80th Minnesota Legislature

The eightieth Minnesota Legislature first convened on January 7, 1997. The 67 members of the Minnesota Senate and the 134 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the General Election of November 5, 1996.

Sessions
The legislature met in a regular session from January 7, 1997, to May 15, 1997. A special session convened on June 26, 1997, to consider funding for K–12 schools, DWI measures, and government data practices. A second special session was convened on August 19, 1997, to provide flood relief and consider commissioners' pay and the minimum wage. A third special session was held from October 23, 1997, to November 14, 1997, to consider providing funding for a baseball stadium.

A continuation of the regular session was held between January 20, 1998, and April 9, 1998. An additional special session met from April 20, 1998, to April 22, 1998, to clarify legislation to allow for fraud recovery, and consider economic development issues and issues relevant to early childhood and family education.

Party summary

 * Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Membership changes" section, below.

Senate

 * President of the Senate
 * Allan Spear (DFL-Minneapolis)


 * Senate Majority Leader
 * Roger Moe (DFL-Erskine)


 * Senate Minority Leader
 * Until July 9, 1997 Dean Johnson (R-Willmar)
 * After July 9, 1997 Dick Day (R-Owatonna)

House of Representatives

 * Speaker of the House
 * Phil Carruthers (DFL-Brooklyn Center)


 * House Majority Leader
 * Ted Winter (DFL-Fulda)


 * House Minority Leader
 * Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon)