Today with bipartisan support the Senate passed a comprehensive State Government budget that funds state agencies and provides valuable reforms to increase transparency and hold government accountable for results. This focus of this bill is good governance, eliminating waste, and promoting fair and free elections.

“This is a strong budget that prioritizes policies that benefit all Minnesotans, without wasting taxpayer dollars,” said Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville), Vice Chair of the State Government Committee. “Throughout the pandemic, many decisions were made by state government agencies, and Minnesotans deserve transparency—they deserve to know why decisions were made, and why taxpayer dollars were spent so frivolously. That is exactly why this budget includes a Legislative Audit of COVID funds. Our government needs to run in a way that is transparent, efficient, and affordable, and this bill ensures that we do just that.”

This budget adds a Legislative Audit of COVID-19 Funds, requiring the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) to conduct an audit of the state’s response to COVID-19. This audit would conduct a comprehensive analysis of programs that provide testing, vaccinations, and public outreach, along with other state purchases that were made to facilitate the response. The OLA will then make recommendations based on what inefficiencies it finds in the audit. 

Other provisions in the State Government budget include: 

• Establishment of the Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity to make sure the Legislature has the needed resources to keep government technology secure
• Election security provisions, including physical security of elections equipment and electronic recording of absentee ballot drop boxes
• Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reverse Auction of Drug Benefits, which will save taxpayers money on the state employee pharmaceutical benefits
• Addition of State Historic Preservation Office for state archaeologist report

This bill also provides significant resources to support veterans across the state. Many veterans return from service with substance abuse and other health-related challenges that often result in criminal offenses. When these are treatable conditions and the offenses are narrow enough, this language will provide the help needed to treat service-induced health issues. 

There are also financial resources being allocated to fully develop Veterans homes in Montevideo, Bemidji, and Preston. This will help prepare our care options for senior veterans, especially as increasing numbers of the baby boomer generation require heightened levels of care.