Minnesota Senate Sends Independent Inspector General Bill to Walz After Unanimous Vote

Overview

• State senators approved the fraud‑fighting Office of Inspector General on Monday in a 66–0 vote, sending the bill to Gov. Tim Walz, who has said he will sign it.
• The House cleared the measure last week on a 127–5 vote, and the Senate then adopted the House’s changes without opposition.
• The new office can investigate misuse of public funds, recommend legal fixes, run a tip line, and order agencies to pause payments when there is a credible allegation of fraud.
• The inspector general must be nonpartisan and win a three‑fifths Senate confirmation, with removal allowed only for cause after a public hearing and approval by both chambers.
• A bipartisan panel will start vetting candidates in August, with the governor choosing from that list and the Senate set to confirm by Feb. 1, 2027, as startup costs are estimated at $3–6 million and annual operations at about $11–12 million, with an optional law‑enforcement unit potentially adding roughly $15 million a year.