 session.
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Urging Action on the SAVE Act
Last week, I joined a large group of Minnesota legislators in signing a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, urging him to bring the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act to the floor for an immediate vote.
The SAVE Act is commonsense. It requires proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. We have to ensure that only eligible American citizens decide our national elections. Right now, federal law allows states to accept applications without reliable proof of citizenship, eroding the public’s trust in elections.
Minnesotans deserve confidence that their vote counts and that the system is secure. Even if Congress accomplishes little else this year, passing the SAVE Act would be a huge step toward restoring that trust.
The people are demanding it, and I’ll keep pushing until we get action. If you agree, reach out to your federal delegation and let them know.
I’ll update you as this moves forward.
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Thanks to Wright County township supervisors for stopping by the Capitol to discuss their priorities for the legislative session!
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MN Fraud Files
Originally created during the eight-year term of Gov. Mark Dayton, Center of the American Experiment’s Scandal Tracker was reopened to account for the ever-growing list of frauds and scandals perpetuated under the Tim Walz administration.
Your one-stop resource for everything related to state government fraud in Minnesota
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Thanks for reading. During session, I send out weekly newsletters to update you on what’s happening at the Capitol. Sign up for the newsletter here.
In Liberty,
Senator Michael Holmstrom
District 29
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Social Media
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Contact Me
Hearing from constituents helps make me a better legislator. Never hesitate to reach out if you have a question or concern. I can be reached via email at sen.michael.holmstrom@mnsenate.gov or at 651-296-5981.
My legislative assistant, Zachary Queensland, is also a great resource for information. He can be reached at zachary.queensland@mnsenate.gov or at 651-296-0769.