Dear Neighbor,

Hello from the Capitol, where we have only 37 calendar days until this session is set to adjourn. Here’s a look at some of this week’s headlines:

(Even) More fraud

There’s another fraud story to throw on the pile in Minnesota. The $100 million Minnesota Promise grant program – created by the former trifecta – is now under a full performance audit by the Minnesota Legislative Auditor after KSTP-TV identified grant recipients that may not have been eligible for the money. This is yet another spigot to fraudsters that needs to be turned off until we can tighten controls and make sure these tax dollars are actually reaching businesses “impacted by civil unrest, racial discrimination, and other barriers to funding” as intended with this program.

Happy Easter | Bernie Perryman

Affordability bills

It seems we are paying through the nose for just about everything these days. It only got worse for Minnesota families, businesses and local governments when the former trifecta spent the $18 billion surplus, increased state spending by 40 percent and raised taxes by $10 billion along the way.

We need to make life more affordable in our state and that starts with reversing some of the bad decisions made under one-party control. House Republicans this week conducted a news conference to share some of the bills we propose to lighten the load, from fully eliminating the state tax on Social Security to reducing vehicle tab fees, delivering a statewide property tax refund, providing mandate relief for our schools and more.

On Thursday, we moved to declare urgency on bills to reduce car tab fees and provide tax relief so we could take action on the House floor, but Democrats blocked those efforts.

Bernie Perryman 14A

Girls sports

House Republicans this week moved to advance three separate bills that protect safe and fair athletic competitions for biological females. The other party blocked each proposal instead of doing what most Minnesotans want.

Girls deserve the opportunity to compete in athletic environments that are both safe and fair, and that’s exactly what we are working to provide. Parents across Minnesota expect their daughters to have a level playing field.

There are real, physical differences between males and females that can create legitimate safety concerns, particularly in contact sports. We have a responsibility to recognize those realities and not place girls in competitions where those risks are well understood, but that’s what the other party did by blocking these three bills. I continue focusing on ensuring fairness, safety and preserving girls sports in Minnesota.

The Preserving Girls Sports Act (H.F. 12) is one of three bills we were looking to approve, along with H.F. 2685 and H.F. 1233. The intent is to make sure that only female students may participate in school sports restricted on the basis of sex to women or girls. By failing to pass it into law – all three bills were stopped on party-line votes in our tied House – the door remains open for biological males to continue participating in Minnesota girls sports. Polls show around 80 percent of people agree with the position that boys should not be in girls sports.

This week’s action on the House floor comes after the Department of Justice announced that it is suing Minnesota to protect girls sports. The suit alleges Minnesota is violating Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls competition, creating an unfair playing field and limiting opportunities for female athletes. Minnesota missed a key federal deadline of Jan. 2, 2026, to change its transgender athlete policy or risk penalties.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Supreme Court in October ruled that excluding males from female athletics based on sex qualifies as illegal “public accommodation” discrimination and the Minnesota State High School League refuses to comply with a federal ban on biological males competing in female sports. Last spring, a male-born pitcher led a female softball team to a state championship – shutting out the opposition in the title game.

In addition, starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the International Olympic Committee has implemented a new policy prohibiting athletes who have gone through male puberty from competing in the female category. This policy restricts the women’s category to biological females, which the IOC said aims to protect the fairness, safety, and integrity of female sports. 

The Minnesota government really is the outlier here and we need to restore common sense to support female athletes and a whole lot more.

Bernie Perryman 14A

Helpful House links

Here are some links you may find helpful in following the latest goings on at the Capitol:

Please Contact Me

It’s an honor and privilege to work for you at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas. You can call me at 651-296-6316, or email me at rep.bernie.perryman@house.mn.gov. I am here to serve you!

Bernie

Bernie Perryman 14A