Minnesota House of Representatives

Karen Clark, Minnesota’s first openly lesbian legislative member, who served in the Minnesota House for 38 years, has died at 80. She passed away after a brief illness and was known for advancing environmental justice, passing workers’ right-to-know legislation, and supporting LGBTQ rights, including the 1993 Human Rights Act amendment and 2013 marriage equality law.

Minnesota Democratic state lawmakers staged a sit-in inside the state House chambers after a gun reform measure was defeated. The protest is expected to last until Saturday at noon. The sit-in follows a party-line defeat of a motion to bring the gun reform measure to the floor.

Minnesota Democratic lawmakers staged a sit-in in their house chamber after the Republican speaker failed to put a gun violence prevention bill up for a vote. The sit-in was led by Representative Samantha Sencer-Mura. The bill's vote was promised by Speaker Lisa Demuth but later rescinded.

Minnesota Democrats introduced a bill to reduce state aid to cities and counties that fly the original state flag instead of the redesigned version. The new flag, adopted in 2024, replaced the 1893 design criticized for being racist to Native Americans. Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth dismissed the bill as 'dead on arrival.'

Vance Boelter of Green Isle, Minnesota has been charged with stalking and murdering Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as stalking and shooting Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. The charges follow a two-day manhunt for the suspect. The incident targeted prominent Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses.