The Ninety-first Minnesota Legislature was the legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota from January 8, 2019 to January 4, 2021. It was composed of the Senate and House of Representatives, based on the results of the 2016 Senate election and 2018 House election. It first convened and held its regular session in Saint Paul from January 8 to May 20, 2019, and from February 11 to May 18, 2020. In addition, seven special sessions were held this term, the most of any term in state history.
Major events April 3, 2019: Governor Tim Walz delivered his first State of the State Address. May 9, 2019: A joint convention of the Senate and House of Representatives was held to elect regents of the University of Minnesota. May 24-25, 2019: A special session was held to pass bills enacting the state budget following an agreement between the governor and legislative leaders during the final weekend of the regular session in 2019. April 5, 2020: Walz delivered his second State of the State Address. Originally scheduled to be held on March 23 in the House chamber, it was postponed and moved to the governor's residence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. June 12-20, 2020: A special session was held, required by state law as Governor Tim Walz extended Minnesota's peacetime emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also followed the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the subsequent protests. Walz and several legislators said they intended to use the special session to address concerns raised by Floyd's murder related to racial inequities in policing, on which the House and Senate were unable to reach an agreement. They were also unable to reach agreements on a public works borrowing bill, appropriating money from the CARES Act to local governments, and assistance for Minneapolis and Saint Paul for damage caused by riots in those cities. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka had said at the beginning of the special session Republicans would adjourn the Senate by June 19 regardless of whatever legislation had or had not been passed by the Legislature, which House Speaker Melissa Hortman said was an arbitrary deadline. Gazelka said at the end of the special session a deadline was needed to force discussions and that he was willing to return for another special session when there were agreements on these issues.
July 10, 2020: Walz called a third special session that was held from July 13 to 21, 2020, as he again extended the peacetime emergency. The Legislature passed a bill on police reform, but was unable to reach an agreement on a public works borrowing bill. Five more special sessions were called by the Governor throughout the remainder of the year, all to approve the extension of the COVID-19 peacetime emergency.
Major legislation
Enacted April 12, 2019: Hands-free cell phone use while driving act () May 2, 2019: Voluntary relationship defense for criminal sexual conduct repeal act () May 22, 2019: Assisted living act () May 22, 2019: Opioid addiction prevention and treatment act () Omnibus appropriations acts: May 22, 2019: Omnibus higher education act () May 30, 2019: Omnibus agriculture, housing, and rural development act () May 30, 2019: Omnibus transportation act () May 30, 2019: Omnibus environment and natural resources act () May 30, 2019: Omnibus judiciary and public safety act () May 30, 2019: Omnibus jobs, economic development, and energy act () May 30, 2019: Omnibus health and human services act () May 30, 2019: Omnibus state government act () May 30, 2019: Omnibus education act () May 30, 2019: Omnibus legacy act () May 30, 2019: Omnibus tax act () March 10, 2020: COVID-19 pandemic response act () March 17, 2020: COVID-19 pandemic response act () March 28, 2020: COVID-19 pandemic response act () April 7, 2020: COVID-19 first responders workers' compensation act () April 15, 2020: Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act () April 15, 2020: COVID-19 pandemic response act () May 12, 2020: 2020 elections special procedures act () May 27, 2020: Outdoor heritage fund appropriations act () July 23, 2020: Police reform act () October 21, 2020: Omnibus capital investment "bonding" act
()
Proposed Boldface indicates the bill was passed by its house of origin.
Clean Energy First Act (/) Energy Conservation and Optimization Act of 2020 (/) Extreme risk protection order bill (/) Family leave insurance bill (/) Firearm transfer background check bill (/) Omnibus environment and natural resources bill (/) Proposed constitutional amendment establishing a fundamental right to a quality public education bill (/) Recreational cannabis bill (/) Voting rights restoration for felons bill (/)
Political composition Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Changes in membership" section below.
Senate
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total VacantRepublicanDemocratic–Farmer–LaborIndependent End of the previous Legislature34320661 Begin (January 8, 2019)34320 66 1 February 13, 201935670 November 18, 2020302670 Latest voting share
House of Representatives
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total VacantDemocratic–Farmer–LaborRepublicanRepublicanCaucusNew RepublicanCaucus End of the previous Legislature55750 130 4 Begin (January 8, 2019)74 55 41331 January 10, 2019751340 February 12, 2019541331 March 27, 2019551340 November 16, 2019741331 December 6, 2019541322 February 11, 202075551340 Latest voting share
Leadership
Senate President: Jeremy Miller (R) (until November 12, 2020) David Tomassoni (I) (from November 12, 2020) President pro tempore: Mary Kiffmeyer (R)
Majority (Republican) leadership Majority Leader: Paul Gazelka Deputy Majority Leader: Michelle Benson Assistant Majority Leaders: Gary Dahms Karin Housley John Jasinski Warren Limmer Eric Pratt Majority Whips: John Jasinski Eric Pratt
Minority (DFL) leadership Minority Leader: Tom Bakk (until February 1, 2020) Susan Kent (from February 1, 2020) Assistant Minority Leaders: Nick Frentz (from February 7, 2020) Jeff Hayden Susan Kent (until February 1, 2020) Carolyn Laine Erik Simonson (from February 7, 2020) Minority Whips: Ann Rest Kent Eken John Hoffman
House of Representatives
Speaker: Melissa Hortman (DFL) Speakers pro tempore: Gene Pelowski (DFL) Paul Marquart (DFL) Jeanne Poppe (DFL) Liz Olson (DFL) Laurie Halverson (DFL) Tony Albright (R)
Majority (DFL) leadership Majority Leader: Ryan Winkler Majority Whip: Liz Olson Assistant Majority Leaders: Jamie Becker-Finn Hodan Hassan Mary Kunesh-Podein Fue Lee Jamie Long Julie Sandstede
Minority (Republican) leadership Minority Leader: Kurt Daudt Deputy Minority Leader: Anne Neu Minority Whip: Dan Fabian Assistant Minority Leaders: Tony Albright Peggy Bennett Josh Heintzeman Jon Koznick Jim Nash Peggy Scott
Members
House of Representatives On December 8, 2018, four Republican members of the House (Reps. Steve Drazkowski of Mazeppa, Cal Bahr of East Bethel, Tim Miller of Prinsburg, Jeremy Munson of Lake Crystal) announced that they would not join the Republican caucus in the 91st Legislature and instead would form a new caucus, called the "New Republican Caucus." They cited displeasure with "the attitudes and actions by [Leader Daudt] and some of his supporters" and said they still consider themselves to be members of the Republican Party.
Religious composition
Over half of the 91st legislature identified as Christian, 3% identified as Jewish, and 42% did not state their affiliation. The single largest religious denomination was Lutheranism with 39 members: 21 in the house (15.6%) and 18 in the senate (26.9%).
+Self-reported religious affiliation Religion Group No. of members % of members Christians Lutherans Roman or Eastern Catholics Methodists Baptists Episcopalians Mormons (LDS Church) Other Christians Jews Muslims Unitarian Universalists Unknown/Refused to state Unaffiliated
Minority composition 22 legislators identified themselves or were identified in a newspaper or book as a member of a minority group.
+Self-reported minority legislators Minority statusNo. of members% of members% ofMN Not a minority179 A minority22 Hispanic7 Hmong6 Black ( Somali)4 Somali2American Indian 2
Changes in membership
Senate DistrictVacated byReason for changeSuccessorDate successorseated11Tony Lourey (DFL)Resigned effective on January 3, 2019, to become commissioner of human services.A special election was held on February 5, 2019.Jason Rarick (R)February 13, 201914Jerry Relph (R)Died due to complications from COVID-19. Relph, who had been defeated in the November general election, was replaced when the 92nd Minnesota Legislature convened.Aric Putnam (DFL)January 5, 2021
House of Representatives +DistrictVacated byReason for changeSuccessorDate successorseated57AVacantHospitalized due to an infection.Robert Bierman (DFL)January 10, 201911BJason Rarick (R)Resigned effective on February 12, 2019, to assume Minnesota Senate seat.A special election was held on March 19, 2019.Nathan Nelson (R)March 27, 201960ADiane Loeffler (DFL)Died of cancer on November 16, 2019.<br/ >A special election was held on February 4, 2020.Sydney Jordan (DFL)February 11, 202030ANick Zerwas (R)Resigned effective on December 6, 2019, to spend more time with his family and to seek employment outside of the Legislature.<br/ >A special election was held on February 4, 2020.Paul Novotny (R)February 11, 2020
Committees
Senate Committee ChairVice ChairDFL LeadAgriculture, Rural Development, and Housing FinanceTorrey WestromMark JohnsonKari DziedzicAgriculture, Rural Development, and Housing PolicyBill WeberMike GogginFoung HawjCapital InvestmentDave SenjemScott NewmanSandy PappasCommerce and Consumer Protection Finance and PolicyGary DahmsKarin HousleyDan SparksE–12 Education Finance and PolicyCarla NelsonGary DahmsChuck WigerEnergy and Utilities Finance and PolicyDavid OsmekAndrew MathewsErik SimonsonEnvironment and Natural Resources FinanceBill IngebrigtsenCarrie RuudDavid TomassoniEnvironment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy FinanceCarrie RuudBill WeberChris EatonFamily Care and AgingKarin HousleyJerry RelphKent EkenFinanceJulie RosenBill IngebrigtsenDick CohenHealth and Human Services Finance and PolicyMichelle BensonScott JensenJohn MartyHigher Education Finance and PolicyPaul AndersonRich DraheimGreg ClausenHuman Services Reform Finance and PolicyJim AbelerPaul UtkeJeff HaydenJobs and Economic Growth Finance and PolicyEric PrattJustin EichornBobby Joe ChampionJudiciary and Public Safety Finance and PolicyWarren LimmerDan HallRon LatzLocal GovernmentDan HallBruce AndersonPatricia Torres RayRules and AdministrationPaul GazelkaMichelle BensonTom BakkSubcommitteesCommitteesPaul GazelkaConference CommitteesPaul GazelkaEthical ConductJeremy MillerLitigation ExpensesScott NewmanPermanent and Joint RulesJeremy MillerState Government Finance and Policy and ElectionsMary KiffmeyerMark KoranJim CarlsonTaxesRoger ChamberlainDave SenjemAnn RestTransportation Finance and PolicyScott NewmanJohn JasinskiScott DibbleVeterans and Military Affairs Finance and PolicyBruce AndersonAndrew LangJerry NewtonSelect CommitteesHome Ownership Affordability and AvailabilityRich Draheim
House of Representatives