Rep. Ben Bakeberg Co-Authors Bill to Crack Down on Fraud, Passes House

St. Paul – Legislation co-authored by Rep. Ben Bakeberg (R–Jordan) to strengthen Minnesota’s response to fraud and protect taxpayer dollars passed the Minnesota House today.

House File 4425 extends the statute of limitations for crimes involving theft of public funds, including medical assistance fraud, from six years to ten years. The bill gives prosecutors more time to investigate complex fraud schemes and ensures that those who steal from taxpayers cannot escape accountability by waiting out the clock.

“Let’s be honest, Minnesota has a serious fraud problem, and for too long, not enough has been done to stop it,” said Rep. Bakeberg. “We’ve seen billions of dollars lost while systems failed to catch it and, in some cases, failed to act. This bill is about making sure that doesn’t keep happening.”

Bakeberg said the impact goes beyond waste. “This is money that’s meant to serve Minnesotans, to support families, and to strengthen our communities. Instead, we’re seeing it benefit fraudsters, and in too many cases, those dollars are leaving the country altogether. That’s unacceptable, and it’s exactly why we need stronger accountability.”

He emphasized that extending the statute of limitations is a necessary step toward restoring accountability. “Fraud doesn’t happen overnight, and it often takes years to uncover. If we’re serious about getting this under control, we need to give law enforcement the tools and the time to do their job. This is a basic step, but it’s long overdue.”

HF 4425 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.