94th Minnesota Legislature

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 in 2025 that her caucus's 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 put forward a bill to legalize sports betting in the 2025 session.^[6] Another bipartisan bill sought to ban cell phones in schools.^[7] Neither received a floor vote.

The DFL's priorities for the 2026 session include addressing fallout from Operation Metro Surge. Demuth said Republicans will prioritize issuing a bond to pay for state infrastructure projects and create a new state fraud "watchdog" office.^[8]

House DFL boycott and power-sharing agreement

On January 14, 2025, the House commenced its legislative session without the presence of any DFL House members in the chamber.^[17] 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.^[18] The DFL's absence was a strategic response to Republican efforts to secure control of the speakership and committee chairs. ^[19]

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.^[20] In the coming days, they further organized the House,^[21] held floor sessions and committee meetings, and passed a resolution concerning the vacancy in district 40B.^[22]

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.^[17] 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.^[23] 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.^[24]

For the following days of session, the house met very briefly: each day the secretary of state took the roll, and with only the 67 House Republicans in attendance, Simon adjourned until the following day. Party leaders are in negotiations over a new power-sharing agreement.^[25] Hortman claims that Demuth refused to meet in person for negotiations,^[26] Demuth sued Simon, claiming that by adjourning session, he is ignoring a constitutional right of present members to compel the absent representatives' attendance.^[27] 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.^[28] DFL members continued to collect salaries, draft bills, and meet with constituents during the boycott.^[29]

The three-week boycott ended when the leaders of each party struck a deal on February 5,^[29] 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.^[30] 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.^[31]

Budget and special session

Legislators were required to pass a two-year budget by July 1, 2025, to avoid a government shutdown.^[32] The predicted budget surplus was lower than the previous session^[33] and a potential budget deficit was forecasted by 2029.^[34] In March, Senate Republicans proposed around $646 million in budget cuts.^[35]

The leaders of both houses and Governor Tim Walz reached an agreement setting global budget priorities on May 15, 2025, shortly before the regular session was scheduled to end.^[36] This deal included roughly $5 billion in cuts. One such cut, which will remove coverage for all undocumented adults on MinnesotaCare, triggered protests by some DFL lawmakers.^[37] Working groups of legislators continued to negotiate details on outstanding budget areas past the end of the regular session, and a special session was required to pass a budget.^[32]

The special session convened on June 9, 2025. The health budget narrowly passed, including the provision removing coverage for undocumented Minnesotans. One house Democrat (Hortman, the DFL leader) and four senate Democrats voted in favor of the bill, while Republican legislators supported it unanimously.^[38]

Shootings

State representative Melissa Hortman (left) and her husband were killed and state senator John Hoffman (right) and his wife were injured

A few days after the conclusion of the special session, a series of targeted shootings took place, affecting DFL state legislators in the cities of Champlin and Brooklyn Park. The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Vance Boelter, allegedly impersonated a police officer during the attacks.^[39] The first incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. on June 14 in Champlin, when police received reports of gunfire at the residence of State Senator John Hoffman. Both Hoffman and his wife sustained gunshot injuries but survived the attack. Approximately 90 minutes later, a second shooting was reported in Brooklyn Park at the home of Minnesota House DFL leader Melissa Hortman. Hortman and her husband were killed in this incident.^[40]

2026 session

The 2026 session convened on February 17, 2026. On the first day of session, there was a ceremony honoring the late Melissa Hortman.^[41] Key issues for the session include fraud and federal immigration enforcement; disagreements about both have led to tied votes in the House.^[42]

2025 session

2025 special session

2026 session

Senate

House of Representatives

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.^[82] After the special election to fill the seat, the Senate reorganized under DFL leadership.^[73][83]

• President: Bobby Joe Champion (DFL)
• President pro tempore: Ann Rest (DFL)

House of Representatives

Leadership of the House of Representatives was first determined on February 6, 2025, following a bipartisan power-sharing agreement.^[31] Current leadership is as follows:^[84]

• Speaker: Lisa Demuth (R)^[31]
• Speaker pro tempore: Bjorn Olson (R)
• Deputy speakers pro tempore:
  • Isaac Schultz (R)
  • Vacant (DFL)^[a]

Senate

House of Representatives

House of Representatives

Senate

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^[102]

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.^[103] Committee and division co-chairs were announced on November 25, 2024.^[104]

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.^[105] Starting March 18, DFL and Republican leaders switch off running committee meetings and setting agendas and all committee members are able to vote.^[87]

Joint commissions