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This legislative bill proposes the establishment of an Office of the Inspector General within the legislative branch of the state government in Minnesota. The primary goal of this office would be to investigate and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in state programs. The Inspector General will be appointed by the Legislative Audit Commission for a six-year term and will have the authority to initiate independent investigations. The bill outlines various powers and duties of the Inspector General, including overseeing staff, embedding assistant inspectors in various state departments, operating a fraud reporting hotline, and the authority to require cooperation from state agencies and access to their data.

Additionally, the bill specifies that the Inspector General can issue subpoenas, take testimonies, withhold payments to entities suspected of fraud, and recommend actions to address deficiencies in state operations. The Office of the Inspector General is expected to cooperate with law enforcement and other entities to investigate and prosecute fraudulent activities.

The bill also introduces measures to ensure the protection of individuals who report suspected fraud and prohibits the obstruction of investigations. Funding allocations for the implementation of this office are specified for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Finally, the bill mandates the discontinuation of existing inspector general offices within individual state departments, centralizing the oversight and investigative functions within the newly created Office of the Inspector General to streamline operations and enhance accountability in state government activities.