Legislation authored by Representative Andrew Myers to strengthen Minnesota’s ability to prosecute fraud and protect taxpayer dollars passed the Minnesota House on April 20.
The measure, known as House File 4425, would extend the statute of limitations for crimes involving theft of public funds—including medical assistance fraud—from six years to ten years. Supporters say this change is needed because modern fraud schemes are increasingly complex and can take years to uncover.
“Fraud isn’t always discovered right away, and in many cases, it takes years to uncover the full scope of what’s happened,” said Rep. Myers. “HF 4425 makes sure that criminals can’t run out the clock while investigators are still doing their work. If you steal from taxpayers, you should be held accountable, no matter how long it takes to uncover the truth.”
Myers also said his concerns go beyond financial losses alone: “My concern is not just the fraud itself, but what it’s doing to our communities,” he said. “Minnesota’s fraud epidemic has devastating consequences. It contributes to higher property taxes, service disruptions, and cuts that impact families. We’ve seen strain on critical services like childcare, disability support, and food shelves while taxpayer dollars are being stolen. Frankly, that should anger everyone. These are programs and services Minnesotans choose to fund because they care about their neighbors.”
The bill aims at holding those who abuse government programs accountable by ensuring they cannot evade prosecution simply due to time limits expiring before investigations conclude.
With passage in the House secured, HF 4425 now moves forward for consideration in the Senate.
