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Special Sessions of the Minnesota State Legislature and the Minnesota Territorial Legislature, 1857-present

Compiled by the 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.

See Sessions of the Minnesota State Legislature and the Minnesota Territorial Legislature, 1849-present for more details.

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.

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


Session Year Convened Adjourned Calendar Days Purpose & Notes
92nd Legislature, 2021 1st Special Session 2021 6/14/2021 7/7/2021 24 To enact a balanced state budget and to address the Governor's extension of the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency originally declared on March 13, 2020. The House adjourned sine die on June 30, 2021; the Senate adjourned sine die on July 7, 2021.  (Laws Passed)
91st Legislature, 2020 7th Special Session 2020 12/14/2020 12/15/2020 2 To address the Governor's extension of the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency originally declared on March 13, 2020. The special session began on Monday, December 14, 2020 and adjourned after midnight on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. A legislative day begins at seven o'clock a.m. and continues until seven o'clock a.m. of the following calendar day so the session was one legislative day and two calendar days in length.  (Laws Passed)
91st Legislature, 2020 6th Special Session 2020 11/12/2020 11/12/2020 1 To address the Governor's extension of the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency originally declared on March 13, 2020.  (Laws Passed)
91st Legislature, 2020 5th Special Session 2020 10/12/2020 10/15/2020 4 To address the Governor's extension of the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency originally declared on March 13, 2020 and to consider a bonding bill. The House adjourned sine die on October 14, 2020; the Senate adjourned sine die on October 15, 2020.  (Laws Passed)
91st Legislature, 2020 4th Special Session 2020 9/11/2020 9/11/2020 1 To address the Governor's extension of the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency originally declared on March 13, 2020.  (Laws Passed)
91st Legislature, 2020 3rd Special Session 2020 8/12/2020 8/12/2020 1 To address the Governor's extension of the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency originally declared on March 13, 2020.  (Laws Passed)
91st Legislature, 2020 2nd Special Session 2020 7/13/2020 7/21/2020 9 To address the Governor's extension of the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency originally declared on March 13, 2020 and to address other issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, to policing, and to bonding. The special session began on July 13, 2020 and adjourned after midnight on Tuesday, July 21, 2020. A legislative day begins at seven o'clock a.m. and continues until seven o'clock a.m. of the following calendar day so the session was three legislative days and nine calendar days in length.  (Laws Passed)
91st Legislature, 2020 1st Special Session 2020 6/12/2020 6/19/2020 8 To address the Governor's extension of the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency originally declared on March 13, 2020 and to address other issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, to policing, and to economic damage to local communities related to civil unrest due to the death of George Floyd.  (Laws Passed)
91st Legislature, 2019 1st Special Session 2019 5/24/2019 5/24/2019 1 To complete the passage of budget bills and policy bills.  (Laws Passed)
90th Legislature, 2017 1st Special Session 2017 5/23/2017 5/25/2017 3 To complete the passage of budget bills and policy bills. (The Special Session was called at 12:01 after the regular session ended.)  (Laws Passed)
89th Legislature, 2015 1st Special Session 2015 6/12/2015 6/13/2015 2 To complete the passage of budget bills.  (Laws Passed)
88th Legislature, 2013 1st Special Session 2013 9/9/2013 9/9/2013 1 To provide disaster relief for 18 counties due to severe storms and flooding.  (Laws Passed)
87th Legislature, 2012 1st Special Session 2012 8/24/2012 8/24/2012 1 To provide disaster assistance for the flooded areas near Duluth.  (Laws Passed)
87th Legislature, 2011 1st Special Session 2011 7/19/2011 7/20/2011 2 To complete the passage of budget bills. The special session began on July 19, 2011 and adjourned on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. A legislative day begins at seven o'clock a.m. and continues until seven o'clock a.m. of the following calendar day so the session was one legislative day and two calendar days in length.  (Laws Passed)
86th Legislature, 2010 2nd Special Session 2010 10/18/2010 10/18/2010 1 To provide disaster assistance for flooded areas.  (Laws Passed)
86th Legislature, 2010 1st Special Session 2010 5/17/2010 5/17/2010 1 To complete the passage of budget bills.  (Laws Passed)
85th Legislature, 2007 1st Special Session 2007 9/11/2007 9/11/2007 1 To provide disaster relief for the flooded counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Houston, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona; to address the 35W bridge collapse; and for other disaster relief.  (Laws Passed)
84th Legislature, 2005 1st Special Session 2005 5/24/2005 7/13/2005 51 To pass budget bills not passed during the regular legislative session.  (Laws Passed)
83rd Legislature, 2003 1st Special Session 2003 5/20/2003 5/29/2003 10 Enact legislation to provide for the financial management of state government. Matters considered: Taxes, budget and appropriations, major bills not passed during regular session.  (Laws Passed)
82nd Legislature, 2002 1st Special Session 2002 9/19/2002 9/19/2002 1 Flood relief for Roseau, Minnesota; also considered sales tax on aggregate materials and charitable deducting.  (Laws Passed)
82nd Legislature, 2001 1st Special Session 2001 6/11/2001 6/29/2001 19 Enact legislation to provide for the financial management of state government. Matters considered: Taxes, budget and appropriations, major bills not passed during regular session.  (Laws Passed)
80th Legislature, 1998 1st Special Session 1998 4/20/1998 4/22/1998 3 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.  (Laws Passed)
80th Legislature, 1997 3rd Special Session 1997 10/23/1997 11/14/1997 23 Funding for baseball stadium. House adjourned 11/13/1997.  (Laws Passed)
80th Legislature, 1997 2nd Special Session 1997 8/19/1997 8/19/1997 1 Flood relief (also considered commissioners' pay, minimum wage).  (Laws Passed)
80th Legislature, 1997 1st Special Session 1997 6/26/1997 6/26/1997 1 K-12 education appropriations, DWI (also considered government data practices).  (Laws Passed)
79th Legislature, 1995 1st Special Session 1995 5/23/1995 5/25/1995 3 K-12 education appropriations and other unfinished business.  (Laws Passed)
78th Legislature, 1994 1st Special Session 1994 8/31/1994 8/31/1994 1 Strengthen sexual predator law.  (Laws Passed)
78th Legislature, 1993 1st Special Session 1993 5/27/1993 5/27/1993 1 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.  (Laws Passed)
76th Legislature, 1989 1st Special Session 1989 9/27/1989 9/29/1989 3 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.  (Laws Passed)
75th Legislature, 1987 1st Special Session 1987 6/25/1987 6/25/1987 1 Strengthen corporation takeover laws (at request of Dayton-Hudson). Matters considered: Takeover laws and shareholder protection; four other minor laws.  (Laws Passed)
74th Legislature, 1986 1st Special Session 1986 4/2/1986 4/2/1986 1 Legislature had adjourned without completing action on budget, revenues, and farm security loan guarantees.  (Laws Passed)
74th Legislature, 1985 1st Special Session 1985 6/19/1985 6/21/1985 3 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.  (Laws Passed)
72nd Legislature, 1982 3rd Special Session 1982 12/7/1982 12/10/1982 4 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.  (Laws Passed)
72nd Legislature, 1982 2nd Special Session 1982 7/9/1982 7/9/1982 1 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.  (Laws Passed)
72nd Legislature, 1982 1st Special Session 1982 3/30/1982 3/30/1982 1 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.  (Laws Passed)
72nd Legislature, 1981 3rd Special Session 1981 12/1/1981 1/18/1982 49 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. This special session overlapped with the 1982 regular session and is the only time sessions occurred concurrently.  (Laws Passed)
72nd Legislature, 1981 2nd Special Session 1981 7/1/1981 7/2/1981 2 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.  (Laws Passed)
72nd Legislature, 1981 1st Special Session 1981 6/6/1981 6/6/1981 1 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.  (Laws Passed)
71st Legislature, 1979 1st Special Session 1979 5/24/1979 5/24/1979 1 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.  (Laws Passed)
67th Legislature, 1971 Extra Session 1971 5/25/1971 10/30/1971 159 Taxes and revenues, reapportionment. Recessed between 7/31/1971 and 10/12/1971.  (Laws Passed)
65th Legislature, 1967 Extra Session 1967 5/23/1967 6/2/1967 11 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.  (Laws Passed)
64th Legislature, 1966 Extra Session 1966 4/25/1966 5/19/1966 25 Reapportionment. Matters considered: Apportionment.  (Laws Passed)
62nd Legislature, 1961 2nd Extra Session 1961 12/18/1961 12/19/1961 2 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.  (Laws Passed)
62nd Legislature, 1961 Extra Session 1961 4/24/1961 6/8/1961 46 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. House session adjourned 6/7/1961.  (Laws Passed)
61st Legislature, 1959 Extra Session 1959 4/25/1959 7/1/1959 68 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.  (Laws Passed)
60th Legislature, 1958 Extra Session 1958 6/23/1958 6/26/1958 4 Unemployment benefits; Korean veterans' bonuses.  (Laws Passed)
60th Legislature, 1957 Extra Session 1957 4/30/1957 4/30/1957 1 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.  (Laws Passed)
59th Legislature, 1955 Extra Session 1955 4/26/1955 4/26/1955 1 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.  (Laws Passed)
57th Legislature, 1951 Extra Session 1951 4/24/1951 4/24/1951 1 To pass necessary major legislation not passed during regular session. Matters considered: Appropriations.  (Laws Passed)
53rd Legislature, 1944 Extra Session 1944 3/8/1944 3/11/1944 4 To consider suffrage of soldiers, change date of primary election. Matters considered: Military personnel suffrage; and change of primary and general election dates.  (Laws Passed)
50th Legislature, 1937 Extra Session 1937 5/24/1937 7/23/1937 61 Enact tax program not passed during regular session. Matters considered: Taxation and appropriations.  (Laws Passed)
49th Legislature, 1936 2nd Extra Session 1936 12/17/1936 12/23/1936 7 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.  (Laws Passed)
49th Legislature, 1936 Extra Session 1936 12/2/1935 1/25/1936 55 Provide for legislation relative to the Social Security Act of federal government. Matters considered: Statewide system of old-age assistance; and various other laws.  (Laws Passed)
48th Legislature, 1934 Extra Session 1934 12/5/1933 1/6/1934 33 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.  (Laws Passed)
41st Legislature, 1919 Extra Session 1919 9/8/1919 9/19/1919 12 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.  (Laws Passed)
39th Legislature, 1916 Special Session 1916 10/28/1916 10/28/1916 1 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.  (Laws Passed)
37th Legislature, 1912 Special Session 1912 6/4/1912 6/18/1912 15 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.  (Laws Passed)
32nd Legislature, 1902 Extra Session 1902 2/4/1902 3/11/1902 36 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.  (Laws Passed)
22nd Legislature, 1881 Extra Session 1881 10/11/1881 11/19/1881 40 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.  (Laws Passed)
4th Legislature, 1862 Extra Session 1862 9/9/1862 9/29/1862 21 U.S-Dakota conflict. Matters considered: Suffrage for military personnel; provide for organization, equipment of militia; regulate intoxicating liquor for Indians; and other laws.  (Laws Passed)
8th Territorial Legislature, 1857 Extra Session 1857 4/27/1857 5/25/1857 29 The 1857-58 Legislative Manual gives erroneous adjournment date of 23 May.  (Laws Passed)