June 1 - Capitol Fencing Removed

Keller Fence Company workers began taking the fence down that went up around the Capitol during the protests over the death of George Floyd. The fencing remained up for over a year when there were threats against State Capitols around the country, during the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6 and until the end of the trial in April of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. The state spent over $100,000 for fencing to secure the Capitol building.

The Capitol was first closed to the public in March of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic required the Legislature to meet remotely for committee hearings and floor sessions. Now with the fencing around the Capitol being removed, House Speaker Melissa Hortman hopes the building will be opened to the public in time for a special session in mid-June and all of the members of the House will be back at their chamber desks.