Dear Neighbor,
Committees soon will be finishing up their regularly scheduled work in the House, and we are about to find out if April showers bring May budgets done on time.
Here’s more on that and other notes from the Capitol:
Non-profit funding
A bipartisan group of legislators recently signed a letter urging fellow members to stop allocating direct funding appropriations to nonprofit organizations for government work.
Typically, state agencies award grants to nonprofits only after conducting extensive background checks and evaluating multiple proposals to determine the best-qualified recipient. Bypassing this vetting process by providing direct funding undermines accountability and has led to taxpayer dollars being misused. This will be a critical point of discussion for chairs of finance committees as we work to establish a new two-year state budget before our May 19 adjournment.
Bipartisan budget agreement in hand
The Minnesota House has reached a bipartisan agreement on the framework of a new state budget. It includes the largest spending reduction in Minnesota history to address a projected shortfall.
Legislators from both sides of the aisle have agreed to cut $4 billion from the current budget, with an additional $1.2 billion reduction planned for 2026-27. These steps are necessary after one-party control at the Capitol spent the state’s $18 billion surplus, raised taxes by $10 billion, and increased the state budget by 40 percent in 2023. In the blink of an eye, Minnesota now faces a $6 billion shortfall.
This bipartisan agreement marks an important step toward putting our state on a sustainable path that is more affordable for Minnesotans – without cutting essential services. House Republicans are working to restore balance at the Capitol, and we are starting to see the results. In addition to getting state spending back in line, we will continue working to improve the bottom line by rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse in state programs.
Finance committees will use the terms of the agreement to shape budget bills funding various sections of the state budget for the next two-year cycle. Bipartisan support is a must this session, with a 67-67 split in the House and 68 votes necessary to pass bills.
We owe it to the people of Minnesota to pass good bills and get our work done on time. People don’t care that we lost valuable time when half the House stayed home for nearly a full month at the start of the session; they just want us to do our job. That means keeping our eye on the ball and doing what’s right for Minnesotans. I continue opposing tax increases and working to right-size our state budget.
House Republicans will not allow this budget to be balanced on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, Governor Walz is proposing to do exactly that by cutting funding for seniors, students and the disabled.
In addition, the governor wants to shift over $1.5 billion in costs from the state to local counties, setting the stage for property tax hikes of up to 9 percent for Minnesota families and small businesses. Even county leaders have sounded the alarm, warning this proposal would crush local budgets and raise property taxes.
House Republicans believe Minnesota government needs a serious course correction. We need to restore fiscal sanity, protect our most vulnerable, and put Minnesota taxpayers first. There’s more than enough money to fund real priorities—we just need leadership with the right priorities.
Oral Health Showcase
I enjoyed receiving input during the recent 2025 Oral Health Showcase at the Capitol (above). Thanks to all for sharing info on this important subject.
Education funding
Gov. Tim Walz has proposed education cuts of more than $240 million in 2026-27 and another $445 million in 2028-29. His plan includes reductions to merit-based teacher compensation (Q Comp), special education transportation, and non-public pupil support.
A St. Cloud family (above) recently shared with me concerns for these cuts and I agree! Our school districts already are struggling under the burden of more than 65 unfunded mandates imposed in 2023, including a new leave program, sick-time requirements, and unemployment insurance mandates for hourly school-year employees during the summer months. Minnesota students are falling behind, with half unable to read or do math at grade level, and these mandates have only made it harder for children to succeed in the classroom.
We need to return to common sense and let our schools focus on the classroom instead of piling on more and more mandates. House Republicans have launched the Save Our Schools plan to address micromanagement, mandates, and misplaced priorities in Minnesota’s K-12 education system.
Helpful House links
Here are some links you may find helpful in following the latest goings on at the Capitol:
Please Contact Me
It’s an honor and privilege to work for you at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas. You can call me at 651-296-6316, or email me at rep.bernie.perryman@house.mn.gov. I am here to serve you!
Bernie
