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Proposed House rules changes would ax per diem pay for absent members

The House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee meets Jan. 23 to approve Permanent Rules of the House for the 2025-2026 biennium. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)
The House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee meets Jan. 23 to approve Permanent Rules of the House for the 2025-2026 biennium. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)

DISCLAIMER: On Jan. 24, 2025, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that 68 members are necessary to constitute a quorum of the House. This webpage may reflect proceedings that occurred before that decision was issued and are no longer active. See Simon v. Demuth, No. A25-0066 (Minn. Jan. 24, 2025) (consolidated with Hortman et al. v. Demuth et al., No. A25-0068).

 

Lawmakers won’t receive per diem on days they’re absent from a floor session under a proposed House rule.

House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee 1/23/25

It is included in a permanent rules package approved, as amended, Thursday without discussion by the House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee at a brief meeting.

House Majority Leader Harry Niska (R-Ramsey) said a floor vote will occur Monday.

The proposed House rules would also establish a process for election challenges, require the House Journal to include whether a member voting remotely is doing so for health-related or safety-related reasons, eliminate the fiscal calendar, and clarify germaneness.

The rules package comes as DFL members have stayed away from the Capitol for a second week in a power-sharing dispute and Republicans are moving ahead with business as usual.

Republicans currently have a 67-66 advantage in the House and a special election is pending in District 40B, where the DFL candidate won by more than 30% in November. DFL leadership has asked Republicans to agree to share power after the special election and have said they’ll continue to remain absent from the Capitol to prevent a quorum until there’s an agreement. The Minnesota Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments later Thursday in the lawsuit over Republicans’ argument that 67 members, not 68, is a quorum.

DFLers have also said they’re concerned that Republicans will refuse to seat Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee), who won District 54A by 14 votes in November but there was a loss of 20 absentee ballots in the race. A district court judge ruled earlier this month that Tabke’s win stands.


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