Greetings from the Capitol,
The 2026 legislative session officially kicked off on February 17, and it was a bittersweet day for me. After 16 years, this was my last first day of session as this will be my final year as a member of the Minnesota Senate.
We honored the life of Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman, who along with her husband and dog, were tragically assassinated at their home on June 14, 2025. Melissa was a friend, colleague, and one of the most influential Speakers in the history of our state. We also honored Senator John Hoffman, who along with his wife and daughter, survived an attempted assassination on June 14. John was shot nine times and his wife eight times. A tragedy like this is unthinkable and to say it was great to see John back on the Senate floor for the first time since the attempted assassination on his life is an understatement.
As I take a few moments to reflect on my time in the Senate, I keep thinking about what a privilege it has been to serve the people of southeastern Minnesota in the Senate. From the first day I took the oath of office, I have tried to approach this role with a simple mindset: listen and work together to get good things done for the people of Minnesota, which has proven to be highly successful.
As I visited with folks across the district to prepare for this session, I heard two consistent concerns from constituents across the political spectrum: fraud and affordability.
Just about everywhere I go, I hear concerns about the massive fraud in our state. Minnesotans expect their tax dollars to be used responsibly, however, reports of fraud and mismanagement of large amounts of money in government programs have shaken people’s confidence. I will continue to push for stronger oversight, improved verification processes, and more transparency in government programs. Preventing fraud and holding people accountable for fraudulent activity should be a bipartisan issue, and while these efforts have not been successful in past sessions, I hope we can make real progress this year.
In addition to fraud, I’m also hearing concerns about Minnesota becoming less affordable. Groceries cost more. Energy bills are higher. Healthcare costs more and property taxes keep going up. Additionally, The Tax Foundation ranks Minnesota as one of the least tax friendly states in the county. Minnesotans are getting squeezed at every turn as it gets more and more expensive to live here. I will continue to advocate for ideas that provide relief and help ease the financial strain folks are facing.
The Minnesota legislature is almost evenly split. There are 201 total legislators in the House and Senate. 101 of those are Democrats; 100 are Republicans. The reality is, Democrats and Republicans need to work together if we want to get things done. During a time when our society is deeply divided and politics seem to be more divisive than ever, I remain hopeful for a successful session.
As always, I encourage you to stay in touch. Whether you have a question, concern, or an idea, I want to hear from you. You can reach me via email at Sen.Jeremy.Miller@mnsenate.gov or call 651-296-5649.
Thank you for the trust you have placed in me and let’s finish strong!
Sincerely,
Jeremy Miller
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