The 2023 Legislative Session Begins, Walz Inaugurated for a Second TermThe 2023 Legislative Session Begins, and more
The 2023 legislative session began this week with in-person floor sessions in both bodies after almost three years of virtual legislating at the Minnesota Capitol. Governor Tim Walz was inaugurated to his second term on the eve of the first day of session. Lawmakers in both bodies were sworn in on Tuesday before session officially began at noon.
With this new freshman class, Minnesota swore in a historically diverse legislature. There are a record number of people of color, women, and people who identify as LGBTQ, the House and Senate are both led by women, and Bobby Joe Champion is the first Black president of the Senate.
While the first floor sessions in the House were sleepy this week, the Senate spent hours Wednesday determining a proposal to allow remote voting.
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flannagan were sworn into office for their second term on Monday. Constitutional officers Attorney General Keith Ellison, Secretary of State Steve Simon, and State Auditor Julie Blaha were also sworn in during the inauguration ceremony at the Fitzgerald Theatre. Governor Walz’s second term will have him presiding over a DFL majority House, Senate, and a full DFL slate of constitutional officers. During his inauguration, Walz mentioned several priorities he hopes to advance this session including:
- Investing in public education, including special education and universal school meals
- Climate change mitigation efforts, including the goal to make Minnesota carbon emission-free by 2040
- Paid family leave program
- Expand voting rights, including automatic voter registration
- Conform the state tax code to federal law
- Legalizing adult use of marijuana