Bernie Perryman 14A

Dear Neighbor,

Great news this week as bills I authored passed the House with broad, bipartisan support! Here is a look at those and other notes from the House as we now make our way into the final three weeks of the 2026 session, with 23 days left until our May 17 adjournment.

Travel insurance

A bill (H.F. 3766) I authored clarifying how travel insurance can be sold, marketed, and regulated in Minnesota passed the House this week. It provides helps consumers because it sets clearer disclosure, licensing, and oversight rules for travel insurance. Key provisions include:

  • Requires limited lines travel insurance producers to be licensed and allows travel retailers to offer travel insurance if they’re registered through a licensed producer and meet disclosure and training requirements.
  • Requires consumer disclosures, including basic coverage terms, claim procedures, cancellation information, and contact information for the insurer and producer.
  • Prohibits negative-option or “opt-out” enrollment practices and treats illusory coverage as an unfair trade practice.
  • Distinguishes travel insurance from cancellation fee waivers and travel assistance services and sets rules for how combined travel protection plans can be offered and disclosed.

Trusted contact

Legislation I authored allowing financial institutions to offer trusted contact programs so a designated person can be contacted if fraud, exploitation, emergency, or loss of contact occurs, also passed the House this week.

My bill (H.F. 4502) gives financial institutions direct authority to contact a trusted person and report suspected fraud if they suspect someone is being taken advantage of, for example. A customer can terminate a trusted contact designation at any time, and a trusted contact can also withdraw at any time.

Also, a provider isn’t liable for a trusted contact’s actions, or for declining to interact with a trusted contact if the provider determines the trusted contact isn’t acting in the customer’s best interest.

Trusted-contact policies are part of a fraud-prevention approach that’s become more common in financial services and I’m grateful for all the support for my bill in the House so we can establish this program in Minnesota.

Capitol visitors

St. Cloud Wacosa employees

Bernie Perryman 14A

AARP rally for my kiosk bill

Bernie Perryman 14A

Gift car fraud

I also am an author of bipartisan legislation the House approved this week to address the growing problem of organized gift card fraud in Minnesota. Bad actors will take cards off a shelf to alter them, return the cards and siphon funds as soon as the card is activated. This bill (H.F. 3155) adds gift card fraud to the state’s organized retail theft statute and makes several changes to it in an effort to crack down on this crime.

Anti-fraud bill passes

House Republican legislation to strengthen Minnesota’s response to fraud and protect taxpayer dollars passed the House this week. The bill (H.F. 4425) extends the statute of limitations for crimes involving theft of public funds, including medical assistance fraud, from six years to 10 years. The bill gives prosecutors more time to investigate complex fraud schemes and ensures that those who steal from taxpayers cannot escape accountability by waiting out the clock.

Extending the statute of limitations is one step toward restoring accountability in Minnesota. The bill is now in the hands of the Senate.

Another anti-fraud bill passes

The House approved a House Republican bill (H.F. 3496) this week that aims to strengthen accountability in the state’s corrections system by ensuring individuals on supervised release make good-faith effort to pay restitution before qualifying for supervision abatement status. Those who have the ability to pay but choose not to will not be eligible for early active release.

More anti-fraud efforts blocked

Unfortunately, House Democrats blocked House Republican efforts to address fraud two other ways this week. They blocked action on the Fraud isn’t Free Act, (H.F. 3395), which provides consequences for state workers who allow fraud, waste, and abuse of tax dollars to take place in state programs either through negligence or misconduct. House Democrats also blocked an amendment that would require annual program site visits to root out scandals such as Feeding our Future.

Tax relief

House Republicans continue working this session to provide tax relief for Minnesotans, with a plan to deliver $3.8 billion in relief. For example, property taxes are skyrocketing across Minnesota after the former trifecta forced costly, unfunded mandates onto local governments, driving increases of as much as $1 billion statewide.

Families are feeling it every time they open their tax bill, and for some homeowners, it’s forcing them out of their homes. Republicans are focused on real relief, including a one-time property tax rebate to help put money back into family budgets.

Meanwhile, House Democrats are still defending every single one of the $10 billion in tax hikes they enacted in the last biennium. In fact, they are looking to gouge Minnesotans even more with bills including a wealth tax, a tax on unrealized gains, imposing an annual tax on Minnesotans’ net worth – not just their income – talk of quintupling car tab fees and more.

One bill (H.F. 4616) is especially egregious. It would make the State of Minnesota an outlier by imposing a new annual net-wealth tax on individuals. It would require intrusive, year by year valuations of assets and make our state an outlier because neither the federal government nor any state levies a wealth tax. Minnesotans are already heavily taxed and adding a brand-new annual wealth tax would make it even harder for people in our state to compete. I strongly oppose this bill and will continue to do so.

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