# Bernie Perryman *Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (Republican) from District 14A* Bernadette "Bernie" Perryman, born January 8, 1959, has held the District 14A seat in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] since 2023 as a member of the [[Republican Party of Minnesota]].[^1] The central Minnesota district takes in [[St. Cloud]], [[Waite Park]] and part of Stearns County.[^1] She won the seat in the 2022 election. It was open after legislative redistricting and after Republican Tama Theis left the House to run for the [[Minnesota Senate]].[^1] Her documented legislative work in 2025 and 2026 centres on cryptocurrency. She co-authored a bill with Representative [[Dan Wolgamott]] to let the State accept and invest in cryptocurrency, co-authored a February 2026 bill to prohibit virtual-currency kiosks, and authored a bill on virtual-currency services at banks and credit unions.[^1] In June 2025 she spoke to a local conservative group about a possible National Guard presence at the polls on Election Day. Three months later she said those remarks did not reflect her current position.[^1] ## Early life, education and career Perryman holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Quincy College.[^1] She settled in St. Cloud in 1999. She later served as a commissioner of the St. Cloud City Economic Development Authority.[^1] ## Minnesota House of Representatives Perryman's first campaign, in 2022, was for a seat left open by legislative redistricting and by the retirement of incumbent Tama Theis, a Republican who sought election to the Minnesota Senate.[^1] Perryman won that race.[^1] Her committee assignments are Commerce Finance and Policy, Economic Development Finance and Policy, and Health Finance and Policy.[^1] ## Legislative record On April 1, 2025, Perryman and Wolgamott introduced the *Minnesota Bitcoin Act*, which they co-authored.[^1] Under the proposal, the State could accept payments in cryptocurrency, and the State Board of Investment could invest in cryptocurrencies.[^1] County treasurers could also accept property taxes, interest and penalties in cryptocurrency.[^1] The bill would also change how cryptocurrency counts in the state income-tax calculation of "investment income" and of alternative minimum taxable income.[^1] In February 2026 Perryman was one of four House authors of a bill to prohibit "virtual currency kiosks".[^1] Minnesota House Research summarized the bill's provisions. It would bar kiosk operation after August 1, 2026, and would require kiosks to be removed from public spaces by the end of that year.[^1] Where an operator gives customers no other way to reach their funds, the operator would have to pay out the money or virtual currency it holds for them.[^1] Minnesota licenses an estimated 350 crypto kiosks.[^1] Tennessee and Indiana have seen comparable attempts to ban the machines.[^1] Perryman also authored a bill under which Minnesota banks and credit unions could offer virtual-currency services. They would have to "act in a safe and sound manner and have written policies regarding risk management, internal controls, cybersecurity, business continuity, and compliance".[^1] Under Minnesota law, cryptocurrency ATMs are banned effective August 1, 2026.[^1] Banking institutions may hold virtual currency in custody in either a fiduciary or a nonfiduciary capacity.[^1] The cited source does not identify the enacting session law or its vote. It also does not establish whether either of Perryman's bills became that law.[^1] ## Political positions In June 2025 Perryman spoke to Minnesota Freedom Advocates, a local conservative group, about the prospect of National Guard troops monitoring polling places.[^1] In an audio recording of those remarks she said, "Because Trump does not like what’s going on in Minnesota, there’s a rumor he may send the National Guard in on Election Day."[^1] She added: "I don’t know. I think it’s good, but man, that presence, look what ICE did. That presence should stop it."[^1] Three months afterward she said the remarks did not represent her current position.[^1] ## Personal life Perryman and her spouse, Keith, live in St. Augusta, Minnesota.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Bernadette "Bernie" Perryman, born January 8, 1959, is a Republican member of the Minnesota House.[^1] ### Where - District 14A is in central Minnesota. It includes St. Cloud, Waite Park and part of Stearns County.[^1] ### When - She was elected to the House in 2022 and has served since 2023.[^1] - The *Minnesota Bitcoin Act* was introduced on April 1, 2025.[^1] - In February 2026 she co-authored the kiosk bill. As summarized, it would bar kiosk operation after August 1, 2026.[^1] - The cryptocurrency ATM ban takes effect August 1, 2026.[^1] ### How many - Minnesota licenses an estimated 350 crypto kiosks.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Bernie Perryman* (revision 1379616783, retrieved 2026-10-26), CC BY-SA 4.0 — biography, district, election, committee assignments, bills, June 2025 remarks and later disavowal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Perryman