How short are the Legislature's short sessions?

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 the attempt to adjourn on a 72-58 vote.

If the House had called it quits for 2026, the chamber would have been in session for 37 calendar days and met for 10 legislative days. It would have been the earliest end to a regular session in decades.

Since the Legislature began its modern calendar in 1973, the shortest legislative session occurred in 1986, when it lasted for a total of 47 calendar days. Both chambers convened on Feb. 3, 1986. The House adjourned March 17, 1986 and the Senate followed suit on March 21.

Lawmakers have adjourned in March a few other times over the years, including in 1982 when the Legislature convened its regular session on Jan. 12 while it was still in its third special session of 1981 that had convened Dec. 1, 1981. The special session lasted until Jan. 18, 1982. The Legislature adjourned its regular session March 19, 1982. It’s the only time the Legislature has had sessions running concurrently.

But the last time the Legislature adjourned earlier than May was in 1998, when the Legislature wrapped up its work on April 9. It convened Jan. 20 that year.

Since 1973, regular legislative sessions have averaged 111 calendar days. When considering only the second year of the biennium, an average regular session lasts 85 calendar days. An average-length session this year would mean a conclusion on May 13.

And the longest session in Minnesota history? That would be the first regular session, which clocked in at 254 calendar days. The Legislature convened Dec. 2, 1857. It then recessed from March 25 to June 2. It adjourned Aug. 12, 1858.

The 1857-58 session was so long that lawmakers skipped the 1858-59 session entirely and legislators elected in 1858 weren’t sworn in. The second session in 1859-60 lasted for 97 days. An 1860 constitutional amendment instituted the first limit on the number of days in a session.