Legislative Update from Duane Quam

Legislative Update

We are now wrapping up the third week of the legislative session, and instead of working to address the real issues facing Minnesotans, the minority party has chosen to shut down the legislature. While they are out doing photo ops, House Republicans are at the Capitol, meeting with constituents, refining legislation, and preparing to get to work as soon as the legislature is operational again.

The minority's absence is delaying the work of the Minnesota people 

On January 14th, the first day of session, House Republicans showed up to do our jobs, prepared to introduce legislation, hear testimony, and take up the issues Minnesotans expect us to address. The minority, however, refused to attend, holding their swearing-in ceremony in secret, behind closed doors and avoiding the House Chamber entirely.

Despite their absence, House Republicans continued with the business of governing, operating under the belief that a quorum existed based on the number of seated members. The House currently has 133 members, meaning with 67 Republicans, a majority of members would be present. In those first two weeks, we introduced hundreds of bills, met with stakeholders, and held discussions on critical issues like education funding, fraud prevention, and public safety.

On January 24, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that 68 members are required for a quorum, or a majority of the number of total seats – 134, resetting all of the work we had accomplished. Despite getting a ruling in their favor, the minority party has continued to refuse to show up, preventing any legislative action from taking place. Meanwhile, they are still collecting their taxpayer-funded salaries.

Education funding reform is on hold

One of the most frustrating consequences of this legislative shutdown is that critical issues, like fixing Minnesota’s flawed education funding formula, cannot be addressed. Three of the six lowest per-pupil-funded schools in the state are in our district. These schools struggle under a formula that directs the majority of funding to large districts while leaving smaller schools behind, regardless of their actual ability to educate students.

Right now, schools in some of the highest-funded districts are seeing massive declines in reading proficiency, math comprehension, and even graduation rates. Yet, funding continues to flow in their direction, while schools in our district, and many others across Greater Minnesota, are forced to stretch every dollar just to keep their doors open. On top of that, unfunded mandates, many aimed at failing schools, continue to pile up, putting additional financial strain on our local schools that exceed the state average across the metrics.

I had hoped to work on legislation this year to correct this imbalance by reforming the formula and raising the floor of per-pupil funding to give our local schools the resources they need. Instead, because the minority refuses to show up for work, that effort is on hold along with everything else.

House Republicans introduce a major public safety package

While legislative business is stalled, House Republicans remain committed to addressing public safety concerns across the state. On Wednesday, we introduced a comprehensive public safety package designed to give law enforcement the tools they need, ensure violent offenders are held accountable, and increase transparency in the criminal justice system.

Some key provisions in this proposal include:

• Mandatory minimum 10-year sentences for first-degree sex traffickers.
• Strengthening predatory offender registration requirements for those receiving stayed sentences.
• Increasing penalties for fleeing police, assaulting officers, and damaging critical infrastructure.
• Introducing new criminal offenses, such as blocking highways and transit routes.
• Expanding public access to prosecutors’ charging and dismissal decisions.

For the past two years, Minnesota has seen a rise in violent crime while soft-on-crime policies have made it harder for law enforcement to do their jobs. Our proposal puts victims first, restores accountability, and provides the transparency needed to rebuild trust in the justice system.

Ready to work when the minority decides to return

Republicans remain at the Capitol, engaged in meetings, working with constituents, and refining legislation. The minority party may be absent, but that does not mean we are waiting idly. This week I had the opportunity to meet with township officers, RPU, AFRN, MDE, MRHA, ABATE (including many people from our area) and staff in multiple state agencies. While we may not be allowed to officially do bills or hold committees, we are working with citizens across the state in working groups (republican committee members) that tie in people from across the state, both in person and via zoom. As you see, we are still working with our community members to help prepare for when the minority returns to the Capitol.

Minnesotans deserve a legislature that works for them, not one that plays political games. It’s time to get back to work.

Please Stay in Touch 

Please continue to stay in touch to share your thoughts or concerns. My phone number is 651-296-9236 or you can email me at rep.duane.quam@house.mn.

Have a great weekend!