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House adopts temporary rules, elects chief clerk and sergeant at arms; officers approved by slate
Summary
On Feb. 6, 2025, the Minnesota House adopted temporary organizing rules and elected several officers: Patrick Duffy Murphy as chief clerk and Lori Hodap as chief sergeant at arms. Other officers were elected by a majority slate vote and the House approved resolutions to notify the Senate and governor that it is organized.
The Minnesota House of Representatives completed a series of organizational votes on Feb. 6, 2025, adopting temporary rules and electing key officers that will manage floor proceedings and administrative operations for the session.
Temporary rules and power-sharing agreement Representative Niska explained a bipartisan agreement for temporary rules that preserves power sharing while the House finalizes permanent rules. The House adopted the temporary rules by roll call, 130 ayes and 2 nays. Representative Long urged members to support the resolution, saying the framework "will set up opportunities for members to work together on a bipartisan basis to address real issues for Minnesotans." The resolution makes the temporary rules the same as the permanent rules from the prior session, with modifications in the Feb. 6, 2025 organizing agreement.
Chief clerk and other front-desk officers Patrick Duffy Murphy was elected chief clerk of the House; the chief clerk election was announced with 133 ayes and 0 nays. Murphy, a long-time House staffer, was nominated by Representative Robbins and seconded by Representative Hollins. The House also elected first and second assistant chief clerks and other front-desk staff by a slate vote announced on the floor as a majority (the roll call recorded as voting the slate); the roll-call transcript records the slate outcome but does not list a separate numerical tally for each individual slate vote in the resolution text.
Sergeant at arms and security leadership Representative Nash nominated Lori Hodap for chief sergeant at arms and Representative Mueller seconded the nomination. Lori Hodap was elected chief sergeant at arms; the roll call announced 130 ayes and 0 nays. Supporters praised Hodap's law-enforcement background and her team's work to maintain security at the Capitol.
Other organizational actions The House adopted a resolution instructing the chief clerk to inform the Senate that the House is duly organized; it also appointed a five-member committee to notify the governor that the House is organized and ready to receive any messages. The House authorized necessary employees retroactive to Jan. 6, 2025, to expedite business, and approved a seating plan assigning caucus sections in the chamber. House files 1 through 25 were introduced and given first reading.
Votes at a glance - Temporary rules and co-governing agreement: adopted, 130 ayes, 2 nays. - Chief clerk (Patrick Duffy Murphy): elected, 133 ayes, 0 nays. - Chief sergeant at arms (Lori Hodap): elected, 130 ayes, 0 nays. - Other officers (assistant clerks, assistant sergeants at arms, index clerk): elected by slate (majority) — numerical tallies not specified in resolution text on the floor. - Resolution to notify the Senate the House is organized: adopted (voice vote recorded as adopted). - Committee to notify the governor of organization: appointed (members named on the floor).
The House adjourned to reconvene on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, at 3:30 p.m., to continue committee assignments and other organizing business.
