Reflecting on legislative career

As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close and my time in the Minnesota Senate nears its end, I sincerely thank the people of Dodge, Olmsted and Wabasha counties for the trust you have placed in me over the years. You have become my friends, and it has been a joy to serve you.
Representing this district has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Constituent meetings, community events, classroom visits and conversations throughout the district continuously reminded me that public service is ultimately about people. Your stories, ideas, dreams, concerns and encouragement shaped my work every single day at the Capitol.
Over the course of my legislative career, I have had the privilege of working on issues that directly impact Minnesota families: improving education, advancing public safety, supporting workforce housing, investing in infrastructure and fighting for tax relief and government accountability.
I am especially proud of the bipartisan work accomplished on behalf of our region, including Destination Medical Center, UMR, Highway 14, Rochester International Airport, SPARK Museum, The Reading Center, RCTC, P-TECH, the Alzheimer’s Research and Support Act, school-linked mental health services, and the Graham Exhibition Center.
In the final weeks of session, long floor debates and conference committee negotiations became the norm as we worked through major policy bills and differences between House and Senate proposals. There were certainly areas of disagreement, but I remained focused on advocating for commonsense policies that protect taxpayers, strengthen accountability and keep Minnesota a place where families and businesses can thrive.
The May 18 constitutional adjournment deadline, known as sine die, has passed, and the legislature has concluded another busy and consequential session.
I will continue serving as your Senator through the end of the year. As always, please contact me if you have any questions or need assistance with any state agency.
Office 
of Inspector General
Years of scandals have robbed Minnesotans of needed services and defrauded taxpayers of more than $9,000,000,000. The creation of an Office of Inspector General (OIG) is greatly needed.
Fraud investigations in Minnesota have involved programs including:
Feeding Our Future
Childcare assistance programs
Medicaid and non-emergency medical transportation
Housing stabilization services
Pandemic relief programs
Autism Centers
The Senate passed a strong version of the OIG bill last year in a bipartisan effort to restore accountability and improve oversight of taxpayer dollars. Unfortunately, the House delayed action for months and repeatedly attempted to weaken key provisions of the bill. Many of these efforts appeared aimed at shielding the Walz administration from scrutiny rather than creating a truly independent watchdog capable of investigating fraud and abuse within state government.
The final bill is not perfect, but it establishes an independent Office of Inspector General with subpoena and enforcement powers outside the Governor’s administration. Minnesotans need and deserve confidence that their hard-earned tax dollars are being used responsibly
Major Investments for Southeast Minnesota in Bonding Bill
One of the final accomplishments of this year’s session was passage of the state bonding bill, which included several important infrastructure investments for Dodge and Olmsted counties. These are projects many local leaders and community members have worked on for years, and I was proud to help move them across the finish line.
Bonding projects secured in our area:
$8.3 Million for Highway 14 interchanges near Byron at CSAH 3 and 5.
$3 plus million for improvements to 15th Avenue NE in Stewartville, including roadway and drainage upgrades.
$2.322 million for renovations and modernization at the Olmsted County History Center to preserve important historical archives and improve museum space.
More than $13 million for Rochester’s East Zumbro sewer and water infrastructure project to support future housing and commercial growth.
In addition, communities throughout southeast Minnesota will benefit from statewide funding for local roads and bridge replacement and township road aid.
Infrastructure investments like these improve public safety, support economic growth and help ensure southeast Minnesota remains a strong place to live, work and raise a family for generations to come.
Delivering Relief for Minnesota Families
I remained focused this session on affordability, accountability and protecting taxpayers in a state where families continue to face rising costs and high taxes. While there is still more work ahead, several important provisions were passed this year that move Minnesota in the right direction:
Tax Relief: Conformity to several federal tax provisions, including improvements related to the Pass-Through Entity Tax, enhancements to the Dependent Care Tax Credit, Section 179 full expensing for certain business property, qualified production property and qualified recording productions.
Vehicle Tab Fee Relief: Rolled back the 2023 tab fee increases and returned rates to 2022 levels beginning in 2027. This change is expected to save Minnesota drivers approximately $254 million.
Holding Fraudsters Accountable: Imposes a 100% tax on money obtained through fraud in public programs, in addition to criminal penalties and court-ordered restitution already in place. Revenue collected under the law will go into a dedicated account for future income tax relief for Minnesotans.
Homestead Tax Refund Program: Provides an additional $125 million for the refund program to deliver property tax relief for homeowners facing rising costs.
Healthcare Stabilization Funding: Approves $205 million in immediate stabilization funding for Hennepin County Medical Center while advancing additional oversight and structural reforms to help protect this critical safety-net hospital for the future.
While there is still more work to do, these measures represent meaningful progress toward making Minnesota more affordable and accountable to taxpayers.
Thank you to my Legislative Assistant 
and Intern
Special thanks to my Legislative Assistant, Jonas Seorum. He joined my office over a month into session and hit the ground running. We have a busy Senate office and we could not have achieved our goals without him. He is a great asset to my Senate office and to me.
I also thank my intern, Brooklyn Brandel. She has been a tremendous asset to my office. Her hard work, professionalism and infectious smile helped make this busy legislative session a success. I am grateful for her contributions and wish her the very best in future endeavors.