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94th Minnesota Legislature
Legislature of Minnesota, 2025–2027 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Ninety-fourth Minnesota Legislature is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the state of Minnesota, composed of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives. It convened in Saint Paul on January 14, 2025,[1] following the November 2024 elections for the House as well as a special election for Senate District 45. The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) held a one-seat majority in the Senate and a five-seat majority in the House in the previous legislature. The 2024 elections left the Senate composition unchanged, but it left the House evenly split between the Republicans and the DFL.
Due to a pre-session vacancy, the 94th legislature began with a power struggle between the Republicans and the DFL in the House.
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Background
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House rule changes
Under HF 1830, which was passed in the first session of the 93rd Legislature and takes effect on January 13, 2025, the statutory definition of a "legislative day" will only include days "when either house of the legislature gives any bill a third reading, adopts a rule of procedure or organization, elects a university regent, confirms a gubernatorial appointment, or votes to override a gubernatorial veto."[2][3] This will exclude all committee meetings and votes, as well as first and second reading of any bill in floor session of either house, theoretically allowing for more legislative business to be conducted for more calendar days without violating the constitutional limit of legislative sessions to 120 legislative days every two years. The law also provides for a later start date for the session, moving it from the first to the second Monday in January.
Party priorities
The Republican House leader Lisa Demuth said to the Sahan Journal that her caucus' priorities include opposing any new taxes, eliminating the tax on Social Security, investigating fraud (like the Feeding Our Future scandal) by establishing a new oversight committee, and assessing the necessity of DEI positions within some state agencies.[4]
House DFL priorities, announced during the boycott from a location outside the Capitol, include codified reproductive rights, new environmental protections, and expanded access to child care, education, affordable housing, and health care.[5]
A bipartisan coalition of legislators are moving forward with a bill to legalize sports betting in the 2025 session.[6] Another bipartisan bill seeks to ban cell phones in schools.[7]
Session
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While the DFL retained control of the Senate, which was not up for election in 2024, they lost 3 seats in the House to the Republicans, initially leaving the chamber deadlocked at 67–67. This is only the second time in state history that the House was tied after a general election.[8] Negotiations for a power-sharing arrangement ensued between Lisa Demuth (Republican) and Melissa Hortman (DFL). During negotiations, Republicans successfully challenged the election of Curtis Johnson for District 40B of the House at the state's supreme court, leaving a vacancy and requiring a special election. The judge ruled that Johnson does not meet residency requirements and is thus ineligible to serve.[9] This left the house in Republican control at 67–66. Hortman proposed that Republicans temporarily exercise majority control for the first three weeks of the session, including chairing all committees, while maintaining a one-vote advantage on each committee. The DFL vowed not to attend the opening session unless Republicans honored the previously negotiated power-sharing agreement.[10]
On December 27, 2024, Governor Tim Walz called for a special election for January 28, 2025 to fill Johnson's seat.[11] Republicans took his call for an election to court, and the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled the writ of election invalid as he had called the election prematurely.[12] On February 5, he called a new election for the seat on March 11.[13] In that special election, David Gottfried (DFL) was elected, restoring the partisan tie.[14]
House DFL boycott
On January 14, 2025, the House commenced its legislative session without the presence of any DFL House members in the chamber.[15] Pre-empting this boycott, DFL members held a swearing-in ceremony with a judge prior to the start of session, a move that Republicans criticized as illegitimate but that DFL members describe as holding precedent.[16] The DFL's absence was a strategic response to Republican efforts to secure control of the speakership and committee chairs. [17]
Secretary of State Steve Simon, determining that the House lacked the necessary quorum of 68 members, adjourned the session. Shortly thereafter, Republican representative Paul Anderson declared that the 67 Republicans constituted a quorum in the 133-member House, thereby challenging Simon's decision. The Republicans then elected Lisa Demuth as Speaker and Harry Niska as majority leader.[18] In the coming days, they further organized the House,[19] held floor sessions and committee meetings, and passed a resolution concerning the vacancy in district 40B.[20]
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In response to Republican actions, Hortman stated that the DFL would continue to deny quorum until the special election in District 40B concluded and the new member was sworn in.[15] The DFL petitioned the Minnesota Supreme Court that the election of a speaker and all actions following the secretary of state's adjournment of the session were unlawful due to the lack of a quorum.[21] The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the DFL, ruling that quorum is 68 seats regardless of any vacancies and effectively voiding all actions taken by House Republicans, including all floor votes, the election of a speaker, and the organization of leadership and committees.[22]
For the following days of session, the house has met very briefly: each day the secretary of state has taken the roll, and with only the 67 House Republicans in attendance, Simon adjourns until the following day. Party leaders are in negotiations over a new power-sharing agreement.[23] Hortman claims that Demuth refused to meet in person for negotiations,[24] Demuth has sued Simon, claiming that by adjourning session, he is ignoring a constitutional right of present members to compel the absent representatives' attendance.[25] On February 4, the Minnesota Republican Party announced recall petitions of all 66 members of the house DFL caucus due to their failure to appear at session.[26] DFL members continued to collect salaries, draft bills, and meet with constituents during the boycott.[27]
The three-week boycott ended when the leaders of each party struck a deal on February 5,[27] which included a guarantee that Brad Tabke (DFL) would be seated despite previous election contests from Republicans, and which gave Republicans the speakership and leadership of a fraud and oversight committee.[28] On February 6, they met in the chamber with quorum for the first full session, celebrating with cheers and handshakes as Simon announced quorum. In their first official vote, they elected Lisa Demuth as speaker on a 67-65 vote, making her the first female Republican and the first person of color in the role.[29]
Special session
Budget
Legislators are required to pass a two-year budget by July 1 to avoid a government shutdown.[30] Surplus funds are expected to be reduced after the most recent session[31] and a potential budget deficit is forecasted by 2029.[32] In March, Senate Republicans proposed around $646 million in budget cuts.[33]
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The leaders of both houses and Governor Tim Walz reached an agreement setting global budget priorities on May 15, 2025, shortly the regular session was scheduled to end.[34] This deal included roughly $5 billion in cuts. One such cut will remove coverage for all undocumented adults on MinnesotaCare, triggering protests by some DFL lawkmakers.[35] Working groups of legislators continued to negotiate details on outstanding budget areas past the end of the regular session, and a special session will be required to pass a budget.[30]
Major legislation
2025 session
Enacted in 2025
- Close the Stillwater prison (H.F. 2432 / S.F. 1417)[36]
- Cut funding for the proposed Northern Lights Express (H.F. 1143 / S.F. 906)[37]
- Election law adjustments, including added safeguards and special election filing changes (H.F. 1378 / S.F. 1812)[38]
- Improve pensions for public employees, including a "60/30" rule allowing earlier retirement for educators and cost-of-living adjustments for public safety personnel[39]
- Reform to DWI laws, including extended ignition interlock device requirements (H.F. 2130 / S.F. 2068])[40]
Proposed in 2025
- Ban on cell phone use in K-12 schools (H.F. 2516 /S. F. 508)[41]
- Ban transgender inmates from state women’s prison (H.F. 435 / S.F. 1295)[42]
- Social media sales and use tax (S.F. 3197 / H.F. 3117)[43]
- Sports betting legalization and taxation (S.F. 757 / H.F. 1842)[44]
- Discontinue the Northstar Commuter Rail line (H.F. 269 / S.F. 37)[45][46]
- Housing permit reform (S.F. 1370 / H.F. 1667)[47]
- Establish a temporary moratorium on certain light rail transit expenditures (H.F. 14 / S.F. 39)[48][49]
- Require transparency around fees and increase regulations on the power of HOAs (H.F. 1268 / S.F. 1750)[50]
- Authorize electronic drivers' licenses (H.F. 1335 / S.F. 2332)[51]
Political composition
Senate
House of Representatives
Leadership
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Senate
The Senate began with a power-sharing agreement and two co-presiding officers on January 14, 2025, as there was a vacancy in Senate District 60.[56] After the special election to fill the seat, the Senate reorganized under DFL leadership.[57][58]
- President: Bobby Joe Champion (DFL)
- President pro tempore: Ann Rest (DFL)
DFL leadership
- Majority Leader: Erin Murphy
- Assistant Leaders:
Republican leadership
- Minority Leader: Mark Johnson (R)
- Assistant Leaders:
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House of Representatives
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Leadership of the House of Representatives was first determined on February 6, 2025, following a bipartisan power-sharing agreement.[29] Current leadership is as follows:[59]
- Speaker: Lisa Demuth (R)[29]
- Speaker pro tempore: Bjorn Olson (R)
- Deputy speakers pro tempore:
- Isaac Schultz (R)
- Kaohly Her (DFL)
Republican leadership
- Floor Leader: Harry Niska
- Whip: Jim Nash
- Assistant Floor Leaders:
DFL leadership
- Speaker Emerita, DFL Leader: Melissa Hortman
- Floor Leader: Jamie Long
- Whip: Athena Hollins
- Assistant Floor Leaders:
Members
DFL
Republican
Senate
House of Representatives
DFL
Republican
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Changes in membership
House of Representatives
Senate
Committees
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Senate committees
The session began with senate committees co-chaired by members of each party, as control was tied until the seat for District 60 was filled. After the seat was filled in early February, membership elected DFL leadership of senate committees[68]
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House committees
The initial plan was to adopt a bipartisan approach to House committee leadership as well, with standing committees and divisions co-chaired by members from the DFL and Republican parties. Committee memberships will be equally divided between the two parties.[69] Committee and division co-chairs were announced on November 25, 2024.[70]
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On February 6, 2025, the house met with quorum for the first time. Committees have been established with equal numbers of DFL and Republican members on each committee. Until David Gottfried was seated in District 40B, one DFL member on each committee was unable to vote, and the Republican co-chair designates acted as chair.[71] Starting March 18, DFL and Republican leaders switch off running committee meetings and setting agendas and all committee members are able to vote.[61]
Notes
- Vacant upon the death of Kari Dziedzic, to be filled in a special election on January 28, 2025.
- Doron Clark seated.[52] Elected in a special election on January 28, 2025.
- Justin Eichorn resigned.[53]
- After the election of Curtis Johnson was successfully challenged in court due to residency requirements, there was a vacancy in district 40B.[9] On March 11, 2025, David Gottfried (DFL) was elected to fill the seat.
- David Gottfried (DFL) seated.[55]
- Elected in a special election.
- Justin Eichorn served in the role prior to his resignation in March 2025
References
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