The Minnesota House advanced several pieces of legislation in late April as the session nears its May 17 adjournment deadline, with only 19 days left for lawmakers to complete their work. State Representative Marion Rarick said that key priorities include tax relief, establishing an independent Office of the Inspector General, and fixing state grant program issues.
Rarick said these are pressing issues that require urgent action before the end of the session. She added, “I sincerely hope we deliver the results Minnesotans deserve.”
Last week, two anti-fraud bills received bipartisan support in the House. One bill extends the statute of limitations for crimes involving theft of public funds from six years to ten years, giving prosecutors more time to investigate complex fraud cases. Another bill strengthens accountability in corrections by requiring individuals on supervised release to make good-faith efforts toward restitution before qualifying for early active release.
The Fraud Isn’t Free Act was also discussed but did not advance after opposition from House Democrats. The act would impose penalties such as pay cuts or termination on state workers who allow fraud through negligence or misconduct. Rarick criticized Democratic opposition to this measure and related proposals aimed at increasing oversight of government grants.
In other legislative actions, a bill increasing penalties for ‘sextortion’ crimes passed unanimously following concerns raised by a high-profile case involving a Minnesota teen’s death. The new law would increase prison sentences and fines depending on harm caused or financial impact.
Additionally, lawmakers approved a bipartisan bill designed to ensure compliance with court orders requiring domestic abusers to surrender firearms—a response to previous gaps identified in enforcing such orders.
