Legislative Update
Friends and Neighbors,
It’s been a while since my last email, and I figured it’s time to provide you with an update on the efforts my colleagues and I are making in St. Paul to restore common-sense governance in Minnesota.
Standing up in Defense of Our Young Girls
On Monday, all 66 House Democrats voted against the Preserving Girls' Sports Act, a bill designed to protect the safety and fairness of young female athletes. By allowing biological males to compete in girls' sports, they’ve shown a blatant disregard for decades of progress in women’s sports and the rights of female athletes. As a father of four daughters, this issue is personal for me.
This vote highlights how out of touch Democrats are with their constituents. Minnesotans overwhelmingly support protecting girls in sports, yet Democrats continue to prioritize political agendas over the safety and fairness of young girls. The public’s frustration with this kind of leadership is growing, and it’s clear the Democrats are failing to listen to the people they represent.
HF 12 is yet another example of House Republicans standing up, being the adults in the room, and pushing for commonsense legislation that reflects the attitude of their constituents and the people of Minnesota.
Fair and Transparent Elections
As we all know, concerns about election integrity have been growing for years, from local races to presidential elections. The possibility that the will of the people could be undermined is simply unacceptable.
That’s why I introduced House File 1253. This bill strengthens absentee voting by making it more secure, accessible, and efficient. It shortens the absentee ballot mailing period to 28 days, repeals the 8 p.m. absentee deadline on election day, returning it to 3 p.m. to give counties more time to prepare for election-day results, and requires absentee ballots to be reported at the same time as election-day ballots.
These commonsense reforms simplify the voting process, increase transparency, and still guarantee that every legal voter has a fair and efficient opportunity to participate in our elections.
This legislation received its second reading this past Monday and is expected to continue through the legislative process. As new developments arise, I will be sure to keep you updated.
Restoring Our Right to Self-Defense
On Wednesday, House Republicans held a press conference to discuss HF 13, a bill aimed at removing the duty to retreat. Under current Minnesota law, individuals are required to make every effort to flee from an assailant before resorting to self-defense or coming to the defense of others. HF 13 seeks to eliminate this obligation, allowing individuals to use reasonable force to protect themselves or others from imminent harm.
I authored House Files 0786 and 0705, both of which expand Minnesota's self-defense laws by removing the duty to retreat and allowing deadly force to protect one’s home, vehicle, or person from imminent harm or felony crimes. These bills broaden the definition of "dwelling," create a presumption of reasonable belief in cases of unlawful entry and provide immunity from prosecution for individuals acting in self-defense.
The duty to retreat was introduced following a divided ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court last summer. In his dissent, former DFL House Speaker and current State Supreme Court Justice Paul Thissen strongly criticized the decision, calling it “completely disconnected from state statute,” “against human nature,” and “without precedent in the United States.”
These bills represent a commonsense approach to strengthening the rights of law-abiding citizens. They ensure Minnesotans can protect themselves and their families while sending a clear message that we will not tolerate laws that hinder self-defense.
February Forecast
On Thursday this week, the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget released its highly anticipated February Budget Forecast, shedding light on the state's future financial outlook. Unfortunately, this forecast paints a bleak picture for Minnesotans.
Worsening Deficit and Increased Shortfall
The report reveals that the projected general fund shortfall for the fiscal year 2028-29 biennium has now ballooned to a staggering $5.995 billion—an $852 million increase from earlier estimates. This comes on the heels of reckless decisions made under the Democrats' watch.
Out of Control Democrat Spending
Just a few years ago, Minnesota was sitting on a historic $18.5 billion surplus. However, instead of exercising fiscal discipline, the Democrats in the legislature, under the Walz administration, squandered that surplus. They spent every last dime, raised taxes by a jaw-dropping $10 billion, and expanded the size of government by a shocking 40%. Now, after all that reckless spending and tax hikes, we are left with a projected deficit of nearly $6 billion. This is a direct result of the Democrats' out-of-control spending and misguided priorities.
Escalating Spending and Taxpayer Burden
Minnesota’s revenue is expected to fall far short of the state’s ever-growing spending demands, especially in critical areas like healthcare, human services, and education. Tim Walz and Democrats have continued to grow government at a staggering rate, all while passing the buck to Minnesotans.
The Call for Fiscal Responsibility
Taxpayers should not be on the hook for the consequences of government waste, overspending, and the rampant fraud that has gone unchecked under their watch. This level of fiscal mismanagement is unacceptable, and it is past time for a change.
Commitment to Responsible Legislation
I will continue to fight for responsible, taxpayer-friendly legislation in the House. We need a government that balances its budget, lives within its means, and works for the people—not one that grows beyond control at the expense of Minnesota families.
If you want to be part of our anti-fraud efforts, I encourage you to follow us on Facebook at MN House Committee on Fraud and Oversight and on X: @MN_Fraud_Cmte.
Your input is essential as we navigate the 2025-2026 Legislative Session. Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts, questions, or concerns. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-0172 or via email at rep.ben.davis@house.mn.gov. Thank you for your continued support!
God Bless!
Representative Ben Davis
Minnesota House of Representatives, District 6A