Minnesota Legislature
About the House Public Information Services Office
Mission Statement
The mission of Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services department is to provide credible and timely nonpartisan services that inform the general public of legislative actions, educate the public about the legislative process, and encourage public participation in the Minnesota Legislature.
About the department
We meet our mission by providing services in four main areas: Information and Outreach, Photography, Publications and Television.
Information and Outreach
House Public Information Services serves
as the general information contact point for the House of Representatives.
Answers to hundreds of questions are provided weekly to the public, such as who
their representatives are, what district they live in, when and where
legislative meetings are held, the status of bills and where to find how members
voted on specific legislation.
Services include:
- Workshops and presentations to organizations regarding the House
- Schedules of committee hearings and floor sessions
- A House of Representatives booth at the Minnesota State Fair
- Educational materials about the Legislature and the legislative process
Photography
House Public Information Services
photographers document House activities, including floor sessions, committee
hearings, press conferences and special events. They accept assignments from
House political caucuses, staff and other departments. Services provided by the
photographers include:
- House member "official" and candid photographs
- Photographs of members with constituents who come to the State Capitol
- Photographs for a variety of printed and online publications
Publications
Publication staff produces a variety of
publications for all ages that cover issues before the Legislature; provide
education about the legislative process; and offer information for those who
want to participate in the process. Some of the publications produced include:
- Legislative directories and rosters of elected officials
- Session Daily-electronic alerts when news from the House warrants
- Alerts through Facebook and Twitter when news from the House warrants
- Nonpartisan news releases regarding new laws and other general House information
Television
Television staff provides video coverage of select House activities. Streaming online is an important way for residents to access live video of significant happenings at the House. Services provided include:
- Live and taped unedited coverage of floor sessions and select committee hearings
- Coverage of issue-oriented press conferences and special events
- Video interviews with House members
- Broadcast, cable, mobile and Internet delivery of all programming
- Educational programming available on-demand
- Access to video archives
House Public Information Services seeks to serve as an informational resource for the public, legislators and staff.
Nonpartisan Code of Ethics
House Public Information Services staff are
public servants and have obligations and responsibilities to the general public,
legislators and fellow staff members. Responsibilities are expected to be
performed with the highest level of integrity and honesty.
House Public Information Services staff should be mindful that the public views
them as representatives of the Legislature as an institution. In keeping with
their responsibility to build and uphold the public's trust, staff should
provide accurate, useful and timely information.
House Public Information Services staff should always be vigilant to avoid any
conflicts of interest that may interfere with the work of the institution or be
contrary to the nonpartisan mission of the department. (The following are
examples of conduct that could impair a staff member's nonpartisan status:
serving as a campaign official for a candidate for partisan political office,
writing a letter to the editor in support of or in opposition to a candidate for
partisan political office, acting as a spokesperson for a special interest group
or performing freelance work in partisan political activities.)
Because of the position of responsibility, House Public Information Services
staff are expected to uphold the law and all applicable regulations. Resources
should always be used for the public good, not private gain.
This code is intended to supplement existing policies under which House staff
members are employed. These guidelines do not constitute any legal obligation.
These guidelines are subject to periodic review by the House Public Information
Services director.
Adapted from National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and NCSL
Legislative Information and Communications Staff guidelines
Session Daily
Last-minute compromise narrows scope of nurse staffing bill that goes to governor (5/22/2023 10:10:00 PM) Aid to nursing homes, grants for workers pass House in session's final hours (5/22/2023 8:24:00 PM) House lawmakers send pair of capital investment bills to governor's desk as 2023 session ends (5/22/2023 7:03:00 PM) $9.3 billion health bill would repeal old abortion laws, address health disparities (5/22/2023 6:05:00 PM) DFLers call transportation package a 'generational investment' as House gives a green light (5/21/2023 5:37:00 PM) House passes tax package that includes rebate checks, $1 billion in new revenues (5/20/2023 8:53:00 PM) Agreement on transportation budget includes gas tax hike, delivery fee (5/20/2023 7:49:00 PM) Compromise agreement on nurse staffing legislation clears conference committee (5/20/2023 2:36:00 PM) House passes $14 billion human services package that includes contentious nursing home loan program (5/19/2023 8:08:00 PM) House passes state and local government agreement that calls for new state flag, changes to legislative procedure (5/19/2023 1:47:00 PM) House passes prospective new state regulations of Uber and Lyft (5/19/2023 10:51:00 AM)
Photography
This week's slideshow,
photo gallery and
Capitol area images
Live Video
Event Schedule
JUNE 7: Session Daily Update
Wednesday, June 7 2023 6/7/2023 9:55 AM
Watch: Live Event
Updates from the House
JUNE 7: House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee
Wednesday, June 7 2023 6/7/2023 10:00 AM
Watch: Live Event
Agenda to be announced
The Ninety-third Session of the the Minnesota Legislature is scheduled to reconvene Monday, February 12, 2024 at 12 Noon
Monday, February 12 2024 2/12/2024 12:00 PM
Watch: Live Event
The Ninety-third Session of the the Minnesota Legislature is scheduled to reconvene Monday, February 12, 2024 at 12 Noon
News and Notes
Bill Introductions: HF3340-HF3342
2023 committee deadlines
- Friday, March 10 — Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
- Friday, March 24 — Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
- Tuesday, April 4 (5 p.m.) — Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills
2024 Session
The 2024 legislative session is scheduled to begin Feb. 12, 2024.
Member retirements
The Legislative Reference Library mainatins a list of members not seeking re-election in 2024.
Stay informed
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Follow that bill
You can follow bills throughout the legislative process by signing up for MyBills, a personalized way to track House and Senate bills by number. Find more information on how to follow House and Senate bills here.
Resources
Want to contact your U.S. representative, the governor or a state agency? Click here for a roster of federal and state contacts.