# 91st Minnesota Legislature

The Ninety-first Minnesota Legislature is the legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota from January 8, 2019 to January 4, 2021. It is 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. A special session was held from May 24 to 25, 2019, 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.
Another special session was held from June 12 to 20, 2020, which was 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.
On 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 of which were to approve the extension of the COVID-19 peacetime emergency. In total, 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.
* 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.

## Major legislation
### Enacted

* April 12, 2019: Hands-free cell phone use while driving act (Laws 2019, chapter 11)
* May 2, 2019: Voluntary relationship defense for criminal sexual conduct repeal act (Laws 2019, chapter 16)
* May 22, 2019: Assisted living act (Laws 2019, chapter 60)
* May 22, 2019: Opioid addiction prevention and treatment act (Laws 2019, chapter 63)
* Omnibus appropriations acts:
** May 22, 2019: Omnibus higher education act (Laws 2019, chapter 64)
** May 30, 2019: Omnibus agriculture, housing, and rural development act (Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 1)
** May 30, 2019: Omnibus transportation act (Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 3)
** May 30, 2019: Omnibus environment and natural resources act (Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 4)
** May 30, 2019: Omnibus judiciary and public safety act (Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 5)
** May 30, 2019: Omnibus jobs, economic development, and energy act (Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 7)
** May 30, 2019: Omnibus health and human services act (Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 9)
** May 30, 2019: Omnibus state government act (Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 10)
** May 30, 2019: Omnibus education act (Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 11)
* May 30, 2019: Omnibus legacy act (Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 2)
* May 30, 2019: Omnibus tax act (Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 6)
* March 10, 2020: COVID-19 pandemic response act (Laws 2020, chapter 66)
* March 17, 2020: COVID-19 pandemic response act (Laws 2020, chapter 70)
* March 28, 2020: COVID-19 pandemic response act (Laws 2020, chapter 71)
* April 7, 2020: COVID-19 first responders workers' compensation act (Laws 2020, chapter 72)
* April 15, 2020: Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act (Laws 2020, chapter 73)
* April 15, 2020: COVID-19 pandemic response act (Laws 2020, chapter 74)
* May 12, 2020: 2020 elections special procedures act (Laws 2020, chapter 77)
* May 27, 2020: Outdoor heritage fund appropriations act (Laws 2020, chapter 104)
* July 23, 2020: Police reform act (Laws 2020, Second Special Session chapter 1)
* October 21, 2020: Omnibus capital investment "bonding" act (Laws 2020, Fifth Special Session chapter 3)

### Proposed

    Boldface indicates the bill was passed by its house of origin.
* Clean Energy First Act (H.F. No. 1405/S.F. No. 1456)
* Energy Conservation and Optimization Act of 2020 (H.F. No. 4502/S.F. No. 4409)
* Extreme risk protection order bill (H.F. No. 9/S.F. No. 436)
* Family leave insurance bill (H.F. No. 5/S.F. No. 1060)
* Firearm transfer background check bill (H.F. No. 8/S.F. No. 3426)
* Omnibus environment and natural resources bill (H.F. No. 4554/S.F. No. 4499)
* Proposed constitutional amendment establishing a fundamental right to a quality public education bill (H.F. No. 3658/S.F. No. 3977)
* Recreational cannabis bill (H.F. No. 420/S.F. No. 619)
* Voting rights restoration for felons bill (H.F. No. 40/S.F. No. 856)

## Political composition

    Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Changes in membership" section below.

### Senate

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
| | Republican | Democratic– Farmer–Labor | Independent | Total | Vacant |
| End of the previous Legislature | 34 | 32 | 0 | 66 | 1 |
| Begin (January 8, 2019) | 34 | 32 | 0 | 66 | 1 |
| February 13, 2019 | 35 | 32 | 0 | 67 | 0 |
| November 18, 2020 | 35 | 30 | 2 | 67 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 52.2% | 44.8% | 3% | | |

### House of Representatives

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
| | Democratic– Farmer–Labor | Republican | Republican | | Total | Vacant |
| | Democratic– Farmer–Labor | Republican Caucus | New Republican Caucus | Total | Vacant |
| End of the previous Legislature | 55 | 75 | 0 | 130 | 4 |
| Begin (January 8, 2019) | 74 | 55 | 4 | 133 | 1 |
| January 10, 2019 | 75 | 55 | 4 | 134 | 0 |
| February 12, 2019 | 75 | 54 | 4 | 133 | 1 |
| March 27, 2019 | 75 | 55 | 4 | 134 | 0 |
| November 16, 2019 | 74 | 55 | 4 | 133 | 1 |
| December 6, 2019 | 74 | 54 | 4 | 132 | 2 |
| February 11, 2020 | 75 | 55 | 4 | 134 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 56% | 41% | 3% | | |

## 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 identify as Christian, 3% identify as Jewish, and 42% refused to state their affiliation. The single largest religious denomination are Lutherans 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 | 39 / 201 | 19.4% |
| Christians | Roman or Eastern Catholics | 29 / 201 | 14.4% |
| Christians | Methodists | 6 / 201 | 3% |
| Christians | Baptists | 4 / 201 | 2% |
| Christians | Episcopalians | 4 / 201 | 2% |
| Christians | Mormons (LDS Church) | 1 / 201 | 0.5% |
| Christians | Other Christians | 23 / 201 | 11.4% |
| Jews | 6 / 201 | 3% |
| Muslims | 2 / 201 | 1% |
| Unitarian Universalists | 1 / 201 | 0.5% |
| Unknown/Refused to state | 84 / 201 | 41.8% |
| Unaffiliated | 0 / 201 | 0% |

### 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 status | Minority status | No. of members | % of members | % of MN |
| Not a minority | Not a minority | 179 | 89.1 | 78.3 |
| A minority | A minority | 22 | 10.9 | 21.7 |
| | Hispanic | 7 | 3.5 | 6.2 |
| | Hmong | 6 | 3 | 1.5 |
| | Black (ex. Somali) | 4 | 2 | 5.7 |
| | Somali | 2 | 1 | 1.4 |
| | American Indian | 2 | 1 | 1.2 |

## Changes in membership
### Senate

| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
| 11 | Tony 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, 2019 |
| 14 | Jerry 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

| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
| 57A | Vacant | Hospitalized due to an infection. | Robert Bierman (DFL) | January 10, 2019 |
| 11B | Jason 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, 2019 |
| 60A | Diane Loeffler (DFL) | Died of cancer on November 16, 2019. A special election was held on February 4, 2020. | Sydney Jordan (DFL) | February 11, 2020 |
| 30A | Nick Zerwas (R) | Resigned effective on December 6, 2019, to spend more time with his family and to seek employment outside of the Legislature. A special election was held on February 4, 2020. | Paul Novotny (R) | February 11, 2020 |

## Committees
### Senate

| Committee | Committee | Chair | Vice Chair | DFL Lead |
| Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance | Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance | Torrey Westrom | Mark Johnson | Kari Dziedzic |
| Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy | Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy | Bill Weber | Mike Goggin | Foung Hawj |
| Capital Investment | Capital Investment | Dave Senjem | Scott Newman | Sandy Pappas |
| Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy | Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy | Gary Dahms | Karin Housley | Dan Sparks |
| E–12 Education Finance and Policy | E–12 Education Finance and Policy | Carla Nelson | Gary Dahms | Chuck Wiger |
| Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy | Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy | David Osmek | Andrew Mathews | Erik Simonson |
| Environment and Natural Resources Finance | Environment and Natural Resources Finance | Bill Ingebrigtsen | Carrie Ruud | David Tomassoni |
| Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance | Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance | Carrie Ruud | Bill Weber | Chris Eaton |
| Family Care and Aging | Family Care and Aging | Karin Housley | Jerry Relph | Kent Eken |
| Finance | Finance | Julie Rosen | Bill Ingebrigtsen | Dick Cohen |
| Health and Human Services Finance and Policy | Health and Human Services Finance and Policy | Michelle Benson | Scott Jensen | John Marty |
| Higher Education Finance and Policy | Higher Education Finance and Policy | Paul Anderson | Rich Draheim | Greg Clausen |
| Human Services Reform Finance and Policy | Human Services Reform Finance and Policy | Jim Abeler | Paul Utke | Jeff Hayden |
| Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy | Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy | Eric Pratt | Justin Eichorn | Bobby Joe Champion |
| Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy | Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy | Warren Limmer | Dan Hall | Ron Latz |
| Local Government | Local Government | Dan Hall | Bruce Anderson | Patricia Torres Ray |
| Rules and Administration | Rules and Administration | Paul Gazelka | Michelle Benson | Tom Bakk |
| Subcommittees | Committees | Paul Gazelka | | |
| Subcommittees | Conference Committees | Paul Gazelka | | |
| Subcommittees | Ethical Conduct | Jeremy Miller | | |
| Subcommittees | Litigation Expenses | Scott Newman | | |
| Subcommittees | Permanent and Joint Rules | Jeremy Miller | | |
| State Government Finance and Policy and Elections | State Government Finance and Policy and Elections | Mary Kiffmeyer | Mark Koran | Jim Carlson |
| Taxes | Taxes | Roger Chamberlain | Dave Senjem | Ann Rest |
| Transportation Finance and Policy | Transportation Finance and Policy | Scott Newman | John Jasinski | Scott Dibble |
| Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy | Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy | Bruce Anderson | Andrew Lang | Jerry Newton |
| Select Committees |||||
| Home Ownership Affordability and Availability | Home Ownership Affordability and Availability | Rich Draheim | | |

### House of Representatives

| Committee | Committee | Committee | Chair | Vice Chair | Republican Lead |
| Commerce | Commerce | Commerce | Laurie Halverson | Zack Stephenson | Tim O'Driscoll |
| Education Policy | Education Policy | Education Policy | Cheryl Youakim | Mary Kunesh-Podein | Sondra Erickson |
| Environment and Natural Resources Policy | Environment and Natural Resources Policy | Environment and Natural Resources Policy | John Persell | Jamie Becker-Finn | Dale Lueck |
| Ethics | Ethics | Ethics | Mary Murphy | | Sondra Erickson |
| Government Operations | Government Operations | Government Operations | Mike Freiberg | Duane Sauke | Nick Zerwas |
| Government Operations | Government Operations | Government Operations | Mike Freiberg | Duane Sauke | Duane Quam |
| Subcommittees | Subcommittees | Elections | Raymond Dehn | Kristin Bahner | Jim Nash |
| Subcommittees | Subcommittees | Local Government | Sandra Masin | Steve Elkins | Joe McDonald |
| Health and Human Services Policy | Health and Human Services Policy | Health and Human Services Policy | Rena Moran | Kelly Morrison | Deb Kiel |
| Labor | Labor | Labor | Mike Sundin | Erin Koegel | Jason Rarick |
| Labor | Labor | Labor | Mike Sundin | Erin Koegel | Bob Vogel |
| Rules and Legislative Administration | Rules and Legislative Administration | Rules and Legislative Administration | Ryan Winkler | Kaohly Her | Kurt Daudt |
| Subcommittee | Subcommittee | Legislative Process Reform | Gene Pelowski | | Linda Runbeck |
| Taxes | Taxes | Taxes | Paul Marquart | Dave Lislegard | Greg Davids |
| Division | Division | Property and Local Tax | Diane Loeffler | Samantha Vang | Jerry Hertaus |
| Division | Division | Property and Local Tax | Andrew Carlson | Samantha Vang | Jerry Hertaus |
| Ways and Means | Ways and Means | Ways and Means | Lyndon Carlson | Liz Olson | Pat Garofalo |
| Divisions | Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy | Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy | Jeanne Poppe | Jeff Brand | Rod Hamilton |
| Divisions | Capital Investment | Capital Investment | Mary Murphy | Fue Lee | Dean Urdahl |
| Divisions | Education Finance | Education Finance | Jim Davnie | Julie Sandstede | Ron Kresha |
| Divisions | Subdivision | Early Childhood Finance and Policy | Dave Pinto | Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn | Mary Franson |
| Divisions | Environment and Natural Resources Finance | Environment and Natural Resources Finance | Rick Hansen | Anne Claflin | Dan Fabian |
| Divisions | Subdivision | Water | Peter Fischer | Steve Sandell | Josh Heintzeman |
| Divisions | Energy and Climate Finance and Policy | Energy and Climate Finance and Policy | Jean Wagenius | Jamie Long | Chris Swedzinski |
| Divisions | Greater Minnesota Jobs and Economic Development Finance | Greater Minnesota Jobs and Economic Development Finance | Gene Pelowski | Ben Lien | Paul Anderson |
| Divisions | Health and Human Services Finance | Health and Human Services Finance | Tina Liebling | Alice Mann | Joe Schomacker |
| Divisions | Subdivisions | Early Childhood Finance and Policy | Dave Pinto | Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn | Mary Franson |
| Divisions | Subdivisions | Long-Term Care | Jennifer Schultz | Todd Lippert | Glenn Gruenhagen |
| Divisions | Higher Education Finance and Policy | Higher Education Finance and Policy | Connie Bernardy | Laurie Pryor | Bud Nornes |
| Divisions | Housing Finance and Policy | Housing Finance and Policy | Alice Hausman | Michael Howard | Tama Theis |
| Divisions | Jobs and Economic Development Finance | Jobs and Economic Development Finance | Tim Mahoney | Mohamud Noor | Bob Gunther |
| Divisions | Judiciary Finance and Civil Law | Judiciary Finance and Civil Law | John Lesch | Kelly Moller | Peggy Scott |
| Divisions | Legacy Finance | Legacy Finance | Leon Lillie | Ami Wazlawik | Josh Heintzeman |
| Divisions | Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy | Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy | Carlos Mariani | Heather Edelson | Brian Johnson |
| Divisions | Subdivision | Corrections | Jack Considine | Dan Wolgamott | Marion O'Neill |
| Divisions | State Government Finance | State Government Finance | Mike Nelson | Andrew Carlson | Tony Albright |
| Divisions | State Government Finance | State Government Finance | Mike Nelson | Ginny Klevorn | Tony Albright |
| Divisions | Transportation Finance and Policy | Transportation Finance and Policy | Frank Hornstein | Brad Tabke | Paul Torkelson |
| Divisions | Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy | Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy | Rob Ecklund | Jay Xiong | Bob Dettmer |
| Select Committees ||||||
| Minnesota's Pandemic Response and Rebuilding | Minnesota's Pandemic Response and Rebuilding | Minnesota's Pandemic Response and Rebuilding | Melissa Hortman | Ryan Winkler | |

## Administrative officers
### Senate

* Secretary: Cal Ludeman
* First Assistant Secretary: Colleen Pacheco
* Second Assistant Secretary: Mike Linn
* Engrossing Secretary: Melissa Mapes
* Sergeant at Arms: Sven Lindquist
* Assistant Sergeant at Arms: Marilyn Logan
* Chaplain: Mike Smith

### House of Representatives

* Chief Clerk: Patrick Murphy
* First Assistant Chief Clerk: Tim Johnson
* Second Assistant Chief Clerk: Gail Romanowski
* Chief Sergeant at Arms: Bob Meyerson
* Assistant Sergeant at Arms: Erica Brynildson
* Assistant Sergeant at Arms: Andrew Olson
* Index Clerk: Carl Hamre