Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Mariani delivered a long farewell speech on the House floor, reflecting on his 32 years in the Legislature and thanking colleagues, staff, and family. He opened by acknowledging Indigenous land and then spoke about the chamber as a place of love, respect, and shared human struggle, saying legislative work is not transactional but deeply human. He cited James Baldwin and repeatedly emphasized that the institution exists to help a diverse people live together in order, peace, and safety while pursuing their dreams. Much of the speech was personal and historical, with Mariani thanking his wife Maritza, his children, grandchildren, and others who supported him, and describing how family and community shaped his public service. He also thanked Latino Minnesotans and his district, and recounted experiences that influenced his work, including advocacy for immigrant families, undocumented youth, prison hearings, and legislation born from encounters with grief and injustice. He tied these stories to broader themes of ending racism, doing justice, and using the Legislature to solve problems and affirm humanity. Near the end, Mariani asked permission to approach the well and offered a final reflection on the chamber’s design and acoustics, saying that when one stands there, one hears something like what angels hear. The speech concluded with applause; no bill was debated and no vote was taken in the excerpt provided.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Miller of Kandiyohi delivered a farewell address on the House floor, thanking members, nonpartisan and partisan staff, and his own office staff for their service and patience. He reflected on the honor of serving in the Legislature and said his first experience in the chamber impressed him with what the institution represents and with the opportunity for an ordinary person to have a voice in government. Rather than discuss legislation, Miller offered a closing blessing for colleagues by reading extended excerpts from Romans in the Bible. His remarks emphasized humility, service, love of neighbor, peace, respect for governing authorities, and living honorably and decently. He framed these passages as guidance for members’ work ahead and as a final message to the chamber. The only action taken in the excerpt was the conclusion of his farewell speech; no bills were debated and no votes were taken.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Winkler delivered a lengthy farewell speech at the end of the 92nd legislative session, reflecting on his time as majority leader and the work of the House over the past four years. He emphasized the unusual, often emotional nature of legislative work, praised Speaker Hortman for making the chamber more humane, and thanked House staff, nonpartisan staff, and Republican leadership for their cooperation. He also highlighted changes such as better pay for House employees, greater transparency in session management, and the end of remote legislating under House Rule 10.01. Winkler argued that Minnesota’s legislature should function more like a full-time body because the state has become larger and more complex, with more oversight and budget work needed than a part-time schedule allows. He criticized the volume of bills as evidence of a “bill factory” mentality and said the House must do better at renewing institutions to meet modern needs and remain accountable to the public. He framed the House as the direct link between Minnesotans and state government and urged continued cooperation across party lines. At the close of the remarks, Winkler thanked specific staff members and announced refreshments outside the chamber. He then moved that the Chief Clerk inform the Senate and Governor that the House was about to adjourn sine die, and the motion prevailed. He followed with a motion that the House adjourn sine die, which also prevailed, formally ending the session.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Gruenhagen used his remarks to reflect on his time in the House and to thank his legislative assistants, especially Cindy, and his wife for her support. He recalled a memorable bipartisan effort to defeat the National Popular Vote proposal, saying he opposed it as unconstitutional and describing it as a rare moment of agreement across ideological lines. He then shifted to broader policy views, arguing that government spending should not grow faster than population and private-sector growth, and urging a spending “governor” tied to population and economic growth. He also reiterated his opposition to climate change and global warming, called them an unscientific U.N. scam, and made comments about human genetics, the Constitution, and the importance of morality and religion in public life. Near the end, he said that singing “God Bless America” had helped unify divisive meetings in the past and asked that the House sing it at the end of the retirement testimonies, with Representative Keel leading if possible. He closed by thanking members, expressing appreciation for getting to know them, and offering a prayer for blessings on the state, nation, and future generations.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Haley of Goodhue delivered a farewell speech announcing her retirement from the House after six years representing House District 21A in the Red Wing area. She reflected on her district’s Mississippi River Valley communities and thanked constituents for their trust, saying she aimed to serve as a “servant leader” and to help government work better for families. She highlighted work she said she was proud of, including riverfront and port development, support for the National Eagle Center and Sheldon Theater renovations, keeping health care close to home, and legislation supporting students, workforce development, and manufacturing. She also spoke about serving through the pandemic and thanked constituents who contacted her office with personal stories and requests for help. Haley expressed gratitude to colleagues, her legislative assistant Doreen Kinds, and her family, including her husband Tim and children Joey and Maria. She closed with a story from the commissioning of the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul, using its motto, “We will either find a way or make one,” as a message of encouragement to continue improving communities and the state with tenacity and courage.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Schultz of St. Louis delivered remarks framed as a retirement speech, though he emphasized that the work was not finished and that the Health and Human Services (HHS) budget process was still ongoing. He said he was still negotiating the HHS bill with the Senate and suggested a more complete farewell would come later, possibly in a special session once a deal is reached. Schultz thanked colleagues for bipartisan cooperation over his eight years in a divided legislature, saying he had been able to work with members across the aisle and find common ground on issues. He credited Team HHS and the broader chamber for focusing on what is best for Minnesotans and said he was leaving confident that Chair Lane and the HHS team would continue the work. No formal votes or actions were taken in this excerpt. The remarks were primarily personal and reflective, centered on legislative collaboration and the unfinished HHS negotiations.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Christensen of Washington delivered brief remarks of thanks and farewell on the House floor. She expressed gratitude to the Speaker, fellow members, legislative staff, and everyone who works in the Capitol for their efforts to improve Minnesota. She also thanked her friends, neighbors, the community that raised her, and especially her husband and family for their support throughout her time in the legislature. The remarks were personal and reflective, emphasizing appreciation for the experience rather than discussing any bill, vote, or formal action.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Bernardy delivered a farewell address reflecting on her family background, her parents’ hard work and pursuit of education, and how those experiences shaped her legislative priorities. She highlighted her long focus on education, environmental protection, transportation, equity, and civil discourse, and thanked House staff, leadership, and colleagues for their support over her years of service. She recounted several policy efforts, including organizing the Save Our Schools campaign, helping secure funding for schools, and winning support for a clean-water and wetlands restoration effort at Springbrook Nature Center. She said that project passed after an initial close vote and later received broad bipartisan support, becoming the first urban wetland restoration of its kind in the country. She also noted later funding for the Springbrook Interpretive Center and her work on environmental justice and transportation issues. Bernardy also described her service as Higher Education chair, emphasizing access, affordability, mental health supports, and listening to students, faculty, staff, and communities of color and Indigenous people. She mentioned a House-passed inclusive higher education bill intended to help about 5,000 students earn credentials, and said she had worked successfully with chairs and with Senator David Tomassoni on bipartisan committee work. The address ended with thanks to colleagues and staff and a call for continued civility and cooperation in the legislature.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Tony Jurgens delivered a farewell-style floor speech reflecting on his time in the Minnesota House and thanking colleagues, staff, and family. He described the honor of representing Hastings, Cottage Grove, and Afton, and said the most rewarding part of the job was helping constituents navigate state government and serving as their voice on issues ranging from small individual matters to broader concerns during COVID-19. Jurgens also emphasized the importance of House staff and support offices, naming several legislative assistants, his media writer Jason Wenish, sergeant’s office staff, chief clerk’s office staff, and House GOP staff, and he thanked his predecessor, Representative Denny McNamara, for helping him get started. He noted that the work had felt less personal during the remote-heavy recent years, but said the real benefit of the job was being part of a cohesive team. He closed by thanking his wife, children, grandchildren, and other family members for their sacrifices, and said he was ending his time in the House without knowing what comes next. No bills were debated and no votes or formal actions were taken in this portion of the transcript.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Zhang delivered a farewell speech to the House, thanking colleagues, staff, his parents, the Hmong exile community, and the city of Maplewood for supporting his service. He reflected on serving during the COVID-19 pandemic and explained that his decision to run and serve was shaped by his family’s immigrant and refugee experience, especially his father’s hardships in war, refugee camps, and low-wage work before raising a family in Minnesota. He used his father’s story to emphasize themes of resilience, opportunity, and the importance of public service, noting that his father’s hopes for his children were fulfilled in part by the chance to live in America and participate in civic life. Zhang also spoke about the value of the House as a place of humility, respect, and the pursuit of noble causes, expressing gratitude to both parties and legislative staff. No bills were discussed and no votes or formal actions were taken in this portion of the meeting; it was a closing floor speech marking his departure from the chamber.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Hamilton of Cottonwood delivered an भावपूर्ण farewell-style floor speech reflecting on his personal background, entry into agriculture and politics, and his long service in the Minnesota House. He described being mentored into farm work, his involvement with pork producers and Farm Bureau, and how an early self-assessment typo and later diagnosis with multiple sclerosis shaped his determination to keep learning and to “never give up.” He also shared a family story about his young son encouraging him during illness, which became a personal motto and part of his public identity. Hamilton emphasized the importance of respect, dignity, and relationships in legislative work, saying he has tried to treat constituents, colleagues, and staff fairly even amid disagreement. He recounted two anecdotes from lobbying and legislative social settings to illustrate the need to listen to others and to avoid disrespect, and he urged members to reach across party lines and get to know people from different backgrounds, regions, and beliefs. He said fear often comes from misunderstanding and that taking time to understand one another reveals shared humanity. The speech concluded with Hamilton thanking veterans, staff, lobbyists, constituents, and colleagues for enabling his service, calling his time in the House “the honor of a lifetime.” The chamber responded with laughter and applause, and no bill was debated or vote taken in this excerpt.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Erickson delivered a lengthy farewell speech on the House floor, reflecting on her 23 years of service and the personal history that shaped her conservative views. She described growing up in Taft, North Dakota, working in grain elevators with her father, and credited her family, especially her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, with deepening her understanding of small business and education issues. She also thanked colleagues, committee staff, clerks, and legislative aides, and recalled the many members and leaders she served alongside over the years. Much of the speech focused on her legislative experience, especially in education, which she said was her main area of work. She praised staff and fellow legislators from both parties for teaching her, noted her service on many committees and under multiple governors and speakers, and highlighted weekly Bible study as a meaningful part of her time at the Capitol. She also thanked legislative audit staff and others who supported her work, including during the pandemic. Erickson closed by outlining the principles she said guided her career, summarized by the acronym LIFE: limited government, individual freedom and responsibility, fiscal restraint, and excellence in education. She emphasized support for core academic skills, American heritage, and protection of life from conception to natural birth, then thanked the House for the opportunity to serve and offered a final blessing to the state and nation.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Paul Marquart delivered a farewell-style floor speech reflecting on his 22 years in the Minnesota House, with particular emphasis on his service as Tax Committee chair. He recounted early lessons from the Legislature, praised bipartisan cooperation, and thanked a long list of legislative assistants, committee administrators, nonpartisan staff, House leaders, and fellow Tax Committee members for their support and work. He also noted the challenges of the last two years, including the pandemic and a killing that shocked the world, and credited House leadership for keeping the institution strong and stable. Marquart also thanked his constituents, students at Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, and former Senate colleagues, and he spoke about the personal support of his family, including his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. He mentioned his pride in public service and tax policy work, including an offhand reference to a major tax cut that he said he had forgotten to remove from his remarks. The speech ended with a request that members “take care of little Johnny,” followed by expressions of gratitude and applause. No formal bill action or vote was taken in the remarks provided.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Representative Sundin delivered a farewell-style floor statement reflecting on his path to the legislature, crediting strong women in his life, public education teachers, and community activism for shaping his career. He spoke about his long service in Saint Paul, including his work with the labor movement and on the agriculture committee, and said he was proud of efforts that helped Minnesota workers secure better wages, benefits, and retirements, as well as improvements to Minnesota agriculture through committee work with Vice Chair Vang and others. He also offered lighthearted remarks about colleagues and the difficulty of leaving the legislature, including a joking reference to Representative Ecklund and shared living arrangements. The speech was personal and retrospective rather than focused on a bill or formal action, and it ended with a Dr. Seuss quote about smiling because it happened.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House held a series of retirement and farewell remarks from several members, with no legislation debated or votes taken in the excerpt. Speakers reflected on their service, thanked colleagues, staff, families, and constituents, and described the personal experiences that led them into public office. Common themes included public service, bipartisan relationship-building, and the importance of helping constituents navigate state government. Representative Lippert spoke at length about his faith, rural Minnesota, immigration, climate change, housing, health care, and the need for coalitions across race and geography. Representative Woslowick described her work as a sexual assault and domestic violence advocate and as a reading tutor, tying those experiences to her legislative focus on helping vulnerable people; she also highlighted bipartisan accomplishments such as farmer mental health, environmental protections, assisted living oversight, opioid response, insulin affordability, child care, broadband, and banning toxic chemicals like TCE and PFAS. Representative Zhang thanked colleagues and family, recounted his father’s refugee experience, and said it shaped his belief in opportunity and justice. Other members, including Representatives Haley and Jurgens, emphasized constituent service, local community needs, and the role of staff and families in legislative work. Haley highlighted rural economic development, health care access, and support for students and manufacturers, while Jurgens focused on helping people navigate state systems and praised House staff and his predecessor. The only action noted was a brief acknowledgment of a visiting Hmong dignitary from Thailand in the gallery, followed by applause.