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    Laine, Carolyn

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2007-2012 (District 50A); House 2013-2016 (District 41B); Senate 2017-2020 (District 41)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 5/22/1946
    Birth Place: , Minnesota
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Female
    Religion: Episcopalian, Unitarian Universalist
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Columbia Heights
    Occupation (when first elected): Educator/Reserve Teacher, Minneapolis Public Schools

    EDUCATION

    Hibbing Community College; Junior College/Community College;
    University of Minnesota, Duluth; B.S.; Education, Psychology
    St. Mary's University; M.A.; Psychology
    Saybrook Graduate School, California; Doctoral Work; Health Psychology

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Board/Commission: Columbia Heights, Minnesota (City Charter Commission); [Dates Unknown]
    School Board/Administration: Columbia Heights, Minnesota (Board of Education); 1992 to 2002 [Elected]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse:
    Children: Five children: Jennifer, Teresa, Sarah, and Anniki (daughters); Jesse (son)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special legislative concerns: health care, education, environment, elections.

    She was raised in Hibbing, Minnesota.

    She did not seek reelection in 2020.

    Religion (Episcopalian) provided by her 2006 campaign website. Religion (Unitarian Universalist) provided by her 2016 campaign website.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5116

    SESSIONS SERVED

    91st Legislative Session (2019-2020) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 41
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Columbia Heights
    Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey
    Occupation: Educator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment
    • Local Government
    • State Government Finance and Policy and Elections
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 41
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Columbia Heights
    Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey
    Occupation: Educator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment
    • Local Government
    • State Government Finance and Policy and Elections
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 41B
    Elected: 11/4/2014
    Residence: Columbia Heights
    Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey
    Occupation: Educator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2015 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Government Operations & Elections Policy Minutes
    • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
    • State Government Finance Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 41B
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Columbia Heights
    Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey
    Occupation: Educator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Early Childhood and Youth Development Policy Minutes
    • Elections Minutes
    • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
    • Labor, Workplace and Regulated Industries Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 50A
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Columbia Heights
    Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Ramsey
    Occupation: Educator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2011 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
    • Judiciary Policy and Finance Minutes
    • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 50A
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Columbia Heights
    Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Ramsey
    Occupation: Educator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2010 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Finance: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division Minutes
    • Finance: Housing Finance and Policy and Public Health Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Public Safety Finance Division Minutes
    • Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 50A
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Columbia Heights
    Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Ramsey
    Occupation: Educator/Reserve Teacher, Minneapolis Public Schools
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Labor: Labor and Consumer Protection Division Minutes
    • E-12 Education Minutes
    • Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: Early Childhood Learning Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Minnesota Heritage Finance Division Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Session Interviews
    Session Interview (Video) 2008 House Interview

    Session Interview (Video) 2007 House Interview


    Articles & Books About
    Green, Craig. "Schools Advocate: Laine Seeks to Address Education, Property Taxes in One Year." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 2, 2007, p. 18.


    District Files

    District File - 2007 District 50A
    District File - 2008 District 50A
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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