Minn. lawmakers introduce package to tighten fraud oversight, propose independent inspector general and mandatory reporting

Members of the Minnesota House outlined a package of bills to strengthen oversight of state spending and fraud detection, proposing an independent Office of Inspector General, mandatory reporting requirements for state employees, and a numeric matrix of Office of Legislative Auditor findings intended to help appropriators spot unaddressed risks.

Representative Nash said House File 3 would “take existing OLA reports” and create “a matrix or a numeric score” that shows whether agencies have implemented recommendations. “It would look back and say, we've had 20 recommendations made in the last 5 years. You've implemented 2 of them, and now we're making a... score,” Nash said.

The measures aim to consolidate audit follow‑up and add investigatory tools. Representative Patty Anderson, who said she serves on the Legislative Audit Commission, described House File 1 as creating “an independent office of inspector general” that would report to the bipartisan Legislative Audit Commission, have subpoena authority and the power to “tell the agency to…