| 94th Minnesota Legislature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Overview | |||||
| Term | January 14, 2025 – TBD | ||||
| Senate | |||||
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| Members | 67 senators | ||||
| Co-Presidents | Bobby Joe Champion (DFL) Jeremy R. Miller (R) | ||||
| House of Representatives | |||||
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| Members | 134 representatives | ||||
| Speaker | Lisa Demuth (R) (disputed) | ||||
| DFL Leader | Melissa Hortman (DFL) | ||||
| Sessions | |||||
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The Ninety-fourth Minnesota Legislature is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the state of Minnesota, composed of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives. It convened in Saint Paul on January 14, 2025,[1] following the November 2024 elections for the House as well as a special election for Senate District 45. The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) held a one-seat majority in the Senate and a five-seat majority in the House in the previous legislature.
While the DFL retained control of the Senate, they lost 3 seats in the House to the Republicans, initially leaving the chamber deadlocked at 67-67. This is only the second time in state history that the House was tied after the election.[2] Negotiations for a power-sharing arrangement ensued between Lisa Demuth (Republican) and Melissa Hortman (DFL). During negotiations, Republicans successfully challenged the election of Curtis Johnson for District 40B of the House, leaving a vacancy and requiring a special election. The judge ruled that Johnson does not meet residency requirements and is thus ineligible to serve.[3] This left the house in Republican control at 67-66. Hortman proposed that Republicans temporarily exercise majority control for the first three weeks of the session, including chairing all committees, while maintaining a one-vote advantage on each committee. The DFL vowed not to attend the opening session unless Republicans honored the previously negotiated power-sharing agreement.[4]
On January 14, 2025, the House commenced its legislative session without the presence of any DFL House members in the chamber.[5] The DFL's absence was a strategic response to Republican efforts to secure control of the speakership and committee chair. [6] Secretary of State Steve Simon determining that the House lacked the necessary quorum of 68 members and adjourned the session. Shortly thereafter, Republican representative Paul Anderson declared that the 67 Republicans constituted a quorum in the 133-member House, thereby challenging Simon's decision. The Republicans then elected Lisa Demuth as Speaker.[7]
In response to Republican actions, Hortman stated that the DFL would continue to deny quorum until the special election in District 40B concluded and the new member was sworn in.[5] The DFL has petitioned the Minnesota Supreme Court, claiming the election of a speaker and all actions following the secretary of state's adjournment of the session were unlawful.[8]
- ^ "2025 Legislative Dates". Minnesota Governmental Relations Council. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ "The year the House was tied, and how the two parties made peace … until they didn't - Session Daily - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ Jacobsen, Jeremiah (December 20, 2024). "Roseville election ruling shakes up control of Minnesota legislature". KARE-TV. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
- ^ Kaczke, Lisa (January 6, 2025). "House Republicans plan to act as majority, DFL threatens Opening Day absence in power sharing tug-of-war". Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
- ^ a b Hubbard, Rob (January 14, 2025). "Simon says no quorum, Republicans elect Demuth speaker". Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ Bierschbach, Briana; Olson, Rochelle; Faircloth, Ryan (January 14, 2025). "Minnesota House Democrats boycott first day of session, but Republicans move forward anyway". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ^ Londoño, Ernesto (January 14, 2025). "Minnesota House Democrats Boycott First Day of Session". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ Cummings, Caroline; Bettin, Anthony (January 15, 2025). "DFL members, secretary of state petition state Supreme Court over Republican actions at Minnesota House". WCCO-TV. Retrieved January 15, 2025.