News – Page 18 – Minnesota Senate Republicans

January 23, 2025

Drazkowski: Shotgun-only hunting zone elimination bill clears first hurdle

By: SENATOR STEVE DRAZKOWSKI For decades, hunters in southern Minnesota have been restricted from using rifles to hunt deer. This rule — a relic from the 1940s — is outdated and out of step with…

January 23, 2025

Drazkowski: Protecting Landowners from government abuse of private property

By: SENATOR STEVE DRAZKOWSKI Imagine owning land your family has worked for years, only to have the government facilitate someone coming in and destroying part of it without your permission. That’s exactly what happened to…

January 23, 2025

Draheim: Honoring Chris Maland and a life of service

By: SENATOR RICH DRAHEIM Friends and neighbors, I want to take a different approach with this column. Instead of focusing on the legislature, I would like to take a moment to honor David “Chris” Maland,…

January 23, 2025

Lieske: State’s police board exposed identity of every undercover officer

Friends and neighbors, A serious error by the Minnesota POST Board has put hundreds of undercover police officers at risk. In responding to a public records request last year, the board mistakenly released the names…

January 23, 2025

Rasmusson chairs Human Services hearing on waste, fraud and abuse

On Wednesday, Jan. 22, Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls), the Republican chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, led a hearing on program integrity and fraud prevention within the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).…

January 23, 2025

Senator Dornink: Back to work

Friends and neighbors, The 2025 legislative session is underway, and both chambers are already making history. Due to the recent passing of one of our colleagues, Senator Kari Dziedzic, the Senate is currently tied 33-33.…

January 23, 2025

Senator Miller unveils Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0

Minnesota State Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) today unveiled the Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0, an updated version of his sports betting proposal. The Minnesota Sports Betting Act 3.0 builds on the bipartisan cooperation and momentum…

January 22, 2025

Coleman leads effort to listen to school concerns regarding education mandates

Today Senator Julia Coleman (Waconia) chaired the Senate Education Policy Committee as committee members heard testimony from various school representatives regarding the impacts of burdensome education mandates passed last biennium. Following the testimony, the committee…

January 22, 2025

Nelson bill to exempt medical-related purchases from sales tax receives first hearing

A bill authored by Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) to make more medical supplies affordable for Minnesotans was heard in the Senate Taxes Committee on Wednesday. “Healthcare costs are a growing concern for families across Minnesota,”…

January 22, 2025

Massive data breach at Minnesota POST Board exposes identities of undercover officers

Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Co-Chair Limmer calls for every option to hold accountable those involved Today, media reports revealed that a significant data breach has occurred at the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training…

January 22, 2025

Rep. Aaron Repinski and Sen. Jeremy Miller Champion Bill to Eliminate State Tax on Social Security Benefits

Representative Aaron Repinski (R-Winona) and Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) announced a joint effort to eliminate the state tax on Social Security benefits. The bill, introduced by Rep. Repinski in the Minnesota House and by Sen.…

January 21, 2025

Drazkowski property tax relief bill clears first Senate hurdle

A bill authored by Senator Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) aimed at providing direct property tax relief to Minnesota homeowners received its first hearing Tuesday in the Senate Taxes Committee. The bipartisan proposal, Senate File 105, seeks…

January 21, 2025

Gruenhagen: Two major court rulings affecting the legislature

Friends and neighbors, First things first. On Monday, President Donald Trump took the oath of office and officially returned to the White House. It marks a bright new chapter for America, and I stand firmly…

January 21, 2025

Sen. Coleman to Serve as Republican Co-Chair on Senate Education Policy Committee

ST. PAUL – Senator Julia Coleman (R- Waconia) recently announced she will serve as the Republican Co-Chair on the Senate Education Policy Committee while the Senate’s 33-33 power-sharing agreement is in effect. Among many…

January 21, 2025

Howe on Walz budget proposal: “New taxes and fees on families is not something anyone should be supporting”

Last week Governor Walz released his budget recommendations for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The plan proposes a slight reduction in state spending, in tandem with increasing fees and adding a sales tax to certain services. Senator…

January 21, 2025

Pratt statement on Walz budget proposal: “New taxes and fees on Minnesotans are a non-starter”

Last week Governor Walz released his budget recommendations for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The plan proposes a slight reduction in state spending, in tandem with increasing fees and adding a sales tax to certain services. Senator…

January 21, 2025

Capitol Update – Putting Minnesotans First

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Tuesday, January 14th, marked the official start of the 2025 legislative session, and the Minnesota Senate wasted no time getting to work on behalf of Minnesotans. On day one, the Senate…

January 17, 2025

Johnson statement on Judge’s ruling to delay Mitchell’s trial

Senator Republican Leader Mark Johnson released the following statement on the ruling delaying Sen. Nicole Mitchell trial until after session concludes: “The Senate has a responsibility to hold itself to the highest standards. It’s been…

January 17, 2025

Gruenhagen: Don’t be fooled by Gov. Walz’s claims of responsible budgeting

Friends and neighbors, Today, Governor Walz unveiled his 2025 budget proposal. He portrayed himself as a smart and responsible steward of Minnesotans’ tax dollars. Of course, we lived through the last two years of Democrat…

January 17, 2025

JASINSKI: Senate shares power and governs while House Democrats stay home

By: SENATOR JOHN JASINSKI The 2025 legislative session is underway, and it is great to be back at the capitol serving the people of Goodhue, Rice, Steele, and Waseca Counties in the Senate. The word…