Former Rep. Mary Murphy honored with library grant program name change

Rep. Mary Murphy was the longest serving woman in the history of the House.

Representing her district near Duluth from 1977 to 2023, the DFLer from Hermantown championed the library construction grant program.

To honor the memory of Murphy, who died from complications of a stroke on Dec. 25, 2024, at age 85, the library construction grants program will be known as the “Mary C. Murphy Library Construction Grants Program.”

A competitive dollar-for-dollar matching grant program, it provides public libraries with funding for renovation, construction, and improvement projects for more accessible facilities. Libraries can receive up to $450,000 to remove architectural barriers and up to $1 million to renovate or expand an existing building or construct a new library.

The law, effective May 20, 2025, is sponsored by Rep. Fue Lee (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. Sandra Pappas (DFL-St Paul).

HF1090*/SF1661/CH25

HF1090* / SF1661 / CH25