Republicans say Orwellian ‘bias registry’ could still be created under new law

A Minnesota bill that would have created a state government database of “hate incidents” — which drew impassioned opposition from Republicans who said it would police constitutionally protected political speech — was quietly watered down during the waning days of the legislative session. 

The state Department of Human Rights will not compile a database of hate speech, which is what drew fierce debate and national attention from conservative media. 

But Republicans aren’t ready to accept victory, pointing to the funding that was left intact. They say that could allow unelected bureaucrats to decide what’s bias, and to compile a database of provocative speech that could be used as a weapon against political opponents.

Lawmakers speak out about changes restricting school resource officers during Rochester education forum

The amendment to the Minnesota School Discipline law at the center of the issue prohibits the use of "prone restraint," which the law defines as "placing a child in a face-down position."

ROCHESTER -- Two Minnesota lawmakers spoke out against new legislation that restricts the way school resource officers can enforce student behavior on Thursday, Aug. 31, during an education forum in Rochester.

Both Rep. Walter Hudson and Rep. Pam Altendorf were critical of the change during the forum. The new legislation has resulted in a number of law enforcement agencies in the state deciding to pull their officers from schools altogether.

"Basically what it says, in essence, is that police cannot do their job in the way they would do it in any other environment," Hudson, R-Albertville, said. "So, they're recognizing that as a severe legal liability."

Rep. Peggy Scott Letter Special Session Response

Dear Governor Walz, Speaker Hortman, and Majority Leader Dziedzic:

We are disappointed in your unwillingness to address glaring defects in the 2023 Marijuana

Legalization law. In the days since our initial letter, it has become clearer that Minnesota

Democrats still do not understand the full implications of the new law - particularly when it

comes to keeping kids away from drugs.

In addition to Democrats' stated intent of decriminalizing marijuana consumption for minors, the

legalization bill contains additional dangerous gaps, contradictions, and loopholes as it relates to

consumption of marijuana products:

HF 100 Incentivizes Minors to Consume Marijuana. The bill's author, Sen. Lindsey Port,

stated in an interview with MinnPost that decriminalization for young people was "intentional"

and that "prohibition doesn't work." Once outraged parents and community leaders started

asking questions, the tune changed and supporters began claiming that a non-criminal statutory

penalty applies to youth marijuana consumption.

Minnesota begins building new children-focused agency

Minnesota is one month into a daunting task: Creating a new, 1,000-employee state agency centered on the well-being of children and families.

The Legislature this year created the Department of Children, Youth and Families, which will oversee a number of children-focused state programs that have resided in other agencies, including the Departments of Human Services, Education, Health and Public Safety.

The goal, said Tikki Brown, DHS assistant commissioner of children and family services, is to “deepen the alignment and coordination to better improve our services.”

Those services — including child support, child care, juvenile justice initiatives and licensing for foster care and child care centers — are some of the most important and most challenging for state government. 

Critics called it a 'thoughtcrime' database. But what will a Minnesota civil rights report actually track?

ST. PAUL — As part of a broader public safety bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature this year, the state will soon start collecting reports of discrimination from community groups in what backers say is an effort to keep better track of civil rights trends.

Democratic-Farmer-Labor backers say closer tracking of bias incidents that do not always rise to the level of a crime is key to tackling discrimination in the state, especially amid a recent rise in reports of vandalism and violence against Asian Americans and Muslims in Minnesota. They also say people from marginalized groups, such as ethnic minorities or the LGBT community, are likelier to share incidents with community groups rather than the police.

In a recent interview, Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, a Minneapolis DFLer who carried the bill in the Senate, pointed to two fires at Minneapolis mosques and a COVID-era surge in reports of discrimination against Asian Americans as reasons for the tracking.

Legislative Update - February 25, 2023

Dear Neighbor,

The 2023 legislative session adjourned Monday, after nearly five months of the Democrat trifecta ran roughshod over Minnesota, treating a narrow majority as an unchecked mandate for passing a far-left agenda.

The new two-year state budget Democrats approved will increase spending by more than 40 percent, from $52 billion to $72 billion. Democrats also approved almost $10 billion in tax increases despite a $17.5 billion state surplus. This includes raising the state’s gas tax by 3.5 cents per gallon and tying it to inflation, increasing license tab fees, adding a 50-cent delivery tax, a new payroll tax that will hit employers and employees alike, and more.

On the subject of taxes, we have heard Democrats in recent days proclaim taxes are about “care,” as if our philanthropic credentials are measured by how much of our hard-earned treasure we are willing to cede our government.

Legislative Update - February 12, 2023

Dear Neighbor,

As we prepare to embark upon the final week of the 2023 legislative session and near the May 22 deadline for adjournment, this year’s biggest bills remain in flux but the story already has been written.

And I doubt history will be kind to this Democrat trifecta.

This will go down as the year the Democrats sent state spending into orbit and raised taxes by billions of dollars despite a massive surplus, creating further fiscal instability that will prevent those same Democrats from delivering on their promises and forcing someone else to clean up the mess they’ve created.

Minnesota to legalize possession of drug paraphernalia, even if it has residue

Minnesota lawmakers passed a mammoth public safety budget bill that included little-noticed provisions that will legalize possession of drug paraphernalia and any drug residue that might be in it.

The bill — signed by Gov. Tim Walz on Friday — allows people to possess hypodermic syringes or needles; removes the cap on the number of syringes pharmacists can sell people without a prescription; and no longer bans possession of products used to test the “strength, effectiveness or purity” of a controlled substance. It would still be illegal to manufacture drug paraphernalia for delivery.

The bill also allows community-based public health programs to provide sterile needles, syringes and other injection equipment — in addition to educating people on overdose prevention and safe injection practices.

The paraphernalia provisions are among an array of new policies in the bill that seek to make Minnesota’s criminal justice system less punitive and more rehabilitative, including cutting prison time for people who seek drug treatment and other services while locked up. 

House passes $14 billion human services package that includes contentious nursing home loan program

Every day more and more employees join the "Great Resignation," [https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/publications/trends/march-2023/great-resignation.jsp] a mass exodus of workers from their jobs, especially burnt-out heath care staff.

From nursing homes to residential care facilities, the human services finance bill seeks to aid the hiring and retention difficulties plaguing care providers across the state.

Sponsored by Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin), HF2847/SF2934* would appropriate $14.11 billion -- $1.35 billion in new spending -- to the Department of Human Services during the 2024-25 biennium.

The House approved the conference committee report [https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF2934&version=A&session=ls93.0&session_year=2023&session_number=0&type=ccr&format=pdf] before repassing the bill 71-61 Friday and sending it to the governor. The Senate passed the bill 35-32 earlier in the day.

"We're addressing the needs of our most vulnerable people out here in our state in ways we've never been able to do before," said Rep. Peter Fischer (DFL-Maplewood). "That's why this is such an expensive bill because we're getting people up to the point where they're being paid a living wage."

Minnesota lawmakers set to OK 'transformative' juvenile justice package

Faced with rising concerns over youth crime, Minnesota lawmakers are poised to pass the most significant changes in a generation to the state's troubled juvenile justice system.

An expansive public safety bill [https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=SF2909&version=latest&session=ls93&session_year=2023&session_number=0] being debated Monday seeks to reduce juvenile crime by creating a new, statewide office that would encourage alternative approaches to holding youth accountable without sentencing them in courts. The measures would also pour tens of millions of dollars into local youth intervention programs designed to steer children away from the criminal justice system.

Lawmakers are set to reach agreement on a proposal that would provide a second chance to minors sentenced to life in prison without parole -- a practice widely condemned as inhumane by child advocates. A newly created state board [https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/HPoqf5XxzEmekczWlpQj-w.pdf] would have the power to release inmates into community supervision programs such as probation if they have already served at least 15 years.

Taken together, the package of changes could lead to a profound shift in the way juvenile justice cases are handled, with a transfer of power in some cases from overwhelmed juvenile courts and probation departments to community members. They would encourage the spread of nontraditional methods of holding kids accountable -- such as group-offender dialogues and family conferences -- that have been shown to be effective in reducing re-offense rates among youths.

Letter from GOP legislators to Gov. Walz and DFL legislators regarding the omnibus tax bill

Dear Governor Walz, Speaker Hortman, Majority Leader Dziedzic, Chair Gomez, and Chair

Rest:

As we enter the final days of the 2023 legislative session, we are increasingly concerned that

Sen. Rest's comments about an "insatiable appetite to raise taxes" while we have a $17.5 billion

surplus will prevent purposeful tax relief for Minnesotans. The tax committee offer

sheets exchanged over the weekend that removed the bipartisan sales tax exemption for baby

products is just the latest example.

This tax exemption provides meaningful support for all parents in Minnesota as they expand

their families. It's especially helpful for first-time parents who may be overwhelmed at the costs

of bringing a baby home safely. This exemption was passed by both bodies with overwhelming

support.

Minnesota Legislators' Letter to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem regarding gender affirming care

Dear Governor Noem,

As you may know, the State of Minnesota recently passed laws that designate our state as a

"sanctuary state" for, among other things, so-called "gender-affirming care" for minors, which

includes gender-reassignment surgery and puberty blockers. These recent laws make it legal for a

minor from South Dakota to be transported to Minnesota for the sole purpose of receiving these

surgeries or puberty blockers without the knowledge or consent of that child's parents, in

violation of South Dakota state law. We share common goals with you-- the health and

protection of our children being chief among them, and we are deeply ashamed that our state

would make itself party to this radical and evil agenda. We are now compelled to draw a line--in

a way that is unmistakable, and which carries with it the full weight of our power and

authority--when it comes to the indoctrination, luring, and subsequent mutilation of our

children.

Article IV, Section 1 of the US Constitution states, "Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each

State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State," and yet the

Governor of Minnesota [through Executive Order 23-03] flagrantly & deliberately ordered the

Executive Branch of the State of Minnesota not to honor subpoenas issued by the State of South

Dakota in matters related to so-called "transgender healthcare." In so doing, Governor Walz is

violating the US Constitution, his Oath of Office, and profoundly breaking faith with the State of

South Dakota in a matter that could not be more sacred or central to the well-being & interests of

the People of South Dakota.

'Great start' bill crosses House finish line

Working to make sure all children in Minnesota "get off to a great start" has been an often-repeated theme this session by DFL leaders, and the omnibus children and families finance bill, passed by the House 70-60 Thursday, is a significant result of those efforts.

Sponsored by Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL-St. Paul), HF238, as amended, now heads to the Senate.

It would appropriate $875 million in new General Fund spending to the Department of Human Services in the next two fiscal years to help make child care more accessible and affordable, along with helping those who provide child care and tackling issues such as hunger, homelessness, child safety, economic insecurity and system reforms, among others.

"This is a bill that fills in those pieces that gets families off to a great start," Pinto said.

House OKs big funding boost for early learning scholarships

The centerpiece of the omnibus early childhood finance bill, passed by the House 71-57 on Thursday, is a large funding increase for the Early Learning Scholarship Program that helps low-income families with young children access programs that prepare them to attend school.

But some believe the increase should be even larger.

Sponsored by Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL-St. Paul), HF2292, which now heads to the Senate, would appropriate $300 million in new spending for early education in the upcoming biennium. Originally included in the omnibus children and families finance bill (HF238), the early education provisions were removed by the House Ways and Means Committee at its April 13 hearing [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnc_9eNZNAU] and became HF2292.

The largest single appropriation over base budget in the bill is a $265.8 million increase in funding for the scholarships.

During a February hearing on the subject, the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee was told the scholarships are one of the best methods to prevent opportunity gaps from opening among children. And Gov. Tim Walz again hailed the investment during his State of the State address Wednesday night.

Omnibus children, families package takes first step

Hailing initiatives to fight hunger, homelessness, opportunity gaps and child care shortages, Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL-St. Paul) urged support of the omnibus children and families finance bill Thursday.

And a majority of members on the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee complied as HF238, as amended [https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/docs/zgjouaxvkka6FDNzOxvFfA.pdf], was approved by a split voice vote and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

"We can be really proud and excited about the opportunity presented by this bill," said Pinto, who sponsors the proposed legislation, which members first saw during a walkthrough of the bill Tuesday, then heard public testimony on it Wednesday.

The omnibus proposal includes $1.17 billion in new General Fund spending during the upcoming biennium: $875 million in health and human services; $300 million for early education. It would make major investments in child care, early learning and homelessness, among others.

Walter Hudson Is the Man

The trans moment seems to me the culmination of the culture war. The denial of nature and reality, the destruction of the family, and the demand for our submission are what it’s all about. Minnesota’s manifestation as a “trans refuge” captures the moment perfectly, as does the utter capitulation of regnant institutions such as big business and the media.

Newly elected Republican Rep. Walter Hudson has distinguished himself by his vocal and uncowed opposition to the “trans refuge” bill that is making its way to the desk of Governor Walz. Speaking against the bill in St. Paul on the floor of the House at 2:00 a.m. this past Friday morning (video below), Hudson is the man of the moment if not simply the man.

'You No Longer Have Access to Your Child': GOP State Rep Slams Minnesota's 'Trans Refuge' Bill

State representative Walter Hudson (R.) slammed Minnesota's "trans refuge" bill—which allows children from other states to get sex change procedures in Minnesota—calling the bill a threat to parental rights and the safety and health of children.

House bill aims to 'make a big difference' with education savings accounts for all MN newborns

Parents who want to pay for their kids to attend college are usually told to begin saving money as soon as possible after the child is born.

A proposal discussed Thursday by the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee would put that advice into law by opening savings accounts for all newborn Minnesotans as early as next year.

Sponsored by Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-Eden Prairie), HF2864 would establish the Minnesota Kids Investment and Development Savings Act, a statewide children's savings account program to help them pay for higher education or other post-secondary training.

The bill would appropriate $11.72 million during the upcoming biennium, followed by an $8.15 million base appropriation beginning in fiscal year 2026, to the "MinneKIDS" [https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/sYlW7zdsS0qZ8LiIy40emg.pdf] program, with the goal of beginning it by July 1, 2024.

Bill aimed at stemming tide of PTSD police retirements prompts heated debate about police

Nisswa City Administrator Jenny Max said a longtime police officer there retired early due to a disability, which will cost the tiny town $350,000 over 24 years for health insurance until the officer reaches age 65. 

That will require a 14% property tax levy increase for taxpayers in the town of fewer than 2,000.

Max, who is a vice president for the League of Minnesota Cities, testified Thursday in favor of a bill (HF1234) aimed at stemming the tide of police officers retiring early due to post-traumatic stress disorder, contributing to a police staffing shortage.

The number of Minnesota police officers retiring early due to PTSD shot up after the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020. The officers get at least 60% of their average salary.

Minnesota Wagering Bill Still Faces Challenges

Minnesota’s sports betting bill continued moving through the state legislature Thursday when the House Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee advanced it.

The measure was referred for consideration next by the State and Local Government Finance and Policy Committee. The bill so far has been heard in three committees and still has multiple stops before getting to the House floor. The legislature is set to adjourn May 22.

As the bill currently stands, Minnesota’s 11 tribes would get a monopoly on sports betting, as professional sports teams and horse-racing facilities are excluded.

Bill banning no-knock warrants passes in House Public Safety Committee

A bill that would ban the use of no-knock warrants has passed the House’s Public Safety Committee.

...

Republican lawmakers pushed back by arguing the warrants are an essential tool for law enforcement and that officers have shown responsible discretion in deciding when to use them.

Representative Walter Hudson cited a 5 INVESTIGATES report that found judges signed off on at least 70 no-knock warrants during a three month period starting in September 2021. The BCA data showed officers carried out 49 of them.

“Officers sought and judges agreed with presented evidence that this was appropriate and proper thing to do,” said Hudson. “I feel as though this bill is legislating to the exception, this bill is legislating to the headlines, this bill is rooted in emotion, it is not rooted in outcomes.”

Minnesota lawmaker slams bill that would create 'thoughtcrime' database of alleged bias incidents

Minnesota lawmakers are mulling a change to state law that would log alleged bias incidents even when they aren't considered a crime — leading one lawmaker to say the plan would create a "thoughtcrime" database.

A bill pitched in January would allow people to report perceived bias-related incidents such as alleged slurs and verbal attacks that would fall outside the hate crimes compiled annually by the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, according to the St. Cloud Times.

Each alleged incident would include information about the perceived offender and victim "relevant to that bias," according to the law.

Republican frustration spills over into committee debates

Republican lawmakers in the Minnesota Legislature have been frustrated since early in the session because they serve in narrow minorities in both the House and Senate and have little say over what is passing into law.

Democratic lawmakers are passing major legislation on hot-button issues like abortion, clean energy, felon voting rights and expanded driver’s license eligibility for undocumented immigrants that Republicans have opposed for years. Now with DFL majorities and a DFL governor, they are powerless to stop it.

This week, Rep. Duane Quam (R-Byron) let his frustration boil over in a House Elections Committee hearing.

MN GOP rolls out it's anti-crime package

(St. Paul, MN) -- The anti-crime package from Minnesota House and Senate Republicans includes increased penalties for carjacking, fleeing police in a motor vehicle, and for possessing or distributing fentanyl. Sentences would also increase for offenders with two or more convictions for violent crimes. G-O-P Representative Walter Hudson of Albertville said, "the third time you've done it, you've already been caught twice, you've already been through trials twice and you've been convicted twice -- so you're clearly not learning your lesson." Mandatory sentences would be required for dangerous offenders who commit crimes with a firearm. And county attorneys would have to report to the legislature any felony offenses they don't file charges on.

Legislative Update - March 10, 2023

It should go without saying we all want the best for our children. We want to keep them safe, nurture them, teach them and do our best to put them on track for success. It all starts at home, with parents who are present and involved.

But what if I told you House Democrats have a different idea, one that would replace our love and intimacy with clinical bureaucracy and tainted ideology? What if I said House Democrats want to take something beautiful and turn it into a machine – take something natural and automate it?

Welcome to 2023 and the extreme Democrat agenda infiltrating every corner of our existence – including our children’s lives.

In this particular case, House Democrats have a bill that establishes a new state agency called the Department of Children, Youth and Families. It’s a copy/paste of failed existing agency models built on a fundamentally flawed premise that government bureaucrats can value children in a communal family.

Bill codifying Indian Child Welfare Act language into state law heads to Walz’s desk

A bill aimed at keeping Native American children within the foster care system in Native American homes will now go to Gov. Tim Walz’s desk to be signed into law after the House passed it on Thursday.

The legislation is well-timed — the U.S. Supreme Court appears likely to overturn identical federal laws. The House passed the bill 128-0, with six members not voting.

The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 established minimum standards for the removal of Native American children from their homes. The law also prioritized placing children into homes of extended family members and other tribal homes — places that could reflect the values of Native American culture.

Bill aimed at stemming tide of PTSD police retirements prompts heated debate about police

Nisswa City Administrator Jenny Max said a longtime police officer there retired early due to a disability, which will cost the tiny town $350,000 over 24 years for health insurance until the officer reaches age 65.

That will require a 14% property tax levy increase for taxpayers in the town of fewer than 2,000.

Max, who is a vice president for the League of Minnesota Cities, testified Thursday in favor of a bill (HF1234) aimed at stemming the tide of police officers retiring early due to post-traumatic stress disorder, contributing to a police staffing shortage.

The number of Minnesota police officers retiring early due to PTSD shot up after the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020. The officers get at least 60% of their average salary.

Panel approves measure to establish state agency focused on children, families

A new state agency that would combine core child, youth and family support programs to better serve Minnesota's children took an important first step Tuesday.

The House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee approved HF2320, as amended, by split-voice vote and referred it to the House Education Finance Committee.

The bill would create the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, an initiative included in the One Minnesota Budget proposal released by Gov. Tim Walz in January. The new department would oversee:

child care and early learning programs;

child support, safety and permanency, and family focused community programs;

economic support and food assistance programs; and

youth opportunity and older youth investments.

Friday Morning Briefs

(St. Paul, MN) — Those engaging in price-gouging during a peacetime state of emergency could be fined up to 25 thousand dollars, under a bill the Democrat-controlled Minnesota House passed last night (Thursday). Representative Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids says the question is, “Are we going to allow a very small group of people to enrich themselves off the misery of others?” The bill prohibits anyone from selling an “essential consumer good or service for an unconscionably excessive price” if a governor has declared an “abnormal market disruption.” Albertville Republican Walter Hudson warns, “gives supreme power… to the governor of the state of Minnesota who already, we’ve had demonstrated to us in recent years, has the capacity to unilaterally cancel democracy.”

DFL pushes legislation to make Minnesota criminal justice system more rehabilitative, less punitive

Democratic lawmakers are pushing bills to make the criminal justice system more rehabilitative and less punitive. 

One bill would allow state prisoners to be released earlier by not engaging in misconduct and participating in a rehabilitation plan. 

Another would limit the conditions under which a person can be convicted of aiding and abetting two types of felony murder. And a third bill would free thousands of Minnesotans from lengthy terms of probation. 

The strong push for reform comes after Minnesota Republicans sought to paint Democrats as soft-on-crime during the midterm elections, but came away with nothing to show for it. 

Legislative Update - March 3, 2023

We’re nearing the midway point of a legislative session in which Democrats have introduced – and, in some cases approved – a litany of outlandish bills. Their ideas run the gamut from on-demand abortion to extreme employer mandates, dangerous energy policy, prohibiting the sale of water in plastic bottles, banning gas-powered lawn equipment and much, much more.

In fact, if you ask me, "What is the craziest thing the Democrats are doing in Minnesota?" I point squarely at H.F. 146, a bill which enables kidnapping children. This would be laughable if it weren’t so serious.

Hudson: State economic forecast underscores need for tax relief, structural overhaul

ST. PAUL – State officials issued a new economic forecast for Minnesota on Monday, projecting a $17.5 billion surplus for the new biennium.

The bottom-line surplus figure remains in line with the last full forecast, issued in early December. State Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, said the report signals state revenue continues to grow because this forecast factored for inflation for the first time in decades.

“Revenue continues to exceed previous estimates, which effectively canceled the addition of inflation to the equation,” Hudson said. “It was a wash, and the state still has a $17.5 billion surplus. These are taxpayer dollars, and the taxpayers deserve for them to be returned – starting with fully repealing the state tax on Social Security.

Legislators report ‘breakneck’ pace at Capitol

Legislative Update - February 17, 2023

Greetings from the House, where we have another round of divisive and generally ill-advised bills House Democrats are advancing to discuss this week.

Here’s a look:

Fraud, waste and abuse

House Democrats approved two bills on Monday – H.F. 13 (Child Care Assistance Program) and H.F. 150 (Early learning scholarships and child care stabilization grants) that spend hundreds of millions more taxpayer dollars on child-related state programs that have been rife with fraud.

Legislative Update - February 10, 2023

Here is this week's roundup from the House, starting with notes on legislation I have co-authored to fully repeal the state tax on Social Security, providing some breathing room for seniors – particularly those on fixed incomes.

Minnesota is one of just 12 states that still tax Social Security benefits. With a $17.6 billion state budget surplus, and price increases straining family budgets, the time is right for a full repeal. That is why I am co-authoring H.F. 516 to do so.

Hudson co-authors bill to eliminate state tax on Social Security

ST.PAUL – State Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, has co-authored legislation to fully repeal the state tax on Social Security, providing some breathing room for seniors – particularly those on fixed incomes.

Hudson said Minnesota is one of just 12 states that still tax social security benefits. With a $17.6 billion state budget surplus, and price increases straining family budgets, Hudson said the time is right for a full repeal and is co-authoring both H.F. 136 and H.F. 516 to make that happen.

Supt. Foucault discusses STMA’s lack of state funding at joint meeting

Anti-Asian bias spurs renewed effort to update Minnesota’s hate crime law

There were concerns raised about the bill from both the political left and political right. Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, said he opposed the new reporting mechanism for incidents that aren’t crimes.

“I am deeply concerned about the implications of this bill,” Hudson said. “We’re going to create a database of incidents that have no objective standard determining whether or not they violated the law, whether or not they had anything distinct from normal speech, an incident of bias.”

Hudson said someone could post on social media a Bible verse that defined marriage as being between one man and one woman or opposed certain “sexual proclivities.” Would that be an incident reportable under the bill? he asked.

Legislative Update - February 3, 2023

Thank you to everyone who attended the series of town hall meetings Sen. Lucero, Rep. Novotny and I conducted across District 30A. The input provided by constituents was well received and we are grateful so many people took time from their busy lives to share their thoughts. Above is a photo of Sen. Lucero and me meeting with constituents at the Albertville event.

Dear Neighbor,

Greetings from the House, where Democrats in the majority continue using their slim grasp of power to push their small-group activists’ extreme agenda on all Minnesotans. There were Republican candidates supported by 49 percent of the population, yet Democrats in St. Paul are treating it as a full-on mandate, projecting radical changes on all of us.

Rep. Hudson tapped for two legislative appointments

ST. PAUL – Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, accepted a pair of legislative appointments less than one month into his Minnesota House of Representatives tenure.

Hudson recently accepted posts to serve on both the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage and the Legislative Energy Commission. He said the latter could prove to be a good venue to advocate for the affordable, reliable energy in Minnesota.

Legislative Update - January 27, 2023

Whether it’s at home, at the office or just about everywhere else we visit on a given day, we take for granted that, when we flip a switch, the lights are going to come on. We are able to take that simple act for granted because we have had cheap, abundant, reliable energy for as long as any of us can remember.

But that’s about to change.

Hudson: House Democrats pass unaffordable, unreliable, dangerous energy package

House Democrats on Thursday approved legislation Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, said increases consumer energy prices, reduces power reliability and ultimately compromises safety.

The bill (H.F. 7) extends and increases Minnesota’s renewable energy standard to 55 percent by 2035 and requires electric utilities in the state to generate or acquire 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2040.

Hudson discusses bills to help local students during STMA forum

State Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, has authored bills to provide local schools with fairer state funding and discussed them during a legislative forum Tuesday at STMA High School.

Hudson said area students continue to be deprived educational opportunities because local districts have been at the bottom of the state’s per pupil education funding formula for years. In response, he authored one bill to deliver general education disparity aid and another to establish a minimum revenue guarantee.

Legislative Update - January 20, 2023

It’s a dark time here at the Capitol, where House Democrats last night approved abortion legislation so extreme it would put Minnesota on par with radical regimes in North Korea and China.

Legislative Update - January 13, 2023

Greetings from the Minnesota House, where the second week of the 2023 legislative session is concluding after the 93rd Legislature was installed Jan. 3 at the Capitol. I am humbled to represent the people of District 30A and honored to serve as your voice in the House.

Hudson: House approves bill updating state tax code

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota House on Monday overwhelmingly passed legislation allowing state taxpayers to take advantage of numerous tax provisions already approved at the federal level.

Hudson performs first House oath of office

ST. PAUL – Walter Hudson officially is Rep. Walter Hudson, a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives after performing the oath of office with the 93rd Legislature that was installed Tuesday at the Capitol.

State Representative Walter Hudson Address "Stop the Mandate" Rally at Capitol Rotunda

Incoming GOP lawmaker compares medical professionals to slave owners

Incoming Minnesota Rep. Walter Hudson has a background in conservative talk radio, including a show called “Closing Argument with Walter Hudson.” It turns out his opening argument as a state lawmaker is creating more buzz than any of his radio shows.

During a meeting on Sunday conducted by the group Mask Off MN, Hudson compared medical professionals and others who recommend the COVID-19 vaccine to plantation owners who “enslaved Black people.”

“The plantation owner who said, ‘I need cotton and you’re going to pick it,’ is morally equivalent to the person today who says, ‘I don’t want to get sick, so you have to take the jab,’” he said.

Minnesota voters sweep in the state’s most diverse Legislature after historic wins at the polls.

Established and newly-elected legislators are sounding a hopeful note after Tuesday’s election promised to deliver the most diverse Legislature in Minnesota history.

At least 35 out of 201 members of next year’s House and Senate identify as people of color, according to a Sahan Journal count verified by DFL and Republican party leaders. 

PODCAST: St. Michael Standoff, plus Mental Health, Public Safety, and Race Relations

June 26, 2022 - Walter Hudson joins host Daniel Breitenbucher for a wide-ranging discussion on the new "Logical and Wright" podcast, which can be found at logicalandwright.com. They react to the recent police standoff in St. Michael and meander through topics from mental health to race relations, all with a local angle.

Help Us with Lawn Signs

You can help the campaign in one of several ways. We need to procure and put up lawn signs throughout the community. Here's what we're looking to buy, and what it should cost.

You can help in one of three ways:

1) Find/offer a better per unit price. Send the info to walter@hudsonformn.com.

2) Contribute to the campaign. Take advantage of Minnesota's Political Contribution Refund program and get your contribution refunded up to $50 per individual and $100 per couple. We'll send you a receipt and an application for you to mail into the state, and you'll get your refund in a matter of days. Every $50 contributed gives us 7 signs to work with.

3) Request a lawn sign for your property, or to volunteer to help put them up this fall.

However you can help, thank you!

Walter Hudson Committed to Abolish Abortion as Roe Overturned

Deepening the stakes of the 2022 midterm election, news broke late Monday that the United States Supreme Court stands poised to overturn Roe v Wade, the lynchpin legal opinion which has barred states from prohibiting the killing of unborn children since 1973.

Politico reports:

The Supreme Court has voted to strike down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, according to an initial draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito circulated inside the court and obtained by POLITICO.

The draft opinion is a full-throated, unflinching repudiation of the 1973 decision which guaranteed federal constitutional protections of abortion rights and a subsequent 1992 decision — Planned Parenthood v. Casey — that largely maintained the right.

Minnesota state representative candidate Walter Hudson responded to the news on Tuesday, saying:

"... the end of Roe is not the end of our fight for life. Babies will continue to be massacred in Minnesota unless we have elected officials willing to act in their defense. As your next state representative for northeastern Wright County, I will work to prohibit the murder of children."

Hudson has been endorsed by the Republican Party of Minnesota for House District 30A, representing Rockford Township, Hanover, St. Michael, Albertville, and much of Otsego.

Walter Hudson Responds to Biden Administration's "Ministry of Truth"

It was revealed late Wednesday that the Biden administration's Department of Homeland Security is creating a "'Disinformation Governance Board' to combat misinformation ahead of the 2022 midterms."

Minnesota state representative candidate Walter Hudson reacted on social media, calling for the immediate impeachment of President Joe Biden.

Walter Hudson Unpacks the Plantation Politics of Minnesota Democrats on The BS Show

Legendary Twin Cities broadcaster Bob Sansevere hosted state representative candidate Walter Hudson for a candid discussion about Minnesota Democrats and their plantation politics. Attorney Jeff O'Brien rounded out the discussion as they unpacked why Minnesota deserves better and how Hudson hopes to provide it.

Listen here.

Jack Tomczak Interviews Walter Hudson for State Representative

State representative candidate Walter Hudson, seeking endorsement in House District 30A servicing Rockford Township, Hanover, St. Michael, Albertville, and much of Otsego, sat down with AM 1280 The Patriot host Jack Tomczak for a candid chat about what it will take to change the political culture in Minnesota. They discuss the Democrats hypocrisy on racial justice, and the untapped opportunity to provide metro voters with an aspirational vision for their future.

Mitch Berg Interviews Walter Hudson for State Representative

Mitch Berg hosts state representative candidate Walter Hudson on the Northern Alliance Radio Network. They talk about the tyranny Minnesotans have endured under Governor Tim Walz and his Democrat allies. Other issues discussed include law and order and critical race theory. Walter shares his vision for leveraging a strong Republican district to serve as an ambassador for conservatism to nearby metro communities.

Listen above for the highlights. Full interview available here.

Walter Hudson Already Working for You at the Minnesota Capitol

Minnesota state representative candidate Walter Hudson visited with dozens of legislators this week, arguing for bold reforms to the legislative process to return power to 'We the People.' He did so as a member of the Republican Party of Wright County Legislative Action Committee.

Endorsement Postponed to March 19th SD30 Convention

Today, both candidates seeking the Republican Party endorsement for Minnesota state representative in House District 30A agreed to postpone the delegates' consideration until the March 19th Senate District 30 convention.

Walter Hudson thanked delegates and offered his thoughts in the video below: