House Republicans Celebrate Whistleblower Protections with Unanimous Passage of House File 23, While House File 3 is Tabled ST. 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. This bill 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 Bobbie Harder (R-Henderson Twp) said the votes on House File 23 were encouraging but emphasized the importance of the measures in House File 3, saying, “Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent. This bill (HF 3) shines a light on government inefficiency, ensuring that agencies do not ignore recommendations meant to eliminate waste and improve effectiveness.” Despite the setback with (HF 3), Republicans remain committed to fighting for stronger oversight of government spending and ensuring greater accountability in the use of taxpayer funds. |