Capitol Image

Print

Sessions of the Minnesota State Legislature and the Minnesota Territorial Legislature, 1849-present

Compiled by: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
Compiled from: House and Senate Journals, Minnesota legislative manuals and other sources, including previous library compilations and several histories of Minnesota.

While efforts have been made to verify this information in more than one source, the library cannot guarantee the accuracy of sources; errors are possible. Please report any errors to the library staff.

Legislative Days = "Legislative day" is defined in Minnesota Statutes 3.012 as follows: "A legislative day is a day when either house of the legislature is called to order. A legislative day begins at seven o'clock a.m. and continues until seven o'clock a.m. of the following calendar day."

Adjournment date is the date by which both houses had adjourned.

For further information, see the House Research publication Regular Sessions of the Minnesota Legislature. Also see the Session FAQ

Legislature Session Convened Adjourned Calendar Days Legislative Days
House Senate
86th 2010 Continuing Regular Session 2/4/2010
2009 Regular Session 1/6/2009 5/18/2009 133 58 58
85th 2008 Continuing Regular Session 2/12/2008 5/18/2008 97 44 44
2007 1st Special Session
To provide disaster relief for the flooded counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona.
9/11/2007 9/11/2007 1 1 1
2007 Regular Session 1/3/2007 5/21/2007 139 75 75
  Total regular session days for biennium 119 119
84th 2006 Continuing Regular Session 3/1/2006 5/21/2006 82 46 46
2005 1st Special Session
To pass budget bills not passed during the regular legislative session.
5/24/2005 7/13/2005 51 23 23
2005 Regular Session 1/4/2005 5/23/2005 140 66 66
  Total regular session days for biennium 112 112
83rd 2004 Continuing Regular Session 2/2/2004 5/16/2004 105 52 51
2003 1st Special Session
Enact legislation to provide for the financial management of state government. Matters considered: Taxes, budget and appropriations, major bills not passed during regular session.
5/20/2003 5/29/2003 10 8 8
2003 Regular Session 1/7/2003 5/19/2003 133 59 59
  Total regular session days for biennium 111 110
82nd 2002 1st Special Session
Flood relief for Roseau, Minnesota; also considered sales tax on aggregate materials and charitable deducting.
9/19/2002 9/19/2002 1 1 1
2002 Continuing Regular Session 1/29/2002 5/20/2002 117 56 57
2001 1st Special Session
Enact legislation to provide for the financial management of state government. Matters considered: Taxes, budget and appropriations, major bills not passed during regular session.
6/11/2001 6/29/2001 19 9 9
2001 Regular Session 1/3/2001 5/21/2001 139 59 59
  Total regular session days for biennium 115 116
81st 2000 Continuing Regular Session 2/1/2000 5/18/2001 108 51 51
 
Although the sine die adjournment calendar dates are Thursday, May 18, 2000, the last 'legislative day' in the biennium was Wednesday, May 17. 'Legislative day' is defined in Minnesota Statutes 3.012 as follows: 'A legislative day is a day when either house of the legislature is called to order. A legislative day begins at seven o'clock a.m. and continues until seven o'clock a.m. of the following calendar day.' The total number of calendar days for the 2000 regular session counts May 18 as a separate calendar day.
     
1999 Regular Session 1/5/1999 5/17/1999 133 67 67
  Total regular session days for biennium 118 118
80th 1998 1st Special Session
Clarify intent to allow recovery for fraud pursuant to Minn. Stat. 604.10; issues relating to economic development and Early Childhood and Family Education. Senate adjourned on 4/20/1998.
4/20/1998 4/22/1998 3 3 1
1998 Continuing Regular Session 1/20/1998 4/9/1998 80 46 46
1997 3rd Special Session
Funding for baseball stadium. House adjourned 11/13/1997.
10/23/1997 11/14/1997 23 3 4
1997 2nd Special Session
Flood relief (also considered commissioners' pay, minimum wage).
8/19/1997 8/19/1997 1 1 1
1997 1st Special Session
K-12 education appropriations, DWI (also considered government data practices).
6/26/1997 6/26/1997 1 1 1
1997 Regular Session 1/7/1997 5/19/1997 133 63 63
  Total regular session days for biennium 109 109
79th 1996 Continuing Regular Session 1/16/1996 4/3/1996 79 46 47
1995 1st Special Session
K-12 education appropriations and other unfinished business.
5/23/1995 5/25/1995 3 3 3
1995 Regular Session 1/3/1995 5/22/1995 140 65 65
  Total regular session days for biennium 111 112
78th 1994 1st Special Session
Strengthen sexual predator law.
8/31/1994 8/31/1994 1 1 1
1994 Continuing Regular Session 2/22/1994 5/6/1994 74 45 45
1993 1st Special Session
Budget bills. Matters considered: Health and human services finance, higher education finance, election campaign financial disclosure of contributions, state budget, contingency airplane replacement funding, sentencing for repeat domestic abusers, revisor's bill to correct technical errors.
5/27/1993 5/27/1993 1 1 1
1993 Regular Session 1/5/1993 5/17/1993 133 61 61
  Total regular session days for biennium 106 106
77th 1992 Continuing Regular Session 1/6/1992 4/16/1992 102 42 42
1991 Regular Session 1/8/1991 5/20/1991 133 58 58
  Total regular session days for biennium 100 100
76th 1990 Continuing Regular Session 2/12/1990 4/25/1990 73 38 38
1989 1st Special Session
Pass a tax bill to replace the one vetoed by Governor Perpich in June. Matters considered: Property tax relief; statewide solid waste recycling program (financed by 6% tax on garbage collection fees). Note: The House met in the Senate chamber due to the remodeling of the House chamber.
9/27/1989 9/29/1989 3 3 3
1989 Regular Session 1/3/1989 5/22/1989 140 58 58
  Total regular session days for biennium 96 96
75th 1988 Continuing Regular Session 2/9/1988 4/25/1988 77 38 38
1987 1st Special Session
Strengthen corporation takeover laws (at request of Dayton-Hudson). Matters considered: Takeover laws and shareholder protection; four other minor laws.
6/25/1987 6/25/1987 1 1 1
1987 Regular Session 1/6/1987 5/18/1987 133 55 55
  Total regular session days for biennium 93 93
74th 1986 1st Special Session
Legislature had adjourned without completing action on budget, revenues, and farm security loan guarantees.
4/2/1986 4/2/1986 1 1 1
1986 Continuing Regular Session 2/3/1986 3/21/1986 47 23 26
 
House adjourned on 3/17/1986
     
1985 1st Special Session
Enact legislation to provide for the financial management of state government. Matters considered: Taxes, budget and appropriations, education, operation of state and local governments, major bills not passed during regular session.
6/19/1985 6/21/1985 3 3 3
1985 Regular Session 1/8/1985 5/20/1985 133 65 65
  Total regular session days for biennium 88 91
73rd 1984 Continuing Regular Session 3/6/1984 4/24/1984 50 24 24
1983 Regular Session 1/4/1983 5/23/1983 140 60 60
  Total regular session days for biennium 84 84
72nd 1982 3rd Special Session
Balance the state budget for the current biennium. Matters considered: Reduce appropriations for fiscal year; reduce employer and increase employee contributions for various retirement funds; add 2 members to investment advisory board, etc.
12/7/1982 12/10/1982 4 3 3
1982 2nd Special Session
Provide short term emergency jobs for unemployed on the Iron Range, etc., and considers a local bill for Albert Lea. Matters considered: Employment aid from Northeast Minnesota Economic Protection Fund; authorized Albert Lea to expend certain federal revenue sharing funds.
7/9/1982 7/9/1982 1 1 1
1982 1st Special Session
Immediately address these unemployment insurance issues and unacceptable revisions in Minnesota's workers compensation system. Matters considered: Provided changes in Minnesota's unemployment compensation and workers compensation.
3/30/1982 3/30/1982 1 1 1
1982 Continuing Regular Session 1/12/1982 3/19/1982 67 34 34
1981 3rd Special Session
Address the need to assure the state government has sufficient monies available to meet its cash-flow needs, as well as other matters. Matters considered: Reduced appropriations; authorized financial state aid shifts, etc.
12/1/1981 1/18/1982 49 17 17
1981 2nd Special Session
Enact short-term borrowing law so state can meets its financial obligations during cash shortage. Matters considered: Short term borrowing law; corrected certain errors in 1981 laws.
7/1/1981 7/2/1981 2 2 2
1981 1st Special Session
Enact essential legislation to provide for the orderly financial management of state government and to raise revenues to fund operations of state government and programs. Matters considered: Biennial budget and appropriations; tax bill.
6/6/1981 6/6/1981 1 1 1
1981 Regular Session 1/6/1981 5/18/1981 133 57 57
  Total regular session days for biennium 91 91
71st 1980 Continuing Regular Session 1/22/1980 4/12/1980 82 40 40
1979 1st Special Session
The legislature ran out of time before passing three bills in the regular session. Prior agreement was reached between legislative leaders and governor. Matters considered: workers' compensation, energy, and transportation appropriations.
5/24/1979 5/24/1979 1 1 1
1979 Regular Session 1/3/1979 5/21/1979 139 59 59
  Total regular session days for biennium 99 99
70th 1978 Continuing Regular Session 1/17/1978 3/24/1978 67 38 38
1977 Regular Session 1/4/1977 5/23/1977 140 61 61
  Total regular session days for biennium 99 99
69th 1976 Continuing Regular Session 1/27/1976 4/7/1976 72 51 51
1975 Regular Session 1/7/1975 5/19/1975 133 57 57
  Total regular session days for biennium 108 108
68th 1974 Continuing Regular Session 1/15/1974 3/29/1974 74 50 50
1973 Regular Session 1/2/1973 5/21/1973 140 66 66
  Total regular session days for biennium 116 116
67th 1971 1st Special Session
Taxes and revenues, reapportionment. Recessed between 7/31/1971 and 10/12/1971.
5/25/1971 10/30/1971 159 54 53
1971 Regular Session 1/5/1971 5/24/1971 140 104 104
66th 1969 Regular Session 1/7/1969 5/26/1969 140 102 102
65th 1967 1st Special Session
Revenue and tax measures and other matters not acted upon during regular session. Matters considered: Enacted 60 bills on various matters of importance including major taxation revision and major appropriations for governmental operations.
5/23/1967 6/2/1967 11 8 8
1967 Regular Session 1/3/1967 5/22/1967 140 103 103
64th 1966 1st Special Session
Reapportionment. Matters considered: Apportionment.
4/25/1966 5/19/1966 25 17 16
1965 Regular Session 1/5/1965 5/24/1965 140 100 103
63rd 1963 Regular Session 1/8/1963 5/23/1963 136 100 102
62nd 1961 2nd Special Session
To consider congressional reapportionment, aid to the blind, and other matters of importance. Matters considered: Amended certain provisions relating to income tax, divided state into eight new congressional districts, and gave aid to blind.
12/18/1961 12/19/1961 2 2 2
1961 1st Special Session
To provide for basic appropriation and revenue measures, and other matters of importance not enacted during the regular session. Matters considered: Adopted 100 laws relating to professional corporations, unfair trade practices, license plates, agricultural seed, elections, claims, consolidation and investment of swampland and permanent school fund, retirement, uniform traffic tickets, soil conservation, sanitary districts, investment of state funds, salaries, state indebtedness, appropriations for buildings and general operation of state government, and numerous local laws.
4/24/1961 6/8/1961 46 33 33
 
House session adjourned 6/7/1961.
     
1961 Regular Session 1/3/1961 4/17/1961 105 75 75
61st 1959 1st Special Session
To provide for appropriation and tax measures not adopted during regular session. Matters considered: Adopted 90 laws relating to appropriations, taxation, salaries, retirement fees, distressed school districts, claims, reapportionment, daylight savings time, school laws recodification, interim commissions and local laws.
4/25/1959 7/1/1959 68 48 45
1959 Regular Session 1/6/1959 4/21/1959 106 77 77
60th 1958 2nd Special Session
Unemployment benefits; Korean veterans' bonuses.
6/23/1958 6/26/1958 4 4 4
1957 1st Special Session
To provide for appropriation and tax measures not adopted during regular session. Matters considered: Adopted omnibus tax measure; appropriated funds for buildings and general operation of state government; revised laws relating to the Railroad and Warehouse Commission; provided for reimbursement of utilities; adopted new salaries schedule for judges and changed judicial districts; changed retirement laws.
4/30/1957 4/30/1957 1 1 1
1957 Regular Session 1/8/1957 4/25/1957 108 75 79
59th 1955 1st Special Session
To provide for adoption of revenue measures to balance appropriations already passed. Matters considered: Adopted foundation aid formula; provided for appropriations; increased income tax rates and other taxes; proposed constitutional amendment to use occupation tax receipts for current education expenditures.
4/26/1955 4/26/1955 1 1 1
1955 Regular Session 1/4/1955 4/21/1955 108 79 78
58th 1953 Regular Session 1/6/1953 4/22/1953 107 77 79
57th 1951 1st Special Session
To pass necessary major legislation not passed during regular session. Matters considered: Appropriations.
4/24/1951 4/24/1951 1 1 1
1951 Regular Session 1/2/1951 4/19/1951 108 75 77
56th 1949 Regular Session 1/4/1949 4/21/1949 108 74 78
55th 1947 Regular Session 1/7/1947 4/24/1947 108 76 76
54th 1945 Regular Session 1/2/1945 4/19/1945 108 75 76
53rd 1944 1st Special Session
To consider suffrage of soldiers, change date of primary election. Matters considered: Military personnel suffrage; and change of primary and general election dates.
3/8/1944 3/11/1944 4 4 4
1943 Regular Session 1/5/1943 4/21/1943 107 76 80
52nd 1941 Regular Session 1/7/1941 4/24/1941 108 77 76
51st 1939 Regular Session 1/3/1939 4/19/1939 107 76 76
50th 1937 1st Special Session
Enact tax program not passed during regular session. Matters considered: Taxation and appropriations.
5/24/1937 7/23/1937 61 44 41
1937 Regular Session 1/5/1937 4/22/1937 108 79 73
49th 1936 2nd Special Session
To legislate for social security. Matters considered: An act to create an unemployment compensation fund and provide for cooperation with the federal Social Security Board.
12/17/1936 12/23/1936 7 5 5
1935 1st Special Session
Provide for legislation relative to the Social Security Act of federal government. Matters considered: Statewide system of old-age assistance; and various other laws.
12/2/1935 1/25/1936 55 36 35
1935 Regular Session 1/8/1935 4/25/1935 108 82 77
48th 1933 1st Special Session
To consider emergency situation of unemployment and cooperate with federal government concerning such, and to regulate the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors. Matters considered: Amendment to act relating to care of poor; authorize board of supervision of certain organized towns to create department of highway engineering for road construction; temperance education in public schools; regulate manufacture, sale and distribution of intoxicating liquors; authorize state executive council to extend direct relief, work relief, and employment of citizens; and various other laws.
12/5/1933 1/6/1934 33 23 24
1933 Regular Session 1/3/1933 4/19/1933 107 81 77
47th 1931 Regular Session 1/6/1931 4/22/1931 107 78 71
46th 1929 Regular Session 1/8/1929 4/25/1929 108 76 73
45th 1927 Regular Session 1/4/1927 4/21/1927 108 78 72
44th 1925 Regular Session 1/6/1925 4/22/1925 107 77 75
43rd 1923 Regular Session 1/2/1923 4/19/1923 108 77 70
42nd 1921 Regular Session 1/4/1921 4/21/1921 108 80 80
41st 1919 1st Special Session
To ratify the proposed Woman Suffrage Amendment, to enact legislation to benefit W.W. I soldiers, to create a state board of relief, to amend election laws, to establish a better state budget system, and to pass laws to curb profiteering and reduce high cost of living. Matters considered: Legalize county board action appropriating money for relief of flood sufferers; act relating to nomination and election of presidential electors; creation of state board of relief; provide for investigation of cost of living to be performed by commissioner of agriculture; bonuses payable to military personnel; and woman suffrage.
9/8/1919 9/19/1919 12 11 11
1919 Regular Session 1/7/1919 4/24/1919 108
40th 1917 Regular Session 1/2/1917 4/19/1917 108 78 76
39th 1916 1st Special Session
To consider law to permit members of National Guard to vote at next election. Matters considered: Provide for method by which legal voter member of National Guard may vote.
10/28/1916 10/28/1916 1 1 1
1915 Regular Session 1/5/1915 4/22/1915 108
38th 1913 Regular Session 1/7/1913 4/24/1913 108
37th 1912 1st Special Session
To enact a statewide direct primary law applicable to all state officers, a corrupt practices act, and a reapportionment law. Matters considered: Provide for laws relative to statewide primary, description of party, filing, etc.; act pertaining to corrupt practices at primaries, elections, and candidates; reapportionment; and other laws.
6/4/1912 6/18/1912 15 13 13
1911 Regular Session 1/3/1911 4/19/1911 107 77 71
36th 1909 Regular Session 1/5/1909 4/22/1909 108 59 71
35th 1907 Regular Session 1/8/1907 4/24/1907 107
34th 1905 Regular Session 1/3/1905 4/18/1905 106
33rd 1903 Regular Session 1/6/1903 4/21/1903 106
32nd 1902 1st Special Session
To consider report of tax commission created by 1901 Minn. Laws Chap. 13. Matters considered: Amendment to constitution relating to power of taxation; taxation of real estate, inheritance, gifts, personal property; provide for public examiners, primary election; and other laws.
2/4/1902 3/11/1902 36 29 27
1901 Regular Session 1/8/1901 4/12/1901 95
31st 1899 Regular Session 1/3/1899 4/18/1899 106
30th 1897 Regular Session 1/5/1897 4/21/1897 107
29th 1895 Regular Session 1/8/1895 4/23/1895 106
28th 1893 Regular Session 1/3/1893 4/18/1893 106
27th 1891 Regular Session 1/6/1891 4/20/1891 105
26th 1889 Regular Session 1/8/1889 4/23/1889 106
25th 1887 Regular Session 1/4/1887 3/4/1887 60
24th 1885 Regular Session 1/6/1885 3/6/1885 60
23rd 1883 Regular Session 1/2/1883 3/2/1883 60
22nd 1881 1st Special Session
To consider previous legislation on state railroad bonds which had been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Matters considered: Provide for payment of railroad adjustment bonds previously issued; and to provide for the issuing of new bonds, various other laws.
10/11/1881 11/19/1881 40 28 26
1881 Regular Session 1/4/1881 3/4/1881 60
21st 1879 Regular Session 1/7/1879 3/7/1879 60
Biennial sessions begin.
20th 1878 Regular Session 1/8/1878 3/8/1878 60
19th 1877 Regular Session 1/2/1877 3/2/1877 60
18th 1876 Regular Session 1/4/1876 3/3/1876 60
17th 1875 Regular Session 1/5/1875 3/5/1875 60
16th 1874 Regular Session 1/6/1874 3/6/1874 60
15th 1873 Regular Session 1/7/1873 3/7/1873 60
14th 1872 Regular Session 1/2/1872 3/1/1872 60
13th 1871 Regular Session 1/3/1871 3/3/1871 60
12th 1870 Regular Session 1/4/1870 3/4/1870 60
11st 1869 Regular Session 1/5/1869 3/5/1869 60
10th 1868 Regular Session 1/7/1868 3/6/1868 60
9th 1867 Regular Session 1/8/1867 3/8/1867 60
8th 1866 Regular Session 1/2/1866 3/2/1866 60
7th 1865 Regular Session 1/3/1865 3/3/1865 60
6th 1864 Regular Session 1/5/1864 3/4/1864 60
5th 1863 Regular Session 1/6/1863 3/6/1863 60
4th 1862 1st Special Session
Indian outbreak. Matters considered: Suffrage for military personnel; provide for organization, equipment of militia; regulate intoxicating liquor for Indians; and other laws.
9/9/1862 9/29/1862 21 18 18
1862 Regular Session 1/7/1862 3/7/1862 60
3rd 1861 Regular Session 1/8/1861 3/8/1861 60
2nd* 1859-1860 Regular Session 12/7/1859 3/12/1860 97
1st* 1857-1858 Regular Session 12/2/1857 8/12/1858 254
 
Recessed between 3/25/1858 and 6/2/1858.
     
8th Territorial 1857 1st Special Session 4/27/1857 5/25/1857 29
 
The 1857-58 Legislative Manual gives erroneous adjournment date of 23 May.
     
1857 Regular Session 1/7/1857 3/7/1857 60
7th Territorial 1856 Regular Session 1/2/1856 3/1/1856 60
6th Territorial 1855 Regular Session 1/3/1855 1/3/1855 60
5th Territorial 1854 Regular Session 1/4/1854 3/4/1854 60
4th Territorial 1853 Regular Session 1/5/1853 3/5/1853 60
3rd Territorial 1852 Regular Session 1/7/1852 3/6/1852 60
2nd Territorial 1851 Regular Session 1/1/1851 3/31/1851 90
1st Territorial 1849 Regular Session 9/3/1849 11/1/1849 60

*A note in the Legislative Manual for the State of Minnesota 1881 (p. 180) states that due to the protracted session of 1857-58 the 1858-59 meeting of the legislature was unnecessary and even though there was an election in the fall of 1858, those elected were never sworn in.