Minnesota Legislature
Panel begins work on proposal to create new state park at State Capitol honoring Hortmans
By Lisa Kaczke
A working group tasked with making recommendations for a proposed new state park within the Capitol Area met for the first time Wednesday.
The park would be named for the late Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were killed in June 2025.
“Speaker Hortman had a great love for the Capitol building and the Capitol campus,” House DFL Caucus Leader Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) told the Melissa and Mark Hortman Memorial State Park Working Group. “On long sessions, she was known to walk the grounds. If you joined her, she would share her opinions, both positive and negative, about the way the grounds were kept and what trees were there in particular. She had a very strong feeling about the trees.”
More broadly, Hortman wanted the Capitol to be accessible to the public and for people to understand and appreciate its history as much as she did. Turning the Capitol Area into a state park was her long-term goal to make it even more accessible to people, Stephenson said, and seeing that through would be a way to preserve her legacy.
Recent Dailies
House, Senate conferees wrap up higher education bill with technical changes, new grants
By Margaret Stevens
Like students sliding homework onto the teacher’s desk just as the bell rings, lawmakers wrapped up their higher education conference committee Friday with two minutes to spare....
House DFLers ramp up push for vote on gun control package as session deadline looms
By Tim Walker
Thursday was the day when the always-simmering debate over guns boiled over in the House.
While Wednesday night’s announcement of a budget agreement made headlines for ...
Higher ed conferees adopt areas of agreement, prep for final negotiations
By Margaret Stevens
With the legislative session well into its own version of finals week, the higher education conference committee made significant progress Thursday.
Members reviewing House ...
Conference committee nixes meat raffle prize increase, insurance loophole fix
By Lisa Kaczke
The conference committee report on the omnibus commerce policy bill is ready to go.
But when the vote on the report will take place is unknown.
Among the bill’s provisio...
Conference committee adopts February forecast adjustments for various departments
By Graham Johnson
A conference committee on forecast adjustments met quickly Thursday to approve a report with little discussion.
“All the things in here are no cost and are important,” said ...
Walz, legislative leaders strike budget deal including HCMC rescue, $1.2 billion infrastructure package
By Rob Hubbard
It may have taken until four days remain in the Legislative session, but legislators now know what budget targets they must reach to make the math work on the last bills of the ...
IT upgrades for Minnesota counties could be on way under bill headed to House Floor
By Rob Hubbard “I think this is, for me, the most important bill that I’ve been involved with this year.” So said Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) of HF4808, which was approved, as amended, ...House, Senate reach agreement on $102 million environment trust fund bill
By Tim Walker
Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund conferees reached agreement Wednesday evening on a $102.03 million bill that would fund 108 projects for education and outdoo...
Omnibus pensions bill clears House, awaits Senate action
By Mike Cook
This year’s omnibus pension and retirement bill contains good news for probation officers and 911 telecommunicators.
Passed 129-5 Wednesday by the House, the bill, among its...
Minnesota House passes $165 million housing package, sends agreement to governor
By Margaret Stevens
What left the House as a good bill, returned as a great bill.
So said Rep. Michael Howard (DFL-Richfield) about the conference committee report on HF1141. Passed 105-28 Wedn...
Session Daily Home
Search Session Daily
Advanced Search OptionsPriority Dailies
Could 2026 retirements lead to record turnover in the House?
By Lisa Kaczke
In the final weeks of the legislative session, House members not seeking re-election to the body have taken a turn at gaveling in a floor session.
It’s an opportunity to loo...
How short are the Legislature's short sessions?
By Lisa Kaczke
Rep. Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls) was ready to end the session March 25, making the motion to adjourn sine die. But not enough of his colleagues shared that sentiment, defeating ...
