Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth (R) takes a photo of the iris flowers on her desk before she gavels to open the 2026 legislative session. Iris flowers were placed on all the chamber desks where Rep. Melissa Hortman sat while serving in the House. All visitors to the Capitol now have to walk through a metal detector and have their bags put through a weapons scanner before entering the building. A joint resolution honoring Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark,

On the opening day of the 94th Legislature just half the House Chamber is filled with Republican members and the other half of the House Chamber empty as DFL members boycotted the ceremonies. All 67 Republican elected members on their half of the House Chamber were sworn in on the opening day while 66 DFL members were sworn in earlier at the History Center. The boycott was due to the removal of a DFL elected member for a residency violation for not living in the district in w

Gov. Tim Walz signs two executive orders: one that would create a statewide safety council to address gun violence and make recommendations and another to provide law enforcement training on protection order laws, gun storage safety and collect information on the cost of gun violence in the state. Gov. Tim Walz said that he could not sign an executive order to ban assault-style weapons. There is one person, the Speaker of the House, that will not allow a vote on banning assau

Gov. Tim Walz reacts to the release of the November Budget and Economic Forecast. State Budget director Ahna Minge gives an overview of the spending portion of theNovember Budget & Economic forecast. House Speaker Lisa Demuth, (R-Cold Spring) right, and Amanda Tinsley, left, House Republican Director of Public Affairs, look over the Nov. Budget and Economic Forecast as Minnesota Management and Budget staff give an overview during the budget’s release. Gov. Tim Walz, left, his

Gru, Minnesota’s Thanksgiving turkey comes down off the presentation table to take a look around as Gov. Tim Walz, right, took questions during the annual holiday tradition. Shelby Barber, left, who raised the bird keeps a watchful eye on the 45 lb turkey.

Melissa and Mark Hortman along with the family dog, Gilbert, lie in state in the Capitol rotunda. Gov. Tim Walz and his wife, Gwen, pay...

All the lights were turned on in the Capitol and the flag flying at half-staff as people gathered on the front lawn for a candlelight...

Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday in what Gov. Tim Walz called a...

Capitol plant management state workers dust the floor around the “Star of the North” in the rotunda while legislators in their chambers...

Gov. Walz said he will call a special session “when the work’s done — whenever that is, whenever we’re ready.” Halls of the second floor...