RELEASE: Office of the Inspector General Bill Passes 127-5 in House Floor Vote

May 11, 2026

**Most Significant Anti-Fraud Legislation To Date**

Saint Paul, MN — Today, the Office of the Inspector General bill passed 127-5 on the House floor. This landmark legislation, spearheaded by Rep. Patti Anderson (R-Dellwood), creates a brand new independent and apolitical watchdog agency with sweeping authority to investigate and prosecute fraud.

Last year, Rep. Anderson introduced HF1, a Republican version of the bill, which became the catalyst for conversations that would later turn into SF856, the bipartisan piece of legislation that passed today. Through her working group efforts with Rep. Matt Norris (D-Blaine), Sen. Heather Gustafson (D-Vadnais Heights), and Sen. Michael Kreun (R-Blaine), Rep. Anderson and her colleagues were able to create a bill that both parties could support. 

To ensure that the agency remains apolitical, the bill also establishes a Legislative Inspector General Advisory Commission that will select candidates to lead the agency. This commission will be comprised of eight members: two Republican and two Democrat members from both the House and Senate. To receive a recommendation by the Commission, a candidate must be approved by five of its eight members. The Governor will then appoint one of the candidates approved by the Commission, and a three-fifths vote in the Senate will confirm the nominee to serve a five-year term as Inspector General.

Rep. Anderson said the following about the bill:

“Passing the OIG bill is the culmination of two years of hard work and negotiation. In a time of hyper-polarization, I am proud to be able to find solutions to safeguard Minnesota taxpayer dollars. Solving our fraud epidemic is why I ran for office, and I am thankful to be in the position to make positive change.”

This is the most significant piece of anti-fraud legislation that has passed the House to date. Minnesotans who have been demanding action can now be assured that their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being safeguarded by an apolitical entity with the sole mandate of investigating and prosecuting fraud.