About the House Public Information Services Office
Mission Statement
The mission of Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services department is to provide credible and timely nonpartisan services that inform the general public of legislative actions, educate the public about the legislative process, and encourage public participation in the Minnesota Legislature.
About the department
We meet our mission by providing services in four main areas: Information and Outreach, Photography, Publications and Television.
Information and Outreach
House Public Information Services serves
as the general information contact point for the House of Representatives.
Answers to hundreds of questions are provided weekly to the public, such as who
their representatives are, what district they live in, when and where
legislative meetings are held, the status of bills and where to find how members
voted on specific legislation.
Services include:
- Workshops and presentations to organizations regarding the House
- Schedules of committee hearings and floor sessions
- A House of Representatives booth at the Minnesota State Fair
- Educational materials about the Legislature and the legislative process
Photography
House Public Information Services
photographers document House activities, including floor sessions, committee
hearings, press conferences and special events. They accept assignments from
House political caucuses, staff and other departments. Services provided by the
photographers include:
- House member "official" and candid photographs
- Photographs of members with constituents who come to the State Capitol
- Photographs for a variety of printed and online publications
Publications
Publication staff produces a variety of
publications for all ages that cover issues before the Legislature; provide
education about the legislative process; and offer information for those who
want to participate in the process. Some of the publications produced include:
- Legislative directories and rosters of elected officials
- Session Daily-electronic alerts when news from the House warrants
- Alerts through Facebook and Twitter when news from the House warrants
- Nonpartisan news releases regarding new laws and other general House information
Television
Television staff provides video coverage of select House activities. Streaming online is an important way for residents to access live video of significant happenings at the House. Services provided include:
- Live and taped unedited coverage of floor sessions and select committee hearings
- Coverage of issue-oriented press conferences and special events
- Video interviews with House members
- Broadcast, cable, mobile and Internet delivery of all programming
- Educational programming available on-demand
- Access to video archives
House Public Information Services seeks to serve as an informational resource for the public, legislators and staff.
Nonpartisan Code of Ethics
House Public Information Services staff are
public servants and have obligations and responsibilities to the general public,
legislators and fellow staff members. Responsibilities are expected to be
performed with the highest level of integrity and honesty.
House Public Information Services staff should be mindful that the public views
them as representatives of the Legislature as an institution. In keeping with
their responsibility to build and uphold the public's trust, staff should
provide accurate, useful and timely information.
House Public Information Services staff should always be vigilant to avoid any
conflicts of interest that may interfere with the work of the institution or be
contrary to the nonpartisan mission of the department. (The following are
examples of conduct that could impair a staff member's nonpartisan status:
serving as a campaign official for a candidate for partisan political office,
writing a letter to the editor in support of or in opposition to a candidate for
partisan political office, acting as a spokesperson for a special interest group
or performing freelance work in partisan political activities.)
Because of the position of responsibility, House Public Information Services
staff are expected to uphold the law and all applicable regulations. Resources
should always be used for the public good, not private gain.
This code is intended to supplement existing policies under which House staff
members are employed. These guidelines do not constitute any legal obligation.
These guidelines are subject to periodic review by the House Public Information
Services director.
Adapted from National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and NCSL
Legislative Information and Communications Staff guidelines
Session Daily
'No easy fix:' legislative reform subcommittee holds first meeting (7/10/2019 3:24:00 PM) Governor signs special session budget bills into law (5/31/2019 11:52:53 AM) After sunrise, the sun sets on 2019 special session (5/25/2019 7:09:00 AM) House passes omnibus education bill during special session, includes $543 million funding boost (5/25/2019 6:50:00 AM) Omnibus state government bill going to governor has $60 million base increase (5/25/2019 6:44:00 AM) Public safety bill that 'scratched the surface' gets House, Senate approval and heads to governor (5/25/2019 4:33:00 AM) Wage theft penalties among House-, Senate-approved omnibus jobs and energy bill (5/25/2019 3:58:00 AM) The tax bill cometh - and the governor will need to act on it (5/25/2019 2:35:00 AM) Environment funding bill now awaits action by the governor (5/25/2019 1:08:00 AM) 'Status quo' transportation bill clears House (5/25/2019 12:40:00 AM) The last big bill is ready: omnibus health and human services legislation unveiled (5/24/2019 9:31:00 PM)
Photography
This week's slideshow,
photo gallery and
Capitol area images
Live Video
Event Schedule
The 2020 Regular Session of the Minnesota Legislature is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Tuesday, February 11 2020 12:00 PM
Watch: Live Event
The Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader have agreed to convene the 2020 Regular Session of the Minnesota Legislature on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 12 p.m.
News and Notes
The 2020 session is scheduled to begin Feb. 11, 2020.
Bill Introductions: Special Session HF1-HF17
For comparison
There were 2,921 House files introduced during the 2019 regular session; 2,722 in 2017; 2,379 in 2015; 1,862 in 2013; and 1,761 in 2011.
Did you know?
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Minnesota is the only state with a divided legislature in the 2019-20 biennium. The last time there was only one divided state legislature in the country was 1914.
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Resources
Want to contact your U.S. representative, the governor or a state agency? Click here for a roster of federal and state contacts.