93rd Minnesota Legislature
The Ninety-third 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 3, 2023.
93rd Minnesota Legislature | |||||
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Overview | |||||
Term | January 3, 2023 – | ||||
Senate | |||||
Members | 67 senators | ||||
President | Bobby Joe Champion (DFL) | ||||
Majority Leader | Kari Dziedzic (DFL) until February 6, 2024 Erin Murphy (DFL) after February 6, 2024 | ||||
Minority Leader | Mark Johnson (R) | ||||
House of Representatives | |||||
Members | 134 representatives | ||||
Speaker | Melissa Hortman (DFL) | ||||
Majority Leader | Jamie Long (DFL) | ||||
Minority Leader | Lisa Demuth (R) | ||||
Sessions | |||||
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This was the first legislature to be fully DFL-controlled since the 88th Minnesota Legislature in 2013–15. During the first session (2023), the body passed a number of major reforms to Minnesota law, including requiring paid leave, banning noncompete agreements, cannabis legalization, increased spending on infrastructure and environmental issues, tax modifications, codifying abortion rights, universal free school meals, and universal gun background checks among others. The Star Tribune called it "one of the most consequential" ever in Minnesota, while Governor Tim Walz stated that it was the "most productive session in Minnesota history." Some journalists compared the session to the 67th Minnesota Legislature, which from 1971–1973 enacted major changes to school finance known as the "Minnesota Miracle".
The second legislative session (2024) began in February. The primary agenda for even-year sessions traditionally centers on passing a public construction bill and introducing new policy measures, given the $72 billion two-year budget was adopted in the previous session. A central task for the session is the assembly of a public construction bill to finance infrastructure projects. There will also be legislative efforts to refine the state's newly legalized adult-use cannabis market to streamline the licensing process and to provide clarity to businesses regarding employee drug testing. Other significant issues are the role and responsibilities of school resource officers, banning shadow noncompetes, establishing unemployment benefits for striking workers, and requiring companies to post salary ranges for jobs.
At the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's session priorities gathering in St. Paul in early 2024, the state's four legislative leaders expressed opposition to changing the law to allow strong beer in grocery stores and a constitutional amendment for a full-time Legislature. A "sanctuary state" bill to limit state cooperation with ICE was introduced, but leaders do not expect it to pass.