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Senate Report by Gene Dornink

Friends and neighbors,

The 2025 legislative session is underway, and both chambers are already making history. Due to the recent passing of one of our colleagues, Sen. Kari Dziedzic, the Senate is currently tied 33-33. Kari was a dedicated public servant known for her compassion and commitment, and her loss is deeply felt. Republicans and Democrats came together in a bipartisan agreement to get to work on day one.

On the first day of session, we passed several motions and unanimously approved a resolution to establish a framework for how the Senate will operate during this tie. The agreement ensures that both parties will have equal representation on committees, with co-chairs and co-vice chairs from each caucus. This shared leadership model allows us to tackle issues collaboratively and effectively, and it reflects the Senate’s dedication to working on behalf of all Minnesotans.

As part of the agreement, I will serve as the Republican chair of the Senate Committee on Labor and the Republican vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development. The power-sharing agreement also created a new Senate Subcommittee on Veterans, and I will have the opportunity to serve on this committee as well. Finally, I will also be a member of the Senate Committee on Jobs and Economic Development. In these committees, I will continue to represent your values and advocate for the needs of our community and state.

I would also like to highlight a few additional points of the power-sharing agreement. Each caucus leader will appoint a co-presiding officer, and there will be no changes to Senate rules through 2025. Additionally, after the power-sharing agreement ends, there will be a permanent increase in Republican committee membership, ensuring a platform to advocate for our constituents.

In contrast to the Senate’s approach, the start of the session in the House has been far less collaborative. House Democrats are currently refusing to show up for work, leaving many Minnesotans without representation. As someone who grew up on a dairy farm and worked in construction, I understand the importance of showing up and doing the hard work every day. Unfortunately, it seems some politicians missed that lesson. We need to be accountable to Minnesotans, and that means doing the work that they elected us to do.

As we enter a crucial budget year, our top priority is to pass a balanced budget by May 20. With a projected $5.1 billion deficit for the 2028-2029 cycle, some lawmakers are calling for higher taxes. However, my Senate Republican colleagues and I believe the solution lies in a more responsible and sustainable budget that does not raise taxes.

In the last budget cycle, state spending jumped to $72 billion, a $20 billion increase from the previous budget. Over the past six cycles, the budget has nearly doubled, rising from $35 billion in 2011-2012 to its current level. This surge in spending must be reined in. It is time to prioritize Minnesotans’ needs and practice fiscal responsibility.
Instead of raising taxes, we must focus on reducing wasteful spending and living within our means, just as Minnesota families do every day. We must also remove burdensome mandates on schools, businesses, and agriculture, which only add unnecessary strain to our economy.

In the months ahead, it is critical that we work together. The Senate’s historic power-sharing agreement serves as a model for how we can collaborate across party lines. By ensuring all voices are heard and decisions are made with Minnesotans’ best interests in mind, we can achieve meaningful results.

By working together, we can accomplish great things for our state.

Gene Dornink, R-Brownsdale, is the District 23 senator.