FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Gavin Miller
gavin.miller@house.mn.gov
News Release
House Republicans Celebrate Whistleblower Protections with Unanimous Passage of House File 23, While House File 3 is Tabled
Saint Paul - [ 03.11.25] - Yesterday, Minnesota House Republicans celebrated the passage of House File 23, which expands whistleblower protections for state employees. The bill received unanimous support, with all 133 legislators voting in favor. During the floor session, the bill was amended to replace the language of "waste and abuse" with "misuse," aligning with the language used in other bills currently under consideration, to ensure consistency across legislative efforts.
House File 3, a bill aimed at increasing transparency and accountability within state agencies, was tabled for future consideration after all House Democrats voted against it. House File 3 would have required the Legislative Auditor to submit annual reports detailing whether state agencies had implemented recommendations from audits, ensuring stronger oversight of government spending.
Representative Ben Bakeberg (R-Jordan) said he was pleased with the passage of House File 23 and stressed the importance of continued support for anti-fraud efforts, stating, "I’m glad to see the bipartisan support for whistleblower protections. This marks an important step in the right direction, but the lack of Democrat support for House File 3 is concerning. Combatting fraud and misuse of taxpayer funds should be a shared priority."
Despite this setback, Republicans remain committed to fighting for stronger oversight of government spending and ensuring greater accountability in the use of taxpayer funds.