STATE
OF MINNESOTA
Journal of the House
NINETY-FOURTH
SESSION - 2026
_____________________
Saint Paul, Minnesota, Monday, May 18, 2026
The House of Representatives convened at
10:00 a.m. and was called to order by Peggy Bennett, Speaker pro tempore.
Prayer was offered by Pastor Pepe
Demarest, The Recovery Church, St. Paul, Minnesota.
The members of the House gave the pledge
of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
The roll was called and the following
members were present:
Acomb
Agbaje
Allen
Backer
Bahner
Bakeberg
Bennett
Berg
Bierman
Buck
Carroll
Cha
Clardy
Coulter
Curran
Davids
Dotseth
Elkins
Falconer
Feist
Finke
Fischer
Frazier
Frederick
Freiberg
Gander
Gomez
Gottfried
Greene
Greenman
Hanson, J.
Hicks
Hill
Hollins
Howard
Hussein
Igo
Johnson, P.
Jones
Jordan
Keeler
Klevorn
Kotyza-Witthuhn
Kozlowski
Koznick
Kraft
Kresha
Lawrence
Lee, F.
Lee, K.
Liebling
Lillie
Long
Luger-Nikolai
Mahamoud
McDonald
Moller
Momanyi-Hiltsley
Mueller
Nadeau
Nash
Nelson
Niska
Noor
Norris
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson
Pérez-Vega
Perryman
Pinto
Pursell
Rarick
Rehm
Repinski
Reyer
Robbins
Schomacker
Schultz
Schwartz
Scott
Sencer-Mura
Sexton
Smith
Stephenson
Swedzinski
Tabke
Torkelson
Van Binsbergen
Vang
Virnig
Warwas
Wiener
Wolgamott
Xiong
Youakim
Zeleznikar
Spk. Demuth
A quorum was present.
Altendorf; Anderson, P. E.; Anderson, P.
H.; Baker; Bliss; Burkel; Davis; Dippel; Duran; Engen; Fogelman; Franson;
Gillman; Gordon; Hansen, R.; Harder; Heintzeman; Hudson; Huot; Jacob; Johnson,
W.; Joy; Knudsen; Koegel; Lee, X.; Mekeland; Murphy; Myers; Quam; Rehrauer;
Roach; Rymer; Skraba; Stier; West and Witte were excused.
The Speaker assumed the Chair.
The Chief Clerk proceeded to read the
Journal of the preceding day. There
being no objection, further reading of the Journal was dispensed with and the
Journal was approved as corrected by the Chief Clerk.
Prior to adjournment of the 94th Legislative Session sine die, Lisa Demuth, Speaker of the House, called upon retiring members who wished to offer remarks about their service to the Minnesota House of Representatives:
Bernie Perryman – two terms
Maria Isa Pérez-Vega – two terms
Mike Wiener - two terms
Ben Bakeberg – two tems
Liz Reyer – three terms
Heather Keeler – three terms
Cedrick Frazier – three terms
Sandra Feist – three terms
Kaela Berg – three terms
Dan Wolgamott – four terms
Kristin Robbins – four terms
Paul Novotny – four terms
Kelly Moller – four terms
Lisa Demuth – four terms
Peggy Bennett – six terms
Ron Kresha – seven terms
Chris Swedzinski – eight terms
Joe Schomacker – eight terms
Tim O'Driscoll – eight terms
Paul Torkelson – nine terms
Buck was excused for the remainder of
today's session.
PROTEST AND DISSENT
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 11, of the Minnesota Constitution, we the undersigned members of the Minnesota House of Representatives register our protest and dissent regarding the following action:
On Tuesday, June 9, 2025, during the 1st Special Session 2025, Representative Bjorn Olson was permitted to vote using Article 10 Remote House Operations, specifically:
10.05 Remote House Operations
(e) A member who is
ordered to active military service may attend and vote during floor sessions
via remote means, if practical. If the
member submits a copy of orders compelling the member's military service to the
Speaker. If the circumstances of the member's
service make it impractical to attend a floor session in real time, the member
may submit, in advance, the member's votes, limited to items of business that
have been posted for that day's agenda, as practical. Votes submitted in advance must be authenticated
and delivered to the Chief Clerk through the member's official House email
address, prior to the time the floor session is scheduled to convene, and in a
manner that allows the authentication to be verified by all members of the
House.
The agreed upon rule is clear on two issues raised by the undersigned members and support our contention that the remote votes were incorrect.
If the circumstances of the member's service make it impractical to attend a floor session in real time, the member may submit, in advance, the member's votes, limited to items of business that have been posted for that day's agenda, as practical. [emphasis added]
We the undersigned acknowledge there was a leadership agreement regarding the schedule for the June 9, 2025 Special Session agenda; however, the Minnesota House of Representatives website clearly stated: "There are currently no bills on the Calendar of the Day".
Each bill taken up on Tuesday, June 9, 2025 required a Declaration of Urgency, pursuant to Article IV, Section 19 of the Constitution of the state of Minnesota and the rules suspended to take up the bills one-by-one. It was up to the body, each member holding their own election certificate, to vote to determine the business of the day, after convening of the House.
Issue #2 – Use House Email, Prior to Convening
Votes submitted in advance must be authenticated and delivered to the Chief Clerk through the member's official House email address, prior to the time the floor session is scheduled to convene, ..." [emphasis added]
Following the Declaration of Urgency regarding H. F. 1, Sencer-Mura moved to amend H. F. 1. A roll call was requested and properly seconded. After the conclusion of the H. F. 1 Sencer-Mura amendment vote, we learned the rule was violated in two ways:
(a) the vote was submitted by an email address that was not the member's official House email address; and
(b) the voice recording was received after the commencement of the Floor Session on Tuesday, June 9, 2025.
On the basis of the foregoing reasons, we the undersigned Members of the Minesota House of Representatives demand repeal of Article 10.05 (e) to protect the legislative process and integrity of the House.
Further, pursuant to Article IV, Section 11 of the Minnesota Constitution, we direct that our protest and dissent be entered into the Journal of the House of Representatives.
Respectfully
submitted, Ginny Klevorn Zach Stephenson
Samantha
Sencer-Mura Athena
Hollins
Patty
Acomb Liz
Lee
Kristin
Bahner Esther
Agbaje
Luke
Frederick Larry
Kraft
Aisha
Gomez Kim
Hicks
Julie
Greene
Heather
Keeler
Jessica
Hanson
Tina
Liebling
Jamie
Long
Kristi
Pursell
Brad
Tabke
PROTEST AND DISSENT
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 11 of the Minnesota Constitution, we the undersigned members of the Minnesota House of Representatives register our protest and dissent against Speaker Demuth, GOP Floor Leader Niska, and Speaker pro tempore Bjorn Olson for direct violation of the Supplemental Agreement for House Organization for the 94th Regular Legislative Session (ratified April 3, 2025), and subsequent repeat violation of House Rule 3.21 on germaneness.
"3.21 MOTIONS AND
PROPOSTITIONS MUST BE GERMANE. (a) A
motion or proposition on a subject different from that under consideration must
not be admitted under guise of its being an amendment. A motion, amendment, or other proposition
offered to the House is out of order if it is not germane to the matter under consideration. Whether a proposition is germane to the
matter under consideration is a question to be decided by the presiding officer,
who may put the question to the House.
(b) An amendment to an
amendment on the House floor must relate only to the primary amendment, without
introducing any new subject."
The Supplemental Agreement for House Organization for the 94th Regular Legislative Session states:
"If
a question of germaneness is raised under House Rule 3.21 and the question is
put to the body, or if a decision
of the presiding officer under House Rule 3.21 is appealed, the affirmative
vote of at least one member of each
caucus is required to find the motion or proposition germane." (Section 13.3, Lines 1.20 through 2.2)
The affirmative vote of at least one member of each caucus is required to find a motion or proposition germane upon appeal. The Supplemental Agreement was signed and ratified by Speaker Lisa Demuth, Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, Republican Floor Leader Harry Niska, and DFL Floor Leader Jamie Long on April 3rd, 2025.
On April 25, 2025, House File 2432 (Novotny) Judiciary, public safety, and corrections policy and finance bill was reported to the House for passage on the Calendar for the Day. Representative Rymer moved an amendment related to immigration, which introduced a new chapter of law (Chapter 388) that was not referenced in the underlying bill.
DFL Floor Leader Long raised a point of order pursuant to rule 3.21 that the Rymer amendment was not in order. Speaker pro tempore Olson ruled the point of order not well taken and the Rymer amendment in order.
Long then appealed the decision of Speaker pro tempore Olson and a roll call was requested. There were 67 yeas and 67 nays on the question to appeal the decision of the Speaker. There was not an affirmative vote of at least one member of each caucus to find the Rymer amendment germane.
At that moment, pursuant to the Supplemental Agreement, the appeal of the ruling of Speaker pro tempore Olson should have been successful and the ruling found not well taken and the amendment out of order.
Floor Leader Long raised a point of order pursuant to the Supplemental Agreement for House Organization Rule 13.3 on germaneness, that the decision of Speaker pro tempore Olson should not stand and that the Rymer amendment was not in order.
However, Speaker pro tempore Olson then directly violated the terms of the Supplemental Agreement. He ruled the point of order pursuant to the Supplemental Agreement not well taken and the decision of Speaker pro tempore Olson should stand. An appeal of the ruling of the Speaker pro tempore was unsuccessful, and the Rymer amendment was permitted to be put before the body for a vote.
This moment was a major test of the fragile, bipartisan agreement to co-govern in the tied House, and Speaker Demuth, Floor Leader Niska, and the GOP caucus failed to live up to their signed agreements.
Notably, the Republican Speaker and caucus proved they could follow the correct application of the rule on Monday, May 12, 2025. On a Scott amendment to a Zeleznikar amendment to House File 2435, a point of order pursuant to rule 3.21 on germaneness was raised, and Speaker pro tempore Olson ruled the point of order well taken.
The Supplemental Agreement was tested again on Monday, April 20, 2026, when Speaker Demuth had another opportunity to abide by the agreement on germaneness rulings. On a Niska amendment to House File 3621, Floor Leader Long raised a point of order pursuant to House Rule 3.21 on germaneness.
Speaker Demuth ruled the point of order not well taken and the Niska amendment in order. Floor Leader Long appealed Speaker Demuth's ruling. When put before the body, there was not an affirmative vote of at least one member of each caucus to find the amendment germane.
Floor Leader Long raised a point of order pursuant to the Supplemental Agreement for House Organization, Rule 13.3 on germaneness. Floor Leader Niska gave advice to the Speaker to find the amendment germane and cited the incorrect ruling on April 25, 2025 as precedent. Speaker Demuth ruled the point of order not well taken and the amendment in order, thereby violating the plain language of the Supplemental Agreement yet again.
This legislative body cannot function if we cannot trust that when an elected representative signs their name to a written agreement, they will uphold the terms of that agreement. Further, it undermines the trust in the institution for the Speaker or Speaker pro tempore to pick and choose when to follow the rules.
We strongly protest the disregard demonstrated by Speaker Demuth and Republican caucus leadership for the institution of the Minnesota House, for the rules by which we govern ourselves as a legislative body, and for their own promises. We the undersigned register our protest and dissent to ensure that such a direct violation of our agreements written in plain language does not occur again.
Further, pursuant to Article IV, Section 11 of the Minnesota Constitution, we direct that our protest and dissent be entered into the Journal of the House of Representatives.
Respectfully
submitted, Zach Stephenson Jamie
Long
Athena
Hollins Aisha
GOmez
Kelly
Moller Samantha
Sencer-Mura
Samantha
Vang Dan
Wolgamott
Kristin
Bahner Carlie
Kotyza-Wittuhn
Jess
Hanson Kaela
Berg
David
Gottfried Mary
Frances Clardy
Xp
Lee Steve
Elkins
Dave
Pinto Meg
Luger-Nikolai
Kari
Rehrauer Cheryl
Youakim
Shelley
Buck Lucy
Rehm
Tina
Liebling Leigh
Finke
Kristi
Pursell Larry
Kraft
Julie
Greene Alex
Falconer
Katie
Jones Mike
Howard
emma
Greenman Andy
Smith
Kaozouapa
Liz Lee Brion
Curran
Nathan
Coulter Robert
Bierman
Samakab
Hussein Jay
Xiong
Kim
Hicks Bianca
Virnig
Esther
Agbaje Sandra
Feist
Fue
Lee Erin
Koegel
Cederick
Frazier Mohamud Noor
Anquam
Mahamoud Maria
Isa Pérez-Vega
Liz
reyer Patty
Acomb
Ned
Carroll Luke
Frederick
Heather
Keeler Ginny
Klevorn
Ethan
Cha John
Huot
Peter
Johnson Rick
Hansen
Liish
Kozlowski Peter
Fischer
Brad
Tabke Mike
Freiberg
Josiah
Hill sydney
Jordan
Leon
Lillie Huldah
Momanyi-HIltsley
Matt
Norris
Niska moved that the Chief Clerk be and he
is hereby instructed to inform the Senate and the Governor by message that the
House of Representatives is about to adjourn this 94th Session sine die. The motion prevailed.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE NINETY-FOURTH
SESSION SINE DIE
Kresha moved that the House adjourn sine
die. The motion prevailed and the
Speaker declared the House adjourned sine die.
Patrick
Duffy Murphy, Chief
Clerk, House of Representatives