St. Paul Reporter

In the final days of Minnesota's legislative session, with adjournment set for May 19, lawmakers are advancing a series of bills, including measures on education finance and policy. Representative Ben Davis (R-Grand Rapids) highlighted recent developments at the Capitol, focusing on budget negotiations and policy debates.

Davis noted his opposition to a rally held at the Capitol supporting free health insurance for people in the country without legal status. He stated, "I want you to know I stood firmly against it. Your hard-earned tax dollars should not be used to fund benefits that many Minnesota families can’t even afford for their own kids. That’s not justice, and it’s not right. We need to focus on taking care of our citizens first."

A budget agreement was reached late Wednesday between lawmakers and Governor Tim Walz. Davis described the deal as progress following what he characterized as issues left by previous Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) leadership. According to Davis, key outcomes include blocking proposed increases in sales tax, a social media tax, provider tax hikes, and a new top income tax tier. The agreement also maintains funding for non-public schools—including religious, charter, and homeschool students—freezes enrollment in healthcare programs for undocumented immigrants while phasing out adult coverage by 2026, invests in county technology upgrades, and halts projects like the Northern Lights Express train line to Duluth.

Davis said conference committees are working to translate budget targets into final legislation: "There’s still work to do. Conference committees are taking these budget targets and turning them into real bills. There may be some bumps along the way, but I’ll keep fighting to make sure your tax dollars are protected and our values are reflected in the final deal."

Referencing oversight efforts after an April 28 House Fraud Committee hearing, Davis stated: "After a House Fraud Committee hearing on April 28, we sent a letter demanding answers about possible links to fraudsters, questionable campaign contributions, and suspicious Capitol activity. Minnesotans deserve honesty and accountability from the top."

He also discussed House File 2: "My bill, House File 2, would require state agencies to report fraud immediately, not just 'encourage' them to do it. We’re also working on stronger protections for whistleblowers so honest employees can safely expose wrongdoing."