The House’s passage of a bill to create an Office of the Inspector General with independence and future law enforcement authority is a nice step toward providing more transparency and accountability in state government so we can get a grip on the fraud that has cost state taxpayers $9 billion or more.

My position has been consistent, that this office must be truly independent and able to take action instead of just issuing reports. This new office must operate free from political pressure and hold people accountable…

Click here to watch the bill reading

Come Monday, we will be entering the final month of the legislative session. We will be spending more and more time on the House floor with regular committee work wrapping up and more than 125 bills on the General Register, which means they can be taken up for votes on passage by the full body at any time…

Greetings as we look forward to this Easter weekend celebrating hope, renewal, and the promise of new life.

It’s a time to gather with loved ones, soak up the renewal of spring, and really reflect on what the resurrection of Jesus Christ means to you. Let’s also make a point of counting the blessings in our lives that sometimes get lost in the shuffle of our everyday lives…

Good day from the House, where only 58 calendar days remain until our May 17 deadline to adjourn, and even fewer business days are left to address important issues to help Minnesotans. We are now reaching the first deadlines of the session, where bills need to make preliminary committee progress to remain on track for passage this session…

State officials recently issued an updated economic forecast for our state. This is not a budget year in name at the Capitol, with the state fully funded, but this information still will drive decisions this year as we plan for the future.

The key points in Minnesota Management and Budget’s February 2026 forecast include a projected $3.7 billion surplus for the FY 2026–27 biennium. On the other hand, the state continues to face a structural imbalance…

Minnesota’s 2026 legislative session began Tuesday with a heartfelt remembrance of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.

It was the first time the House had been officially assembled as a body since the Hortman tragedy took place last June. Leaders of the House and Senate, along with the governor, delivered messages. It was a very emotional time. Then a brief reception took place in the Capitol where legislators gathered over bread and cake, which was a tribute to the Hortmans’ baking specialties…

Greetings from the House, where we are busy preparing for the 2026 legislative session to begin in St. Paul Feb. 17. The state already has a two-year budget in place, so this session will focus on an assortment of other key issues in our state – with rampant fraud at the top of the list.

The list of fraud scandals in Minnesota seems to grow by the day, including two recent reports from the nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Auditor…

There’s been a lot of talk at the Capitol lately about fraud happening across Minnesota. I want to share an easy rundown of what’s been going on and what’s making headlines.

November brought a big wave of attention to the state’s oversight systems, from major federal prosecutions to controversial court rulings. By the end of that month, new federal investigations were underway, and Minnesota suddenly found itself in the national spotlight…

ST. PAUL, MN – Today, Representative Bernie Perryman announced her candidacy for the Minnesota State Senate in District 14 – which includes St. Cloud, St. Augusta, Waite Park, Minden Township, Haven Township, and parts of Sauk Rapids, and St. Joseph in Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns Counties.

“We need a State Senator who will stand up for our district in St. Paul, advocate for…

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled biological males have the right to compete in female athletics. While I am not completely surprised by our court’s interpretation of state law, it is very concerning because it threatens the safety of girls and undermines fair play.

House Republicans introduced a pair of bills earlier this year to provide clear protections for female athletes and ensure fairness in competition, but…

The legislature is working to resolve this session’s biggest issues but, before we get into that subject, I want to wish people in our area good luck in this weekend’s fishing opener and a happy Mother’s Day on Sunday!

As for the latest news from St. Paul:

Hello from the House, where this week we have good news to report on legislation I’ve authored to provide signage for Automated External Defibrillator locations in our state.

Here’s the latest on that and more from the Capitol:

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota House has reached a bipartisan agreement on the framework of a new state budget, including the largest spending reduction in Minnesota history to address a looming shortfall.

State Rep. Bernie Perryman, R-St. Cloud, said legislators have agreed to cut $4 billion from the current budget, with an additional $1.2 billion reduction planned for 2026-27…

ST. PAUL – A new website is now available for whistleblowers to confidentially report suspected fraud, waste and abuse within Minnesota’s state government.

State Rep. Bernie Perryman, R-St. Cloud, said the launch of MNFraud.com is just one way House Republicans are working to root out tax dollar improprieties running rampant in Minnesota programs, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Greetings from the House, where I continue receiving nice messages of support after my bill on sex trafficking passed the House 132-0 last week.

Thank you to everyone who continues providing encouragement and to all those who continue working to bring my bill across the finish line. Here’s hoping it gets through the Senate soon so the governor can sign it into law. Click here for more on the bill.

In other news:

Greetings from the House. Before we get to official business, I want to mention Lenten fish fries have started back at home and I can’t wait to get to as many as I can. Hope to see you there!

Here are my latest legislative notes:

ST. PAUL – State officials issued an updated economic forecast Thursday and it shows Minnesota’s bottom line continues to decline, with a smaller short-term surplus and a growing deficit on the horizon.

The report from Minnesota Management & Budget reveals a $456 million projected balance for 2026-27, down $160 million from previous estimates. The projected general fund shortfall for the 2028-29 biennium is now $6 billion…

The House continues to spend most of its time in committee meetings at this point in the session, but we have had some important bills come to the floor along the way.

Here’s the latest:

ST. PAUL – House Democrats on Thursday ended their weeks-long shutdown of state government and the Minnesota House officially came to order.

House Democrats did not appear at the Capitol for the first day of the 2025 session on Jan. 14 and remained absent in the weeks since. Their arrival Thursday came after Republicans and Democrats announced they reached an organizational agreement Wednesday.

ST. PAUL – Minnesota House Republicans have drafted a package of bills Rep. Bernie Perryman, R-St. Cloud, said would make Minnesota a more affordable place to live, work, and raise a family.

Perryman said the bills, authored as part of the GOP’s “Make Minnesota Affordable” initiative, focus on lowering energy costs, reducing the tax burden, and ensuring budget surpluses benefit hardworking Minnesotans…

ST. PAUL – State Rep. Bernie Perryman, R-St. Cloud, is an author of three bills House Republicans have introduced to curb fraud, waste, and abuse in state programs.

Perryman said the common thread among the bills is to increase accountability and protect taxpayers at a time fraud and waste is rampant in Minnesota…

ST. PAUL – State Rep. Bernie Perryman, returned to the Capitol on Tuesday to perform the oath of office in the Minnesota House of Representatives as the 94th Legislature was installed.

Perryman was re-elected to the House for a second term in November. She serves District 14A in St. Cloud, Waite Park, St. Augusta and St. Joseph. She will serve on two House committees this biennium, related to commerce and health.