House committee advances bill to add explicit "waste, fraud and abuse" language to whistleblower law after partisan debate

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The House Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee debated House File 23 on March 5, a bill from Rep. Jared Robbins to expand Minnesota—s Whistleblower Protection Act by adding definitions of "waste, fraud and abuse" and explicitly allowing reports to law enforcement; after a contentious hearing and two failed motions to re-refer the bill, the committee voted to place the bill on the general register.

Supporters said the change is intended to remove uncertainty that keeps state employees from reporting suspected wrongdoing. "We want to give them robust protection so that they feel comfortable coming forward," Rep. Jared Robbins told the committee, saying agency employees contact him with fears about retaliation when they try to report suspected misuse of taxpayer funds.

The bill drew detailed testimony from Devin Bruce, director of legislative and political affairs for the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE). Bruce said he supports extending protection but urged the committee to adopt simpler language already in the Senate companion. He warned that "the more definitions that we have that create unnecessary complexity, [the] don't encourage employees to come forward with information.…