Minnesota State Representative James Gordon announced on Apr. 24 that the Minnesota House has shifted its focus to floor debates after passing the final committee deadline for this legislative session. With the House evenly split at 67-67, Gordon said that bipartisan support is now required for any bill to advance, leading lawmakers to prioritize smaller bills without new costs.
The emphasis this week was on addressing fraud and government accountability. Gordon said he remains committed to representing his district by “standing up for the people of our district and across Minnesota as we push for lower taxes, smaller government, and eliminating fraud.” He linked efforts against fraud directly with affordability concerns.
Gordon described a recent attempt by Republicans to introduce the ‘Fraud Isn’t Free Act’ as an amendment aimed at requiring state agencies to act quickly when fraud is suspected and holding employees accountable in cases of negligence or misconduct. “Unfortunately, House Democrats voted down the amendment, turning away an opportunity to strengthen oversight and protect taxpayer dollars,” he said. He added that “fraud is not a victimless issue, and it is costing Minnesotans billions of dollars that should be going toward core services and priorities.”
The legislature also advanced HF4425, which would extend the statute of limitations from six years to ten years for certain types of fraud involving public money. According to Gordon, “this bill helps fix that problem by giving law enforcement more time to do their work and follow the facts wherever they lead.” He emphasized its role in improving accountability when taxpayer funds are stolen.
Another measure under consideration is HF4950—the ‘Take It Back Act.’ This proposal seeks a stronger process for recovering state funds lost through fraudulent or improper payments by imposing a 100% income tax on those convicted of defrauding state programs. The tax would be in addition to court-ordered restitution requirements. “If someone is convicted of defrauding the state, they should not be allowed to keep any of the money they took,” Gordon said.
Gordon concluded by saying he will continue providing updates as these bills move toward possible consideration before adjournment.
