Legislative update

New fraud committee gets going

The newly formed House Fraud and Agency Oversight Committee is up and running, with its first official hearing this week to tackle fraud, waste and abuse in state programs. This is a major problem in Minnesota, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars – or more.

The committee’s first meeting included testimony from the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) on the oversight of state-funded grants to nonprofit organizations. State officials testified on the office’s findings, outlining systemic issues in grant management and oversight by state agencies.

Meanwhile, this week House Republicans sent a formal request to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch a comprehensive investigation into fraud and mismanagement that has cost taxpayers over $610 million.

The request follows years of documented mismanagement and significant losses to fraudsters in human services programs and other state-run programs. Despite numerous reports from the Office of the Legislative Auditor detailing oversight failures, legislative Democrats have refused to hold a single hearing on the issue in six years.

Visit from Sheriff Wallen

Energy bill update

The bill I authored to deliver more affordable, accessible and reliable energy to Minnesotans cleared its first House committee hurdle this week.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because this is the second time this bill had its first hearing of the session. The first time came during the House Democrat shutdown. Now, this week, the bill received its first hearing for a second time with both parties in attendance.

As chair of the House Energy Finance and Policy Committee, I authored House File 9 to diversify Minnesota’s energy grid and help the state meet its growing energy needs at a time it is becoming increasingly costly and unstable. One major provision in my bill ends Minnesota’s 1994 moratorium on constructing new nuclear power plants because any clean energy future must include nuclear, carbon capture technology, and other forms of renewable energy like hydroelectricity.

The bill I introduced is a common-sense, middle-of-the-road approach when it comes to long-term energy policy. This could serve as something of an off-ramp from the extreme, unrealistic package Democrats passed in 2024, which forced industries, businesses and families into an unreliable, more expensive energy network.

I will keep you posted as my legislation moves through the committee process and makes its way to the House floor for a vote of the full body.

Keeping men out of women’s sports

President Trump recently issued an executive order entitled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” to uphold fairness and safety.

House Republicans share President Trump’s position and have authored H.F. 12, which says: “Only students of the female sex may participate in an elementary or secondary school athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted on the basis of sex to women or girls.”

Meanwhile, the Minnesota State High School League stated it intends to not to comply with President Trump’s recent executive order prohibiting men from playing women’s sports. I am among House Republicans who signed a letter sent to the MSHSL Director expressing concern over that organization’s position. You can read the letter here.

Have a good weekend and look for more from the House soon.

Sincerely,

Chris