Friends,
The 2026 legislative session began today, February 17. Before anything else, I want you to know that I don’t see this role as just me coming up to the capitol and voting however I feel like it. Yes, I have my principles that guide me. But your feedback is just as important. This job is about listening, constantly, to the people I represent. You might not know this, but half of my district is a little more red and half of my district is a little more blue. As you can imagine, the emails and calls I get about the issues pretty much runs the entire spectrum. I’m willing to have a discussion with anyone, regardless of party or ideology, I just ask that we remain civil.
Throughout the conversations I’ve had lately at local events, at my clinic, and around the district, there are a few constant themes. First is fraud. People are rightfully livid that fraud has been allowed to get this out of control. They want to know what happened and what we’re doing to stop it. This is priority number one. In the past we’ve offered a number of bills that will get to the heart of this issue. I expect you’ll see many of them again, so stay tuned.
Second, families are concerned about Minnesota’s high cost of living. Housing and energy costs are high. We’re one of the least tax friendly states in America. Our dollar just doesn’t stretch as far here as it does in surrounding states. Some of this is the result of the Democrats having total control of government in 2023 and 2024: They took our $18 billion surplus and spent it into a projected $6 billion deficit. They imposed a bunch of mandates that sunk school budgets into the red and hurt small businesses. They raised more than $10 billion in tax increases on working Minnesotans, including regressive taxes like sales taxes, gas taxes, and tab fees. It’s time to work on providing some relief.
Third, data centers are a hot topic right now. I hear your frustration. In a recent column I wrote a little bit about data centers legislation I am working on this year, including a simple transparency proposal that will prevent another NDA mess.
Above all, what matters most to me is that I continue hearing directly from you. If something is affecting your family, your business, or our community, I want to know about it. If you agree with me, tell me. If you disagree, tell me that too. I value thoughtful input from everyone.
One final thing I want you to be aware of: Beginning February 17, new security screening procedures will be in place at the Capitol and Senate Building. If you plan to visit, you will now pass through screeners like you would when you go to a Wild game or a concert. If you are a permit holder, you will still be able to carry your firearm on Capitol grounds.
However, Senate Democrats also adopted a policy this year that will require an extra layer screening to enter the Senate gallery. This policy includes a firearms ban, even for valid permit holders. It appears to be a clear violation of state statute, but for the time being it is in place, so keep that in mind if you visit.
It is an honor to serve you. Let’s have a great session.
Sincerely,