Legislation authored by Representative Andrew Myers to increase accountability and address fraud involving taxpayer dollars advanced out of the House Public Safety Committee with bipartisan support and is now headed to the General Register, according to a statement released on Mar. 26.
The bill, known as House File 4425, seeks to extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting medical assistance fraud and other thefts of government funds from six years to ten years. Supporters say this measure will give law enforcement and prosecutors more time to investigate complex cases that may not be uncovered immediately.
“Fraud doesn’t always come to light right away,” said Rep. Myers. “As an attorney, I know these cases are often complex and take time to fully uncover. Extending the statute of limitations gives law enforcement and prosecutors the time and legal breathing room they need to do the job right and bring those responsible to justice.”
Currently, most criminal cases in Minnesota have a three-year statute of limitations, but certain exceptions exist for specific crimes such as medical assistance fraud, which currently has a six-year window. The proposed legislation would extend this period to ten years in recognition of how long it can take for fraudulent activity in such cases to surface.
“This is about creating a practical solution to protect public dollars and making sure those who exploit the system don’t get away with it simply because the clock ran out,” Myers said. He added: “We’ve seen too many cases where fraud is uncovered years after it began. This change gives us a better chance to recover funds, pursue justice, and bring back public trust.” Drew Evans, Superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, also supported extending the timeline as necessary for addressing these complicated investigations.
If passed into law, the new limitations period would apply both prospectively—covering crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026—and retroactively for offenses where statutes have not yet expired. “This is a straightforward, commonsense reform,” Myers added. “If someone steals from the people of Minnesota, they should be held accountable. Extending the statute of limitations helps ensure that happens.” The bill now moves forward for consideration by the full body.
