2026 LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
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As you reflect on the 2026 legislative session, what legislation will have a significant impact on the Rochester area business community? The Take It Back Act stands out. It places a 100% tax on criminals who steal fraud Sen. Steve Drazkowski DISTRICT 20
Rep. Steve Jacob DISTRICT 20B
As you reflect on the 2026 legislative session, what legislation will have a significant impact on the Rochester area business community? With the House of
Representatives in the second year of an evenly tied body at 67/67, neither party has the ability to push their agenda through. This brings balance to the legislature. Bills such as the Climate Resiliency Super Fund brought forward by Democrats, which would have cost each family in our state $35,000 over the next 5 years failed for a lack of majority. Other bills, including a Wealth Tax and an Unrealized Capital Gains tax that were brought forward by Democrats also failed for a lack of majority. It is disheartening that we haven't been able to provide relief to small businesses in the Paid Family Medical Leave bill as this is a priority to our Republican party.
dollars, along with a new Office of Inspector General and stronger verification rules to catch bad payments before they go out. Rochester businesses have followed the rules and watched their tax dollars get stolen by fraud criminals for years while Democrats refused to act. We finally took steps to get this major problem under control. What are your takeaways from the 2026 session? Minnesota is still on the wrong track. We are dealing with sky high taxes, crushing mandates on employers and schools, and government spending that keeps growing without control. We made some progress this session, but we did not come close to fixing those problems. The status quo is going to bankrupt this state and keep deficits looming on the horizon. Rochester families and small businesses need bigger changes to make this state affordable again.
The biggest wins for business in 2026 lie much more in what failed to pass than in what did pass.
What are your takeaways from the 2026 session? In 2026 my constituents have repeatedly asked me if I can change the outcomes that resulted from the 2023-2024 Democrat Trifecta. They are unhappy about the New State flag, unrestricted abortion through birth, transgender sanctuary state status, and illegal immigrant sanctuary state status outcomes just to name a few. Minnesota has drifted to become one of the most liberal states in the nation due to Democrats having full control of Minnesota government multiple times over the last 50 years. The biggest takeaway from 2026 is the balance in the legislature. Minnesotans have benefited from this balance.
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AUGUST 2026 — ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADVANTAGE MAGAZINE | 15
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