House renames library construction grants for longtime Rep. Mary C. Murphy; members hold tributes

The Minnesota House of Representatives voted 132-0 on April 10, 2025, to rename the state's library construction grant program the Mary C. Murphy Construction Grants program and held a floor ceremony honoring Murphy's more than four decades of legislative service.

Members paused the formal calendar for a prolonged set of remembrances, a House resolution and a governor's proclamation recognizing Mary Murphy's career as a teacher and a legislator. Representative Lilly read a House resolution "honoring the extraordinary life and work of Representative Mary Murphy," and Representative Lee, the author of House File 1090, urged members to support the bill to memorialize Murphy's long advocacy for libraries and capital investment in Minnesota.

Representative Lee told the House that Murphy's work on capital investment and libraries made naming the program fitting. "She was passionate about libraries," Lee said, calling the grants a way to "make sure libraries were accessible to all Minnesotans of all ages and backgrounds." Lee also summarized the library program for members: the state has 12 regional library systems and 359 public libraries, eight bookmobiles, and at least one public library in every county; projects are eligible for renovation, expansion and accessibility work and require a 50 percent local match. He said the estimated statewide need is about $89,000,000.

On the bill's third reading the clerk took the roll and recorded 132 ayes and 0 nays; the clerk announced, "There being 132 ayes and 0 nays, the bill is passed and its title is agreed to." The House also took up and concurred with Senate amendments to House File 1058 (local government sanitary-district changes); later the clerk announced that bill passed repassed as amended by the Senate by a recorded 133-0 vote.

During the memorial portion of the session, more than two dozen current and former lawmakers, and visiting dignitaries including Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and a governor's proclamation read by Representative Long, offered personal remembrances. Speakers recalled Murphy's 46 years of legislative service, her teaching career, her work on pensions and bonding, and her love of gardening and libraries. Representative Gomez said Murphy's speeches on bonding and water infrastructure "took" new members to what she called "bonding church," while others described visits to Murphy's home and her habit of tending flowers that grounded her public work.

Following the session, members announced a reception in Room 316 to mark "Mary Murphy Day," noting a display of flowers and a reception with blueberry muffins (a reference several speakers said connected to Murphy's interest in the state blueberry muffin). The House adjourned and set its next meeting for 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Votes at a glance

- House File 1090 (renaming the library construction grant program the Mary C. Murphy Construction Grants program): Passed, 132 ayes, 0 nays. Author/Explainer: Representative Lee. Program details cited on the floor: 12 regional library systems, 359 public libraries, eight bookmobiles, 50% local match, estimated statewide need ~$89,000,000. No amendments at desk; third reading and passage recorded on April 10, 2025.

- House File 1058 (repassed as amended by the Senate; local government sanitary-district changes including North Couchiching and Crane Lake sanitary districts): Repassed as amended by the Senate, 133 ayes, 0 nays. The House record shows concurrence with the Senate amendment and final passage on the same day.

The session record shows extended floor tributes that preceded the bills' consideration; remarks during the memorial and while explaining HF1090 are the principal sources for the factual details above.