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Senate elects Bobby Joe Champion as president; adopts leadership and committee resolutions
Summary
The Minnesota Senate elected Senator Bobby Joe Champion as president (35 votes) and adopted several organizational resolutions establishing party leaders, committee schedules and the president pro tem; a proposal to add a co‑president pro tem failed on a roll call.
The Minnesota Senate elected Senator Bobby Joe Champion as president by a recorded tally of 35 votes on Feb. 3 and subsequently adopted a series of procedural resolutions to name caucus leaders and set the standing committee schedule.
Senator Cinnamon Murphy nominated Champion for president. After the secretary’s roll call, the chamber recorded 35 votes for Champion; the Senate then administered the oath as president.
Senate Resolution 9, which names the majority leader and minority leader for the two caucuses, was introduced and adopted by voice vote. Senator Murphy said the resolution “does the simple work, naming a majority leader and a minority leader” and identified leaders by name during floor remarks.
Senate Resolution 10, setting standing committees and their schedules and reflecting terms of the prior responsibility‑sharing agreement, was introduced by Murphy and adopted after a brief discussion. Murphy confirmed that a subcommittee on veterans — agreed during earlier negotiations — would continue and receive dedicated time and a separate agenda.
Senate Resolution 11, naming a president pro tem, initially proposed appointing the honorable Senator Anne H. Rest. An amendment to add Senator Andrew Matthews as a co‑president pro tem was offered by Senator Drazkowski (oral amendment) and was the subject of a roll call; the amendment failed on a recorded vote (reported as 33 ayes and 34 nays). The underlying resolution naming Anne Rest as president pro tem was then adopted.
Other chamber business included taking Senate Resolution 4 from the table and adopting an A50 amendment to correct mileage information; the amended resolution was adopted following a roll call. Floor leaders announced committee schedules and upcoming committee meetings before the Senate adjourned to reconvene Feb. 6 at 11 a.m.
Votes and outcomes at a glance: Bobby Joe Champion elected Senate president (35 votes); SR9 adopted (majority/minority leaders named); SR10 adopted (standing committees and schedule); Drazkowski amendment to SR11 (add Andrew Matthews as co‑president pro tem) — failed, 33 ayes, 34 nays; SR11 adopted appointing Anne H. Rest as president pro tem; SR4 as amended (mileage) adopted.
