IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1054 
Honoring the lives of Minnesota State House Speaker Emerita Melissa 
Hortman and Mark Hortman. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 10, 2026 
Ms. MORRISON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Honoring the lives of Minnesota State House Speaker 
Emerita Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman. 
Whereas Melissa Hortman served her community and the 
State of Minnesota with humility, compassion, and perse-
verance; 
Whereas Mark Hortman was outgoing, caring, and genuine, 
a skilled professional, and deeply devoted to his family; 
Whereas, when a politically motivated gunman took the life 
of Melissa Hortman, Minnesota lost a tireless public serv-
ant, whose accomplishments distinguish her as one of the 
most consequential Speakers in the history of the Min-
nesota House of Representatives; 
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Whereas Hortman was a mother of 2 children, Colin and 
Sophie, and wife to husband Mark Hortman, who was 
killed alongside her; 
Whereas Melissa Hortman was a lifelong Minnesotan, who 
was born and raised and lived most of her life in the 
northern suburbs of Minneapolis; 
Whereas Mark Hortman was born and raised in North Caro-
lina, graduated from the University of North Carolina— 
Chapel Hill, and lived in Minnesota for over 30 years; 
Whereas Melissa and Mark Hortman met while applying to 
be mentors in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America 
program and were brought together through their shared 
devotion to serving others; 
Whereas Melissa Hortman was a lifelong learner who grad-
uated from Blaine High School, Boston University, and 
the University of Minnesota Law School and then re-
turned to school later in life to receive a Master in Public 
Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School; 
Whereas Hortman was a devoted public servant who spent 
her life helping others, teaching Sunday school, serving 
as a Girl Scout leader, and training service dogs for vet-
erans; 
Whereas one of Hortman’s greatest loves was her family’s 
golden retriever, Gilbert, who was adopted by the 
Hortmans after being deemed too friendly to be a service 
dog; 
Whereas Hortman began her career in public service as a 
lawyer suing discriminatory landlords and reached a 
record-setting verdict in a housing discrimination lawsuit; 
Whereas Hortman demonstrated strength of character and 
perseverance in her determination to serve her commu-
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nity when she was victorious in her third run for the 
Minnesota House of Representatives in 2004; 
Whereas Hortman went on to win re-election 10 consecutive 
times from 2006 to 2024 and was elected by her col-
leagues as Minority Leader in 2017 and Speaker of the 
House in 2019; 
Whereas Hortman was the longest-serving female Speaker in 
Minnesota state history; 
Whereas Hortman was passionate about preventing gun vio-
lence, protecting reproductive health care, and leaving be-
hind a better world for future generations by addressing 
climate change through investments in renewable energy; 
Whereas Hortman was proud to author Minnesota’s solar 
standard and community solar law; 
Whereas Hortman led with humor and a calm and steady de-
meanor, emphasizing the importance of conversation and 
listening to one another and rejecting the idea that our 
political differences should prevent us from working to-
gether; 
Whereas Hortman respected and looked out for all members 
of her caucus, recognizing their duty to serve each of 
their unique constituencies, while also holding them to-
gether to deliver for all Minnesotans during one of the 
most productive legislative sessions in Minnesota’s his-
tory; 
Whereas Hortman will be remembered for the crucial role she 
played in enacting legislation that allows Minnesotans to 
take time to care for their loved ones, ensures no student 
goes hungry, guarantees every woman has the right to 
bodily autonomy, and upholds our democracy by pro-
tecting free and fair elections; 
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