MINNESOTA HOUSE

House Democrats boycott opening day of Minnesota’s legislative session to thwart narrow GOP majority

Republican State Rep. Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring sworn in as House SpeakerUPDATE 8:29PM : Democrats respond to Republicans holding session in the House without them. Former Speaker of the House Rep. Melissa Hortman said, “Very strange afternoon indeed. We saw something on the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives today that we have never seen in Minnesota history,…

Secretary of State Suggests Legal Action Before Minnesota House Session Begins

ST. PAUL (KVRR) — As a power struggle continues in the Minnesota House, Republicans dispute the interpretation of the state constitution when it comes to who is in charge and how many members are needed for a quorum. Secretary of State Steve Simon concluded that the Constitution and State Statute define the majority needed for a quorum as 68 members….

A court ruling could tip the majority to Republicans in the Minnesota House

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota House Republicans could start the 2025 legislative session in the majority after a judge ruled Friday that a Democratic candidate didn’t meet the residency requirements for his suburban district. Ramsey County Judge Leonardo Castro ruled that Curtis Johnson didn’t live in the Roseville-area district for the required six months ahead of the election and…

New Gun Laws Get Final Approval In MN House, Bills Heads to Gov. Walz

ST. PAUL —  Minnesota’s House of Representatives has passed a public safety bill that includes several gun control provisions. The final vote was 69-63 in the Democrat-controlled chamber. The bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 34-33 on Friday. Democrats hold a one-vote majority in that chamber. The bill is now headed to Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, to…

MN House Passes Paid Family Leave Bill, Senate Votes Next

ST. PAUL (KVRR/KFGO) — Minnesota House lawmakers have approved a state-run paid family and medical leave program by a vote of 68-64. Rep. Ruth Richardson’s bill would now allow up to 12 weeks of partial payments each year to people who need family bonding with a new child or who have a serious medical condition. People experiencing both situations can…

Minnesota Senate votes 34-33 to legalize recreational cannabis

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR/KFGO) — The Minnesota Senate voted Friday to legalize recreational marijuana for adults, but the bill requires more work and negotiations before it can become law. The vote was 34-33, with all Democrats voting yes and all Republicans voting no. There are several differences between the Senate bill and the companion version that passed the House 71-59…

Legal cannabis in Minnesota will lead to law enforcement challenges in North Dakota

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — A bill legalizing recreational cannabis has passed the Minnesota House and now heads to the state Senate. Attorney Mark Friese says law enforcement knows there will undoubtedly be more people bringing the drug across state lines as people lawfully buy cannabis in Minnesota, if the law is passed. “That doesn’t mean it’s lawful to bring it…

Walz To Get Catalytic Converter Bill

ST. PAUL (KFGO) — The Minnesota House is sending a bill backers say will reduce the rash of catalytic converter thefts in the state to the desk of Gov. Tim Walz. It prohibits scrap metal dealers from buying any catalytic converter without a marking that ties it to the original vehicle. The House agreed to minor changes the Senate made…

Former MN Governors Speak Out Against Sanford Controlling U of M Medical Center

Fmr. Gov. Mark Dayton (D-MN) & Fmr. Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)ST. PAUL (KVRR) — Two former Minnesota governors join forces and speak out against South Dakota-based Sanford Health getting control of the University of Minnesota Medical School in the Fairview Health merger. Democrat Mark Dayton and Republican Tim Pawlenty voiced their concerns in front of the Senate Committee on Health…

Minnesota House approves $1.9B public works package

Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, speaks at a news conference at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., on Monday, March 6, 2023, about a $1.9 billion public infrastructure package for fixing up roads, bridges, water systems, college facilities and parks and trails across the state. She was joined by Democratic Rep. Fue Lee, of Minneapolis,…