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Minnesota House of Representatives

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

Week in Review: Jan. 23-27 (1/27/2023 2:41:00 PM)
House OKs bill to include inflation on both sides of budget forecast (1/26/2023 11:41:00 PM)
House passes carbon-free energy requirement after bill generates lively debate (1/26/2023 7:45:00 PM)
Walz administration seeking $7 billion to boost funding for schools across state (1/26/2023 4:45:00 PM)
Governor's budget request aims to give Border to Border Broadband a boost (1/26/2023 4:32:16 PM)
'Reproductive Freedom Defense Act' seeks to protect patients, providers and visitors (1/26/2023 3:15:00 PM)
First responders may be on track for horse-assisted mental health therapy (1/26/2023 3:10:00 PM)
'Moving Technology Forward for Minnesotans' theme of requested MNIT budget increase (1/26/2023 2:37:00 PM)
Budget proposal includes new state agency focused on kids, families (1/26/2023 1:10:00 PM)
Highways for Habitat pollinators program would require MnDOT to ditch current green space practices (1/26/2023 12:58:00 PM)
Tenants could be temporarily sheltered from non-payment evictions (1/25/2023 6:52:00 PM)

  • More news

    • Photography

    This week's slideshow,
    photo gallery and
    Capitol area images

    Live Video


    Event Schedule

    Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement
    Monday, January 30 2023 1/30/2023 8:30 AM
    Watch: Live Event
    Public Employees Retirement Association presentation.
    Teachers Retirement Association presentation.
    Saint Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association presentation.
    State Board of Investment presentation.


    House Ways and Means Committee
    Monday, January 30 2023 1/30/2023 10:30 AM
    Watch: Live Event
    HF19 (Olson, L.) Earned sick and safe time provided, report required, rulemaking authorized, and money appropriated.
    HF28 (Frazier) Right to vote restored to individuals convicted of a felony upon completion of any term of incarceration imposed and executed by a court for the offense.
    HF121 (Edelson) Competency attainment; technical changes made, and money appropriated.
    HF213 (Keeler) Food shelf program funding provided, and money appropriated.
    HF5 (Jordan) Free school lunch and breakfast provided for all students.
    * Bills may be added to the agenda.


    Joint hearing of the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee and the House Health Finance and Policy Committee
    Monday, January 30 2023 1/30/2023 1:00 PM
    Watch: Live Event
    Testimony from stakeholders on proposed Fairview/Sanford merger.
    - Fairview Health Services.
    - Sanford Health.
    - Office of the Attorney General.
    - University of Minnesota.
    - Minnesota Nurses Association.
    HFXXX (Bierman) Prohibiting health care entities from entering into certain transactions except with the review and approval of the commissioner of health.


    House Capital Investment Committee
    Monday, January 30 2023 1/30/2023 1:00 PM
    Watch: Live Event
    Governor's 2023 bonding recommendations.
    Department of Transportation bonding overview.
    Department of Administration bonding overview.
    Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs bonding overview.


    House Human Services Policy Committee
    Monday, January 30 2023 1/30/2023 1:00 PM
    Watch: Live Event
    HF585 (Klevorn) Care evaluation established as a covered medical assistance home care service, medical assistance homemaker rates modified, and report required.
    HFXXX (Edelson) Modifying policies governing access to substance use disorder treatment services; modifying eligibility for home and community-based services workforce development grants; excluding workforce development grant money from income for certain purposes.
    HFXXX (Edelson) Establishing a home and community-based services systemic critical incident review team; clarifying adult foster care and community residential setting licensing provisions; modifying substance use disorder treatment requirements; extending certain councils and committees; clarifying provider-controlled and own-home settings; making technical and conforming changes; clarifying effective dates; repealing obsolete language related to chemical health pilot program.
    * Items may be added.


    House Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee
    Monday, January 30 2023 1/30/2023 1:00 PM
    Watch: Live Event
    HF284 (Norris) Helmets to Hard Hats Minnesota initiative funding provided, and money appropriated.
    Governor's budget recommendations: Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
    Governor's budget recommendations: Minnesota Department of Military Affairs.


    House DFL Press Conference
    Monday, January 30 2023 1/30/2023 2:00 PM
    Watch: Live Event
    Representative Aisha Gomez, Representative María Isa Pérez-Vega, House Speaker Melissa Hortman, House Majority Leader Jamie Long, and others discuss the ‘Driver’s Licenses for All’ bill set for Monday Floor Session debate.


    Session Daily Update
    Monday, January 30 2023 1/30/2023 3:25 PM
    Watch: Live Event
    Updates from the House.


    House Floor Session
    Monday, January 30 2023 1/30/2023 3:30 PM
    Watch: Live Event
    HF4 (Gomez) Noncompliant driver's license or Minnesota identification card requirements modified and related changes made, including on eligibility, proof of lawful presence, primary and secondary documentation, and data practices; technical changes made; and money appropriated.


    News and Notes

    Bill Introductions: HF908-HF968

    2023 committee deadlines

    • Friday, March 10 — Committees must act favorably on bills in the house of origin
    • Friday, March 24 — Committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body
    • Tuesday, April 4 (5 p.m.) — Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills

    Easter/Passover break

    The 2023 Easter/Passover break will begin at 5 p.m. April 4. Legislative activity may resume April 11.

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