2026 LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW
Feature
Rep. Steve Jacob
DISTRICT 20B
What do you believe are the most pressing issues impacting the Rochester area business community that can be addressed during the 2026 legislative session? PFML (Paid Family Medical Leave) is still a top burden for businesses across our state. In 2026, I am hopeful we can provide relief for small businesses from the broad and sweeping language in the PFML bill. A one size fits all approach is onerous for many small and family- owned businesses. My district contains many small towns and farms of almost every size. To expect a small business or a farm to provide the same sick time and paid family leave as a Walmart or large corporation is unrealistic and needs to be addressed. Finding replacement workers when people are out for weeks at a time is nearly as problematic as the costs of the program. Democrats seem to be very supportive of PFML as it stands, so it will be a challenge to find the votes needed to make this a program that works better for our business and agricultural community. In 2025 we saw the unprecedented strategy from House Democrats to refuse to come to work for the first 35 days of session, all while they continued to take paychecks funded by our taxpayers. Since we are not coming off an election year in 2026, I am hopeful we will have a somewhat more normal session. Taxpayers have a reasonable expectation that their elected officials will come together in a bipartisan fashion and get the business at hand accomplished in a professional manner. It is hard to predict exactly what legislation will come forward in 2026, but people can expect that I will consistently work to defend them from traditional expansions of government. What are your expectations for the 2026 legislative session? What potential legislation should the business community be aware of? In 2026 people can also expect that, in contrast to when democrats had the trifecta of the House, Senate, and Governor’s office in 2023 and 2024, that every bad idea the Democrats bring forward will fail for a lack of majority in the House of Representatives again in 2026, just as it played out in the 2025 session. What are your top priorities for the 2026 legislative session? My priorities remain to defend the taxpayer and reduce government overregulation and overreach. My philosophy is to be as involved in as many areas of government as I can and stand in the way of typical government growth and expansion. Some legislators pride themselves on how much legislation they introduce. Where I differ from those legislators is that I believe there are far too many bills introduced each year. I certainly bring forward any legislation that is important to my district, but my focus is on limiting legislation and overall government size. I don’t want to “feed that beast” so to speak. I will continue to carry on with my very conservative voting record both on the House floor and at the committee level. Some legislators are perpetually stirring the pot. Stirring the pot is not in my nature, I wait until issues in my district arise and then educate myself and act in the best interest of my district. I also pride myself on being willing to work across the aisle and gain bipartisan support.
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DECEMBER 2025 — ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADVANTAGE MAGAZINE | 9
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