The House will come to order. Prayer by the chaplain. The Beatles said, "It's been a long, cold, lonely winter. Last night's rain woke up a very thirsty earth. Rhubarbs and robins all give glory to their creator. What an honor it is to be among you as we ground ourselves in the source of all of our beings. Remembering who we are and whose we are. We pray. Blessed are you, God of all creation. We bring all of ourselves to this place, to this great room, this chamber. We come as members of parties. We come as members of communities. We come as members of families. But first, we come as individuals. Each with our own dreams and disappointments. Each with our own heartaches and harass. We bring all of that to this room, this holy place, knowing that the creator, the ancient of days, is here with us in this moment. In this moment, we are called to love. As the Apostle Paul said, "Love is patient. Love is kind." Help us, gracious God, to be patient. Open our ears to hear the good in our opponents. Open our hearts to the love that is present in each of us. Teach us to love as you love, to love and to love again. Because justice is what love looks like in public. Because love casts out the fear that makes us self-centered. Love guides us to work for your new creation. At this time of year, as the earth brings forth abundance and we see all the work that is laid before us, give us joy and laughter in our work. Help us take delight in your creation. Let our laughter and joy free us from our small selves. expand our horizons so that we can do your work today. We ask this knowing that you know our needs before we can voice them. Amen and allelujah. >> The chaplain for today is Pastor Pepe Demerest from the Recovery Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Pledge of Allegiance. Please remain standing and recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. The clerk will take the role. This is my Hallelujah. By the way, Congratulations. Oh yeah. Heat. Heat. Congratulations. Yes. You want to be One, two, Congratulations. Hallelujah. Good job. No, we need you. Thank you. Thank you. Congratulations. That was Jordan. Oh my god. Thank you. Heat. Heat. Members, the clerk will close the roll. The clerk will close the roll. A quorum is present. >> Perfect. The clerk. will read the journal of the preceding day. >> Journal of the House 94 session, 2026, 78th Legislative Day, St. Paul, Minnesota, Sunday, May 17th, 2026. >> If there is no objection, further reading of the journal will be dispensed with and the journal will be approved as corrected by the chief clerk. Hearing no objection, the journal is approved as corrected by the chief clerk. Members, we have an honored guest with us this morning. I recognize a member from Henipin, Representative Mmani Hiltsley, to introduce our guest. >> Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is my honor to welcome to the House Chamber His Excellency Honorable Joshua Aduma Aore, member of Parliament in Kenya and a ranking member serving his third term. It is an honor to have you here, your excellency. Thank you. members. Today we will proceed with our retirement speeches. They're done in order of seniority. The most senior to the least senior. The least senior to the most senior. Good morning everybody. And we will begin with the member from Sterns, Representative Perryman. Thank you, Speaker. Um, I didn't think I was going first, so this surprises me, but nothing surprises me with all of you anymore. Uh, so good morning members. Uh, it is an honor to to make this speech or adlib thing, but I'm going to start by saying how many times did you hear, "Oh, I wasn't going to stand on this policy or bill, but I'm going to anyway." Or did you say it yourself? So that is what happened to me when I started thinking about doing this retirement speech. I was like, "Well, I'm not retiring. It sounds so finite. I'm going across the street across the retundra." I know some of you might not like that, but I am. All right. Um so, uh that is why I'm here. I know I only get a minute for my years, but it's been a great ride. It has been. So, good morning. Um, I do this with a heartful uh gratitude. Serving in the House legis legislature for the past four years has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Public service is never about one person alone. It's not. It's about the people who believe in you, challenge you, support you, walk with you every day and on the way. While today marks the closure of my service here in the Minnesota House, with great thought, it was great thought I have chosen to run for Senate and look forward to having an opportunity with humility and determination to continue this work in the Minnesota Legislature, but carrying it in the Senate. For my voices of the communities and all the experiences and voices I heard from you, I do want to carry over to the Senate. First and foremost, I want to thank the people in my district. Thanks to everyone back home for the pl for placing trust in me to represent their voices, their values, their concerns. Every conversation at the door, every email, every handshake, at at uh at every community event, every story shared with me mattered deeply and it made me know what I was coming here for. I rem I was reminded daily who I serve and why this work is so important. I want to thank my family and close friends. I know you all will relate to that because our close friends and our family as you know public service requires sacrifice not only from us the person elected but from everyone around them. Thank you for under for my family and friends understanding my late nights, missed dinners, long weekends, and my crabiness on Fridays uh and and laundry on Fridays and getting out of my way on Fridays and the constant encouragement I got and I've always wanted to do this. Your love and support carried me through the difficult days and kept me grounded during the rewarding days. To my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, thank you. We did not always agree and at times the debates were passionate and really kind of hard, but I truly believe that most people who enter public office do so because they want to make a difference. And that's how I feel about our differences and some of the rallies we had together. I am grateful for the relationships built, the lessons learned, and the moments when we came together for good of the people we serve. I thank you all and your friendships will always go with me with with who I am. It's not what I am, it's who I am in this role and you have all made me who I am inside. I also want to recognize the staff members. My LA Morgan M is up in the gallery. Who would think? committee administrator pages, security personnel, Patrick who looks always so thinking up there um as well and everyone behind the scenes who keep the legislature moving every single day. So much of the important work happens quietly without recognition and I am deeply appreciative of the professionalism and dedication of everyone that supported us behind the scenes. Over these four years, we faced challenges, difficult conversations, and important decisions that will shape our communities for years to come. Through it all, I tried to leave with integrity, compassion, empathy, and a commitment to doing what I believe was right for the people I represented. While no public servant gets every decision perfect, I will repeat that. While no public servant gets every decision perfect, I can honestly say I gave my I gave this role my full effort and my whole heart. One of the greatest gifts of this experience has been meeting people from every walks of life. People who care deeply about the communities, their families, and the future of our state. last time. Those conversations gave me hope and reminded me that despite our differences, wanting to believe we share far more in common than what divides us. Again, we share more in common than what divides us. And I really truly believe that as a retire as I retire from the house, I do so with pride in what we accomplish together and optimism for what lies ahead. optimism for what lies ahead for you here, for the Senate, for our state. Leadership changes, seasons change, but the work building stronger communities never end. I know the next generation of leaders will continue stepping forward with fresh ideas, energy, and determination. To everyone who supported me, challenged me, prayed for me, encouraged me, or simply believed in the importance of public service, thank you. Serving you has been the privilege of a lifetime. A privilege of a lifetime. I don't know if I'll ever experience something like that again. And in closing, um I would like to just say what I always said that kept me grounded. And back home, they know this. They want to put on billboards, but I don't want to do it. But it is my saying is don't take the bait and watch your own bobber. and that'll get you through a lot of difficult conversations. So, in closing, really, may we continue this work together with respect, courage, and hope for the future and of our great state of Minnesota. We do it together. I say thank you to all of you and I say God bless you all and go get them. I recognize a member from Ramsey, Representative Perez Vega. >> Thank you, Madam Speaker. Whoa. It has been an honor and a deep privilege to be in this chamber with all of you, even those that maybe I don't agree with all of the time. I'm proud to have been elected for two terms as the rep who wraps as the mother of Loisa Roses Rosa Perez Hedges. as the granddaughter of Puerto Ricans who were born before the 1917 Jones Act that gave citizenship. as the daughter of a Puerto Rican woman who was a young Lord activist at the age of 16 on the Lower East Side fighting for housing, healthc care, and ensuring that we have education and the daughter of a veteran who was drafted to Vietnam War out of New York City with the proud Poneno blood of Puerto Rico. I am proud here to represent 65B, the district that I have lived my entire life in. as a Borqua Latina proud Westsider, the best side to fight with the championship to say, "Let's deliver a trifecta and let's create create some of the best memories that the state of Minnesota has ever been able to do in passing law. That wouldn't be able to happen without the amazing staff that encouraged me, that provided me as a type 1 diabetic with my sugar and sour patch kids when long hours at night come in and I wasn't hungry. And I want to thank at the same time of dealing with the type 1 diabetic, as I like to say, funky diabetic. The long nights of saying we are going to pass driver's licenses for all in 2023. with my mentor Aisha Gomez, Southside, How You Ride, and probably one of the most representatives, getting a little choppy here, who came in with a leader and a speaker who said more than LFG to me, but say, "You are like a tick tock bomb. We are going to get things done. And that happened with her encouragement to say, give grace and thanks to your staff. And I want to give grace and thanks to someone who rode with me in that first term, Sebastian, whose mom couldn't believe that we actually passed driver's licenses for all. And I want to give grace to Ferdusa who fought so that we can provide housing justice from the west side bario to the west 7th to downtown. When we think about what was happening at the Li building and when my constituents needed help, we did not deny going to help. We went and we ran from this chamber to see what was happening because that's what leadership does. I want to give grace and thanks to Andrea. She says, "Boy, you really have a work of leadership to ensure that it's not just about the person who's elected, but about the overall staff so that we can grow in the work that we love to do to create policy and serve the people." And I like to say I train a lot of good folks in two years to continue to se Palante. Max, thank you for the short and sweet time to go into the next staffer of Chris Ortiz. I want you to be kind to Chris because he's an East LAer and well he's got the Dodgers and we're still trying to pull off for the Twins, right Mike Howard. But I can't go without saying that we need to also give grace to my comm's director because as the rep who raps there's a lot to deal with. Is this official side or is this the other profession in tuba felis compl not only did you make sure that we can shine in these chambers but that the people the people get what they delivered by being advocated to be outside not to yell but to say we've got your back. We're going to celebrate with a lot of those bondings and I'll see you because the work never ends. I want to thank Esther Bajay, Representative Bajay in housing. Your work, your leadership, you gave me so much strength in those times where I had to hear housing provider go off and on that tenant rights to organize. We did that. We crossed that through the finish line. And I want to thank you for always saying, "Okay, is she really going to play Who Let the Dogs Out when we made sure that the animal has rights as renters as well?" I want to thank my east side brother, Representative Jay Jang. Workforce development, ensuring that laborers not only in those spaces of where unions are at, but those who want to be licensed to create their businesses and thrive in our cultural districts have the opportunity to continue legacy. When I marched in Cinco de Mayo, I thought about the pride of that legacy with you and representative Hodan and those calls to say, "Let's make things happen for Larasa." So, you're mongre with me. All right. I want to thank Representative Mary Francis Clardy, my West St. Paul delegation member. You encouraged me to not give up on the Read Act. You really made a flashlight happen for our communities of dual language immersion. Create a workforce so that it can provide for the 180 different languages that are spoken in my district schools in our district schools. I want to thank my C sister for life, Representative Samantha Censor Mura. Ethnic studies, we are the product of ethnic studies. We are the girls that we have taught and that we continue to tell dream who get looked over at who say that you may not be qualified but then come in with the best stats and deliver. Thank you Edana and I look forward to the continued work in raising our children together. My brother, I don't know what this guy's gonna do without me, guys, but he'll do great things. Representative Samakab Hussein. He's a champion, y'all. He fights. He shows up even when gun violence has stricken him in his own front door to say, "We must stop this." He cares about his children, his wife, his family, and all of our families. And we need more partnerships of that in this space when I'm gone to say that we're going to get through this together. And he also helped me cross on to meet some of y'all on the other side of the aisle so that we can talk about let's get a first for many. I had goals in here and that's something that I've been able to do as a little girl that my mom taught me in my abuela who couldn't afford a pair of shoes while she wanted a education in Puerto Rico's mountains way before Bad Bunny became the hot stuff at Super Bowl. I come from sugarcane plantation workers and I'm proud of being born in Minnesota for my diaspora borinka and to continue to thrive and say that Lucha Palante and to my Latino community. I'm yours forever. We all have different stories, but one story is right is that we together make Minnesota better. And I continue to help encourage the children to believe in yourself because that's what my Madam Speaker Melissa Horin did for me. She believed in me. She believed in us as motans. District 65B, the capital city of St. Paul versus everybody and the awesomest suburb of West St. Paul. A beacon of determination, advocating and we will never give up to the end. I want to say that Melissa Hortman's memory and the legacy of LFG go take action guided me in some of the most difficult challenges to face in this session. Representative Jess Hansen, single moms get the job done. Melissa's teachings and values illuminated a force and path every step of the way in this session. It's allowed that we can go ahead and fight for vitality for downtown. Healthc care for our type 1 diabetics to not get left out, to continue to champion. It's been a profound privilege to serve for all the people of Minnesota, for my 65 beautiful. And I leave the capitol feeling how much I miss Melissa Hortman, my forever speaker, and how much I feel she would be proud of all of our teamwork, respect, and dedication to deliver. I had a goal like I started in this first that I wanted to pass driver's licenses for all with Goi. And I also wrote at the bookend that I wanted funding for the first Minnesota Latino Museum. And I'm proud of that work among so many other bills because I didn't come to sit down. I came to take action. I came to deliver. But it's not about I lead. There's no I in lead. There's an eye in leadership. And all of us do that together. Gracias. It's been an honor. It's been a privilege. Thank you. our next speaker. I recognize the member from Todd, Representative Mike Weiner. So, I guess it chose to show up. It's good to show up late. You get called on right away, huh? Thank you. And I apologize. um four years ago got elected and had no idea what this journey would look like. It's been educational to say the least. And believe it or not, when we're spent when we spent long hours on the floor here and in committee, I have learned from everyone. I've listened to the speeches. I've paid attention because we don't just represent our area, we represent the whole state. And although there is this divide in our state and our country right now, it can be better. It can be improved. So, thank you for the education. I appreciate it. Not leaving politics. I'm just leaving this chamber. Thank you, Pat Murphy. you have been. I love the words of wisdom and I love the history bringing school kids into this chamber and having him light up when they're in here. When I say their love of country and love of state, see I was born in 1976. That was the bicesentennial year family get or family birthdays or my birthdays and um Christmases. My grandparents would give me a bicesentennial quarter 1976 and 200 years after our country started. So I always felt patriotic. And now this year in our 250th anniversary, I hope we bring that back because right now our country and even in our state here, there's a division. And that division, I think, is fed by something that George Washington warned us about in his farewell address very clearly. He talked about political factions, basically political parties. He said those factions would cause representatives, would cause elected officials to put the party before the interests of the people. He warned us that when that started happening, we would see animosity. We would see division. We would see the eye for an eye mentality that comes up. And then we'd also see corruption. And here we are in a country so fractured that instead of peaceful dialogue, protests are what takes place. I never wanted to be part of that. I never wanted to be part of that yelling at people. It bothers me to see or have my kids see this in this chamber. I mean, all of us can get excited. All of us can get upset. But I think we can do better. I hope we can do better. I pray that we can do better. Somebody said something the other day about how people are watching. People watch everything that we do and say and future generations are going to be miss listening just like I listened to or read George Washington's fail farewell address and thought this is important. His words 230 years later if I recall correctly should be a warning for all of us. So what do we do moving forward? The eye for an eye does not work. It will not work. There was a gentleman I knew in my early life that said an eye for an eye leaves both men blind. So, as I said, I hope moving forward that this state, our country can come together at least in this 250th anniversary of our great nation and bring a love of a country back instead of the division, instead of the animosity, instead of the hatred because future generations, like I said, are watching. They're watching everything we do. and we will be analyzed in the pages of history on what we did and what we said. So when I move forward into the the Senate, and I will be moving forward into the Senate, I look forward to bringing a calmer voice because I have to set the example for that little one right there. And we all do. So, thank you for the lessons in this chamber. Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you for learning. I hope I had an impact on you as well. And I will look back on these four years with happy memories because I don't think it pays to focus on the negative. We can go through our lives and there's a little tidbit of human nature. We can find 10 negative things about anything, but it's usually hard to say three positive things about something. We've got to start looking for the positive. Our country needs it right now and they're looking to us. So to everyone here who has influenced me in one way or another, thank you. I truly mean that. Some good, some bad. Sorry, Jim Nash. It was going pretty good up until that part of the speech, right? That was actually important because a little bit of humor can bring us together. Doesn't always have to be serious. Sorry to be the butt of the joke. One of the things that I would love to see changed because we can't just complain about stuff. We have to have solutions. Massive omnibus bills and thank you. We saw so many more single subject bills this year. That was great. The institution has to be solidified, has to be focused, and we congest the system with too much. This is not the way this was set up to be. Term limits. I believe personally that we already have term limits in place and that's the voters. But that also means that we have to understand just like George Washington did. When he served two terms, he said, "I'm done and it's time for somebody else to step into these roles." This should not be a career. There should be service to the people because as things change, new voices come up and we can't stifle them because of a career or because of the next election cycle gets me closer to retirement. It's not what this is for. We work for the people. Every decision we make should be for the people. So with that being said, thank you. And one other small issue. Weer is wie happens all the time. I won't hold it against you. Thank you very much. I have loved this experience and I look forward to visiting from the Senate. Thank you. also finishing his second term. I recognize the member from Scott, Representative Bakeberg. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Uh, thank you, members. Um, I really went back and forth if I if I wanted to share anything today. Um, but I just I wanted to take a moment and and Danny Nado told me that if if I talk too long, he's going to stand up and tell me to be quiet. So, uh, I want to just say thank you. I want to say thank you to to fellow members. That didn't take long. Um but I want to say thank you to to just the fellow members and um you know we we sometimes uh agree, we sometimes disagree, we can get passionate, but um I just want to say thank you for for the opportunity to learn from you and and to to sharpen my saw to make me be a better person. Uh to the gold ties, to the state troopers that are around here um that that work so hard to keep us safe, thank you. um to the chief clerk's staff, uh to uh to Patrick Murphy, uh you guys are amazing and and really the unsung heroes around this institution. To uh to Gavin Miller who who helps me with media writing, he does an amazing job and and is like, well, maybe you should say it like this. Um to Ally, um my LA, she has just been amazing and um is is is just does a fantastic job. Uh Isaac and and Jacob, the the GOP researchers in in education are they're they're amazing. and to Jody Withers who uh is gonna not be happy that he gets called out, but just the the the rolodex of knowledge is is is helping kids across the state of Minnesota get a better education. So, thank you for that, Jody. Um, most importantly, I I want to thank my constituents and Representative Nash reminded us when we came in as freshmen to take the steps um to keep us humble uh to walk up the front steps and um you know and and I would do that and and it really reminded me of the just the opportunity that each of us have to serve our communities and and it reminded me of of of my life verse. It's Matthew 5:13-16. It's the whole passage about salt and light. But that passage talks about in the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven. And and that walk up every day reminded me that it's not about Ben Bakeberg. It's about the people that I'm h that I have the opportunity to serve each and every day. and and it's those relationships and those uh the stories and and the the the successes and the heartache that we all hear from our constituents that make us be better people. And I guess if I would have a challenge, that would be my challenge is to work um to to glorify to promote others. And for me, I will always promote my father in heaven and glorify him. I want to say thank you to my family. Um, it's been a hard year for my mom. Some of you know that. She is a tough woman and she's been battling cancer. And, um, when I was a kid, I'd get into the back of the car after a baseball game and she'd turn around and she'd say, "Well, you sure suck today." Um, she just spoke truth and I and I loved that. Um, but my parents have just been a rock. Uh, and and and prayer warriors for me. my kids. Um, you know, all of us make sacrifices to to be here to serve our communities and it's our families that often take the brunt of it. So, so just thank you to my kids. Uh, and and my wife Lindy is amazing. And uh for those of you that know her know that I greatly outkicked my coverage, but I was um my highlight every single time is our when is when kids come to the cap and hearing and seeing the excitement and the passion of those kids and the awe of the building is is really grounding and and encouraging for me because I remember as a as a middle school kid coming to St. Paul and and seeing Tony Anan, who is my state rep and him talking about the building and the process and never in a million years did I would have did I imagine I would have the opportunity to serve here. And every time I see those kids, I see potential and I see our future replacements and I always encourage them and challenge them to dream big dreams. Um so thank you. It has been a pleasure uh to serve you and thank you to my family. Thank you for my constituents. It's been a uh I've been humbled to serve you. Thank you. finishing a third term is Representative Ryer. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, members. Uh I know you all who have spoken before me know how odd it is to be standing here giving our last floor speeches. Um so I want to start by thanking staff. Uh people asked me when I joined in my first year, what was your biggest surprise? And it was I had the staff. I had no idea the brilliance, the creativity, the work ethic, the dedication from every staff person no matter their role from from Pat Murphy to facilities to everybody all the people I've worked with directly in committee or as my LA is in comms too many to name um but so much gratitude u You really make this place a home. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. And I didn't know when I came here what it really meant and the weight that we all carry and the level of responsibility. Uh because people once they're in I don't know make it look easy I guess. uh it the the difficulty and the challenge and the sacrifices aren't evident. So I am so grateful to everyone who's represented before us here with us and want us all to be leaving a good legacy for the people to come. Um, I especially want to thank the two people who held the two seats that I did before me, Representatives, uh, Lori Hverson and Representative Sandy Mason. Um, I want to thank the people I've had the honor of representing. I still pinch myself uh that, you know, thousands of people are saying, "We believe you have our interest at heart." and as I move to the Senate, that many more people. Um, and I'm so grateful and hope that I have honored your trust. Um, finally, my family. I I can't say it enough, right? We can't do this without our families. Um, they're everything in this work. Uh, and I just have to say I love my caucus so much and I love the Corona class so much. Um I this is we're yeah it's amazing to be part of this. So when I came to the house it was early in co George Floyd had just been murdered. Wildfires were turning our skies orange and my constituents elected me to fight for justice for affordable health care for all and a planet where future generations can flourish. and they ask me to help ensure that motans can afford their lives rather than enriching corporations and the wealthiest among us and I've had successes that are making a real difference for motans and I'm proud of that work um and many of the successes have been bipartisan and I'm so thankful for the partnership that I've seen in all three of my terms um debt reform for medical debt and garnishment making sure kids get treatment for their rare diseases. Uh supporting Medicaid dental system where dentists can barely stay in business because of the challenges of Medicaid funding. Getting more funding for housing and bonding bills, funding for solar on public buildings, and helping stability for soil and water conservation districts that support each and every one of our districts across the state. Because to me, this work isn't for 52A or whatever district I represent. It's my work is for the state of Minnesota. And I spend my time thinking about how will my work affect all of us. And I'm so proud to have been part of the incredible work that we did in 23 and 24 to improve lives for working families, people who are struggling to overcome challenges and to get on your feet on their feet. So maybe this will be some hard truths because there have been deep disappointments at the we've seen health care stripped from our immigrant neighbors as you heard yesterday. We've saw to plate health plans. We saw families being abandoned whose children need critical nursing home care at home. We continue to underinvest in services for people with disabilities, balancing budgets on their backs. These are bipartisan issues. These are our people who are suffering. Um, just again yesterday, there was no Republican support for protecting people from future ICE incursions. And heartbreakingly we were not able to get a vote rejecting the will of 70% of motans to protect children, movie goers, people of worship, shoppers, all of us from the horrors of gun violence. And we must come together to protect human rights which are under attack federally and locally. Protect our queer community, especially trans youth. Reproductive rights. Protect immigrants. Stand up for them. They contribute so much to our culture and economy. Honor the sovereignty of Minnesota's tribes. And remember that when any are harmed, we all suffer. And as sometimes protecting people requires getting in good trouble. We must defend our democratic system. Our federal government is floating the Constitution. And even here in Minnesota, we've fallen short. We can't let this happen. We have to respect voting rights. We have to do all we can to make sure everyone's voices are heard. I don't care how people vote. I just want everyone to vote and let the voters decide where we land. So I want to see us respect agreements and honor promises when it comes down to it. So I believe in the power of good intentions. I attribute good intentions to every soul in this room and I ask for all of us all of us to listen to listen to each other. Give each other grace. Collectively build on Minnesota's strengths and address our challenges. Rejecting divis divisiveness and hate. Governing with love, compassion, and commitment to ensuring the common good. Finally, my thanks to Speaker Ammerida Melissa Hortman. You taught me so much by your example of leadership and I'm forever grateful. I recognize a member from Clay, Representative Keeler. Well, I'm definitely going to cry, so I'm sorry. I'm not even gonna pretend. So, I've like written a bunch of different versions of a speech, and I'm just glad I even wrote one because there's a lot of things that I want to say. This room looks very different the last time I'm in it from the first. We're the Corona class and we are built different. I remember walking into this place for the very first time in my ribbon skirt and my moccasins and Paul Cummings was with me and there wasn't anybody else in this room. Got to watch my speech. I wrote this and I remember being in awe of this place. You know, as a little girl, I wasn't invited here. This wasn't a place that people said I could grow up to do this work. And I remember standing right there at that door and I took a picture of the very first step on this house floor because the Corona class we did a campaign behind Zoom screens. I remember um when I decided to run, my oldest son and I were making sure our neighbors had food. You know, we ran a different kind of campaign. Healthc care, we were really worried about it. We saw the murder of George Floyd. And for some of us, that rocked us. There's always this moment in life when you realize like, I got to do just a little bit more. We all have it, right? There is that moment in life when creator tells us it's time to step up. And I remember thinking and I watched all my friends during that time get really loud on social media. And I remember saying to myself, I didn't want to be a mom that just bitched on Facebook. I wanted to be a mom that could look my kids in the eye and tell them I did everything I possibly could to make this world a better place for you. And I know I did that. I know I did that. My kids know I did that. I wasn't built to be a politician. Over the last six years, I realized even more this place was not created for people like me. I came in as a mom, a community member who just genuinely wanted to do good. I was confident in my Brown brilliance, my love for lifelong learning, and my vision to lead with love. Many of you have heard my story about receiving my master's degree. And during my practicum, I asked the question, what were the barriers to academic success outside of academic rigor? Representative Bakeberg has heard that one million times. And the top answers were the answers were the same in many communities and they've stayed the same for many years. It was the lack of representation. It's not just important for kids like me to see teachers like me. It's actually more important for people like you to see teachers like me. Our kids didn't have a place to stay. They were hungry and they were begging for ongoing mental health supports. Our kids needed somebody to come here and fight for them. And from the minute I stepped my foot in this door, I have worked committed to those values. If any of you have paid attention to the work that I've done here, it's been to say to those kids and those families, I heard you. There hasn't been a day that I hasn't haven't realized how much of a true honor it is to be in this place. For some of you, I do know this work is pretty easy. You stay for decades. It's no big deal. Financially, this is just a hobby for you. For some of us, like me, an indigenous queer woman from the west side of Minnesota, this path has required a whole different level of grit, determination, and resilience. Growing up, I didn't see anybody who looked like me in any roles, like teachers, doctors, nurses, bankers, you name it. I didn't see people who looked like me. And subliminally, that told me I just didn't belong in these places. My six years here and the indigenous leaders who sat in this exact seat before me, our voice matters. It matters that we're here. We've made a difference. Minnesota is better because of us. And I invite you to continue to invite more of us to sit alongside you to do this work with you. Indigenous people come with a beautiful understanding of this world and how we're supposed to work in unison together. To the younger version of myself and maybe to the native youth out there that are listening, keep showing up even when they tell you you don't belong. The tactics to make you invisible are only because they're afraid of your brilliance. Your pure existence will make people big mad, but lean into your power of resilience. Remember, laughter is medicine. Tears are an honest part of generational healing. And smudge. Smudge when things feel hard. You smudge before football games. I've said no representatives are the best version of themselves without our staff. We know we all have those special staff who sit with us and help us think through those really big ideas. They tell us truthfully if we're completely out of our mind or they get in the trenches to make history. And we all know those staff, right? We all know those staff. I had staff that I believe helped us make historical change around investing in homelessness. And I want to take a minute to just talk about that. My first term here, I had the honor of serving as the vice chair of preventing homelessness with Chair Gomez. Though our communities may look very different, our hearts to end homelessness align so clearly. We took the things we learned, the real life stories, and we took them to new tables. and we have done our work. Little did I know that that chair and vice chair combo would grow into something so much bigger than this work. Gomez, thank you. Thank you for being my rock in this place. Thank you for helping to show up for my kids. I could go on and on, but truly just thank you for being you and thank you for loving me. In every table I've sat at, I've had the priv privilege to have Molly Peterson have my back. Sean Herring will run anytime I text him. Sean Herring will turn around in the middle of the night when I say, "We need Sean Herring in this room to help us fix a problem." And I know they're not like my staff. But y'all, they're my staff. They're my friends. And we've invested in our solutions together. We made the Pathway Home Act and we know we're saving lives. Lean into your staff. Lean into their brilliance. Allow them to challenge you. Don't think that you know everything because we all know we absolutely don't. But the best part of this team is a leader who knew who needed to be paired together. This part's hard to talk about, but it's required. My forever speaker, or as I like to call her, speak. Thank you for believing in me. I'm sorry. I brought my own Kleenex. for the first time. Thank you. Thank you for believing me. Indigenous invisibility is real. But Melissa saw me. She really saw me. And I want to share a story that I don't know people know is really public and quite frankly I don't give a damn. But in 2020 when I got endorsed, I was running against other people in my community. there was a city council member who people thought just for sure was the better choice that there was no shot that a person like me could win. And ironically, I've heard that story more recently as well. And the leader of this party reached out and asked Melissa to endorse against me, saying a queer native woman could never win in greater Minnesota. Well, jokes's on him because here I am. But more than that, Melissa stood up. That's what true allyship looks like. She didn't care. She saw something in me that I didn't even see in myself. And to be quite honest, looking around, definitely feels like we have enough mediocre white guys doing this job. Y'all needed my brown brilliance here. Sorry, guys. And so I'm so grateful for I was meaninging this row right here. Oh, I'm not even sorry. Okay. Okay. Let me pull it together. to the AL's. We did a job none of us signed up for, but I know Creator put us together for a reason and we collectively did the hard work. I see you and I am so grateful to be in the work with you. To the Native Caucus, be bold, be brave. Tribal state relations is an action and this caucus is required to continue to do that and maintain these relationships. to 4A to my senator. Thank you for picking me. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for trusting me as the only Democrat from the entire west side of the state. If you looked at a map, it's a sacrifice. It's a different kind of sacrifice, y'all. This is I've been away from my home for 22 straight days to stay here to do this work for Minnesota and for you. The distance, the weather, the consecutive nights away from my home, my kids, the loneliness of living in a hotel, it all takes a toll on a person. Please continue to fight for the importance of the entire state to show up. Please make sure you don't schedule things early on a Monday morning because when we have to get up at 5:00 a.m. to drive here, we're not our best selves. We can only do this job when we have a village of love. Jay, thank you for being the most amazing human. I could never do this job without you helping to take out the garbage, watering the plants, going to the track meets, making sure that home base knows that it's taken care of. To my mom who's watching, she couldn't make it. Thank you for teaching me the importance of showing up and working hard every day for our people. You broke glass ceilings and you taught me to do the same. But most importantly to my boys, you are my why. Elliot DJ, you are the reason I'm here. DJ, I'm your forever. Biggest fan, dude. Y'all don't know my kid. He's got some amazing amazing things going on. He was a three sport athlete in high school and I never missed a day work here. But more importantly, I would leave and drive the long hours to never miss one of his games. It's important that being here, we remember who we are in our lives as well. I was a stellar legislator, but I never dropped the ball being a mom. to my sweet Elliot. Hi. I know the long days away from each other is really hard on us, but like we talk, mommy's doing really good work for our neighbors that matter. Coming home to your hugs after these long weeks is the only medicine I need. Your smile, your heart of pure love is the proof that I know the future generation is the hope and the healing that we all deserve. I'm excited to go to pow-ows with you. I'm excited to puzzle with you, picnic and read our books. A few pieces of advice before I leave you. Remember, we are grieving. We have to take care of ourselves before we take care of anybody else. And we have been on a grind. We have got to take care of ourselves. And that's okay. Find slivers of commonality. I've worked across the aisle genuinely to try to find good solutions that all of Minnesota deserves. And that matters. And we cannot let these party lines divide us like they do. There is good work to be done together. As a chair, always bring your vice chair along. Maybe you'll be the next Gomez Keeler makeup. Spend time with unlikely friends. They matter. And don't forget about greater Minnesota. Make sure you keep that remote testimony because that matters. It matters that our voice is heard. And last, you all know it. Drink water. Thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime. It's time to rest. I'm going to go be the best plant mom I can be. Take care of each other. Wa. I recognize a member from Henipin, Representative Frasier. >> Thank you. I'm already struggling. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Speaker. And uh it's hard going after so many emotional speeches. And I wanted to make sure that I said something today though because I don't think you can do this work and not be touched and not be impacted by the individuals you do it with. Thank you. You know, I think about my journey. I was uh born in a county hospital in Chicago, much like HCMC. In fact, it is the hospital that the show ER is based off of. And but my journey starts before that. My mother was born in the Delta in Mississippi and my grandparents were raised there. I visited there as a kid and growing up uh I got to I remember I was very young but first black mayor of Chicago was Mayor H Washington and I've always been inspired by his story and the campaign he ran and he before Jesse Jackson talked about the Rainbow Coalition that was Mayor Harash's premise for its campaign. It was the rainbow bringing together the rainbow coalition. For those who don't know, Chicago at that time was a very diverse city but a very segregated city. And Harold said, you know, this is a big city and the pie is big enough for all of us. And this coalition, if it unites, we can provide for everyone. And I thought one day that I would grow up and I too could be the mayor of Chicago. but to create the type of hometown that I didn't see growing up. But I left and I came to Minnesota to um University of Minnesota Morris. I'm going to get it together at some point here in Florida. And when I came to Morris, obviously culture shock from where I was, right? I went from a place where 99% of the people look like me, similar experiences to a place where I was totally flipped. But that small town of Morris and the surrounding towns because those that live in Morris been to Morris, you know, there's not a whole lot of amenities. So I would drive to Alexandria. I would drive to Wilmer, Fergus Falls, St. Cloud. These are the places that we went or up to the metro. Not a small town, I know. But I would visit all these small towns and because my classmates were from these small towns and in many ways I was reminded of those small towns that my grandparents grew up in in the Delta. People who wanted the same things. They wanted good jobs. They wanted good education for their kids. They wanted dignity. They wanted to be treated with respect. They just want to be to given opportunities to make it. And I have never for I have never forgotten those experiences, the friendships I made. Everything you see today is because of those experiences, the way I interact with people, the things I care about. It's because of those lived experiences. Not just from the south side, but the time I spent here in Minnesota. Minnesota has given me so much in almost the 30 years I've been here and I've never taken it for granted. I've always appreciated and respected what it's meant to serve, why it's important, you know, and and losing losing Melissa reminded me that you can't take it for granted. You have to appreciate every single moment. And I tell you, I I am falling apart because it has not really hit me until now because I've always been taught also by my mother that focus on what's in front of you. Get the job done. and then and then you can enjoy it. through this session. I've been working hard, keeping my head down, doing the work of the people. But none of it happens without the work, without the help, not just my colleagues on this side of the aisle, but also my colleagues on that side of the aisle. We bargained what we did with the budget that we did this year. We didn't have to do it, but we did it because it was needed, because it was important. And we came together and we showed not just the state, but the country, how we stand together as motans. And I will never forget that. And Keeler said they're they're not our Keer's gone now. Keer's right there. Right. Corona class. Corona class. We we we came in through tough times and that's on both sides of the aisle again. We came in in tough times. We came in through the fire. And I do believe we're different because of that. And I do believe we will forever have a bond because of that. Republicans and Democrats, because of things that we've been through. But I what I will never take for granted, what I've always appreciated that's when times got tough, we did things together, for the betterment of Minnesota, and to all the staff here. I'm not going to name names because I will forget somebody as I look around and I look at the faces. To all of you that made sure that your elected officials, as Chair Leeland said last night, you all don't make mistakes. We make mistakes, but because of the great work that you do and how smart you are, we don't make a lot of mistakes. And we couldn't do it without you. and to all the leaders that have believed in me and put me in positions to do good work. Zach, thank you. Melissa, thank you. People have to believe in you. They have to give you a chance. And that is what Minnesota has done for this poor kid from the south side of Chicago. And I will never forget it. And one of the main reasons I wanted to just say something today other than I feel like I needed to thank everybody in here for the opportunity and a chance to meet I mean to get to know you all. For my daughters Rya May and Kinda I want you to know that your dad stepped up and it was needed. to my grandsons and Chaos who watch this one day. And I want you to be inspired not just because your papa stepped up to do good work. I want you to know there's great people here to care and you will find people that will step up for you even when they don't know you. to make sure you have a better place and a better future. And before I totally just melt here, for everybody that is coming back here, we'll continue to do this work. Please remember, don't take one day, one second, one minute, one hour for granted. And unlike me, try try to live in those moments. Try to live in those moments. It's better to enjoy it that way. It's better to experience life that way. Thank you all again for giving this poor kid from the south side of Chicago a chance to grow into a legislator, a leader, and a public servant. I'll never forget it, but you can always call me. Thank you. Heat up here. I recognize a member from Ramsey, Representative Feist. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I may cry this the whole time or maybe not at all. We'll see. Um I've always thought about my retirement speech like ever since I was first elected and I think it would be a really good exercise. Somebody said sharpening the saw. I think it was Rep. Baitberg. I'm also obsessed with the seven habits of highly effective people. And he talks about beginning with the end in mind as the first habit. And he talks about picturing your funeral and thinking about the legacy that you want to leave and the type of person that you want people to remember you as. And so I just encourage everyone who's staying to write your retirement speech, too. Um because I've heard a lot of values that that I share and that inspire me. And I think we should all just try to remember that that's who we want to be when we show up in this place. So with that, I don't know if my speech is going to live up to that, but I've I've written the top five things that I won't miss and the top five things that I will miss. So we'll start with the top five things that I won't miss so we can end on a high note. Um I will not miss the internet. Um I won't miss men calling me honey who don't know me. Um, I won't miss going viral. That sucks. Um, so I'm not going to miss like I was like almost off of Facebook and then I ran for office in a pandemic and I was like I guess I'm back on Facebook. Um, anyway, I I'll probably stay on because I want to stay connected to you guys. Um, I won't miss blazers. I hate blazers. I hate them. So, um, I'm like a hoodie person and this place makes me dress up and that's not cool. So, next time you see me, I shall not be wearing a blazer. Um, I will not miss, this is a more serious one. I won't miss working really hard to pass laws and then seeing the way the system isn't as nimble and proactive and visionary as I want it to be because we work so hard to pass those laws and get that funding and enact policy and then seeing the way the system is like actually we're good. We're just going to like everything's perfect. Why do we need to change? Um, and that's been really frustrating. So, that'll make me sad or it did make me sad. Um, I won't miss being in a space that unfortunately I think the structure of this body encourages group think, discourages us from asking critical questions and exchanging ideas across party lines to really investigate our own assumptions and try to really hear one another. Um, I just think that the structure of this place doesn't really encourage that always. Um, I started in the middle of a pandemic and so I wasn't really on the floor floor for a while and I remember the first time that I was on the floor and everyone was like really big and we were all like the people at home and I was like whoa this is theater like we are not we are talking past one another and not to one another. Um, and so anything that that the leaders of this body can do to try to create structures and incentives for us to really hear one another, I think that would be better. And the last thing that I won't miss is being in a space that often discourages us from seeing the humanity in one another. At the end of the day, this institution is healthier and more effective if we can trust one another to be our best selves. And I have found that when I have brought that energy, it has always been reciprocated. And so I just I I wish all of us could just really trust one another. And I think that that's really hard. Um, but that's that's what I I won't miss that. And I plan to just be a person who hears everyone. And so that'll be good. Okay. Top 10 things I will miss. My sister is taking pictures. Do I look good? Okay, cool. Um um on that note, I will miss um people feeling obligated to laugh at all of my jokes. Everyone just thinks you're so great when you're a legislator. So, when I'm a normie, people will not laugh at all my jokes, and that'll be sad. Um, I know I will lose touch with a lot of wonderful, brilliant people, and that makes me sad. I put especially, Jay, but I'm definitely not going to lose touch with you. I just meant you are especially wonderful, and I will miss your running commentary on the floor, and I will miss working with you. I promised Jay that there would be a mention of Jay. So, um, this place creates a family and I will miss being part of this family so much. Um, but I do plan to maintain deep relationships. So, I'm going to stay in touch. I'm going to have so much time for coffee dates. You're all going to be like, I'm super busy. Don't you remember? And I'll be like, "No coffee." Um, I will miss crafting bills by negotiating with many people with very different opinions and priorities and coming to like a perfect solution through hard work, creative thinking, good communication. Um, NPR once called one of my bills less glamorous but important. And that is my lane and I love that lane and I will miss that work. um second to last if you're not keeping count. Um I'll miss being invited to really random places like oil refineries and the Boundary Waters and Muslim community centers and medical schools and gopher games. Like people are just like come and we'll show you the world and it's awesome. Um I feel like I know my own community and my state so much better because I've been invited to all of these spaces and it's been a real honor and just a pleasure. And last thing I will miss is having a platform to say what I believe is right instead of begging the people who represent me to do and say what is right. Um that's why I ran for office and and um it's been awesome to just be like I know what I would like the person representing me to say and oh I am that person. Um and so I'll say it and so I'm going to miss that. I plan to still be very opinionated and loud so you'll still hear for me. Um and I would like to end with just some thank yous. Um, I'd like to thank the nonpartisan research staff who pour all their brilliance and dedication into our bills, even when our bills have no immediate chance of passing, but they're our vision for like a better future. And I wrote down something that Ben Johnson said once when he was explaining something to us. He was like, "As you probably already know," and he totally knew that none of us knew that, but but they like lift us up and make us better and do it in a way that doesn't make us like realize that they're way smarter than us. Um, but we do and I appreciate them. Um, thank you to the house staff um, whose tireless efforts behind the scenes is the true backbone of our work. Um, thanks to Dave who keeps me in Kit Kats. This is my last Kit Kat. It says last one. I will miss you and but he promised to send me Kit Kats to my office. So, um, but I appreciate like like this space is like grandiose and it can feel kind of impersonal and intimidating and having Kit Kats and a supportive staff who makes us feel like we're meant to be here is really meaningful and important. Thank you to my colleagues for your friendship, your support, your karaoke duets, the late nights. You are my family forever and I am so grateful for this intense life-changing experience that we all shared. Um, shout out to Corona class. I love you, Corona class. You are my family for literal ever. You're not getting away. Um, I'd like to thank Melissa who encouraged me to be a squeaky a squeaky wheel and then she didn't hold it against me when I took her advice and was really annoying. I'm usually really annoying in a way that is invisible, but um but she knew I was annoying and she didn't judge me for it because I'm really opinionated. I also asked her once I was like, "Am I weird?" And you're like, "You're just kind of intense about the things you care about." So, which is very true. I'm I'm kind of like a lot. Um and you guys all never judge me for that. Melissa didn't judge me for that. Um, it was an honor to serve with Melissa and I will forever remember her example of strong, principled leadership. I'd like to thank Lissa and Laura who made my hair look amazing for all three terms. I'll make sure they see the video of that because they're not here. Um, lastly, I'd like to thank my family, my parents who supported and encouraged me since the beginning when I decided to run for office randomly. Um, and thank you to Ben. This might be the part where I cry. Um, for encouraged me to running run for office in 2020 when we sat down in the living room and we were like, what more do we have to offer like our state and our community? And we decided we had more that we could do as a team. Um, what sacrifices were we willing to make as a team? And unlike Heather, I missed like most of the games. I missed most of the choir concerts. I missed a lot. and and that was because Ben was there to make sure that the kids knew that I loved them and that we loved them and it was a real sacrifice that we all made and I'm really proud of our family. Um so yeah, this these last three terms have been a shared commitment. Thank you. So um it has been an honor of a lifetime to serve in the House of Representatives to represent the people of New Brighton, Columbia Heights, and St. Anthony. It has been a true joy. Um, and you all are not rid of me because I'm super opinionated. I'm totally going to show up and be like, I have compensatory revenue opinions, so beware. Um, but just a true honor and a true joy. Thank you all so much. I recognize a member from Dakota, Representative Berg. Thank you, Madam Speaker. No pressure at all rounding out the Corona class. uh especially following two of the 17 lawyers in our class. Uh I'm going to get thank yous out of the way first because not entirely sure I'm going to get through this. So, um, thank you to the staff from the front desk, to our committee administrators, to our LAS and comms, and especially to the people who keep this chamber sparkling every time we step in here. Thank you to the people of 55B who have sent me here three times to fight for them and their families and bring their voices to spaces not meant for a lot of people like us. These past six years have been a pretty uh wild ride. I never expected to begin legislating remotely during a global pandemic or to end legislating with such a tremendous loss through an act of political violence. I came here to be a voice for hardworking families in my district and across this state. And I've spent my time here centering workers in every conversation and with them at the forefront of my work. I'm proud to have made life a bit easier and a bit better for working families during my time here. I still believe that we need more union members in the halls of power and I'm grateful to have my union siblings in this chamber to carry the legacies of Chair Ecklund Sundine and Chair Nelson. I am sorry. and all the great labor leaders who have left their indelible mark on this institution. I cannot read my speech, so I might have to make it up. To my Corona class members, Thank you for being some of the very best people I know and for standing fiercely together despite geography, different lanes in this work and life changes. I can't start naming everyone that I would want to thank because the list is too long. but to every chair who gave me a chance and who mentored me. Kelly, Dave, Jenny, who supported my bills and believed in me. Thank you to those of you who have been in my corner, who have set the example or made sure I had snacks. Liz and Athena, I'm a better person because of all of you. We have accomplished too much and we have lost too much for any one of us to leave here without being forever altered. But I'm so grateful to have spent the last six years doing this work with all of you. So to everyone in this chamber, even those of you who are super excited to never be in a committee with me again, Isaac Schultz, or listen to me on this floor, thank you. It has been an honor and a priv privilege to serve with you, to be in this work alongside you. And while I'm excited for the next adventure, I will miss you. Thank you, Speaker Hortman, for setting the example of how to lead. And for showing us that when we stick together, anything is possible. LFG. to my partner Brian. Oddly, we met campaigning. So, we began this journey together and we are ending this journey together. Thank you for being here for the very last time. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I recognize the member from Benton, Representative Wolgamott. Thank you, Madam Speaker, and members. I rise one last time to say, wow, what a glorious honor and blessing it has been to represent the nitty-gritty granite city of St. Cloud, Minnesota with you all for the last eight years. I have been thinking a lot about how to best describe why the Minnesota House is such a special place, why we love it so much. And I keep coming back to a song that I first learned in Sunday school when I was a boy. And I would like to share the lyrics of it with you now. It's called Make a Difference by Rachel Curts. I want my life to make a difference. I want my life to make a change. I want my life to do some good here. I want my life to make a change. Working side by side, no out or inside. Together we can make that change. Crossing the great divide, joy and peace will abide. Together we can make that change. And that's what's so special about getting to serve here. Members, we are each one of only 134 people in the entire state that have been sent here by our communities to make a difference and to make the change. We're trusted with that responsibility. And I believe it's that spirit of service that truly makes this such a special institution. And it's that spirit of service that served as the catalyst to my journey to be here with you in the house. A journey that started uh on a hot September day back in 2009 in good old Collegeville, Minnesota. There was a college Democrats meeting on campus and I heard there were going to be not one but two Minnesota legislators there and I was really bummed that I had to miss it because we had football practice at the exact same time. But as luck would have it, coach for whatever reason let us out of practice about 15 minutes early. So I threw off my helmet and pads. I ran to the cafeteria and just as they were closing out, I was able to meet two people who forever changed my life. Former Representative Larry Hos and former Senator Terrell Clark. And I had the opportunity to work with them, to be on their campaigns, to come here to the House in the Senate. And I just was so struck by what a difference you can make here in the Minnesota legislature and hearing the stories from Larry and Terrell's constituents. Uh I also got to work with Representative Zack Dorhold and just getting to see the impact that they were able to use their office here both in making an impact through legislation as well as what they were able to do for their constituents. I heard so many stories of how constituent services can really make a difference in people's lives. So, I knew that this was where I wanted to be. So, in 2023, fresh out of college, I launched my campaign for the Minnesota House. Excuse me, 2013, sorry, 2013, I launched my campaign for the House. Uh, want to give a special shout out to Matt Lindstöm and John Taylor and the McCarthy Center at St. John's University for that network of Johnny Benny's support. Uh we ran a great campaign, but I got smoked by about 10 points. Wasn't meant to be that year. Uh but I loved it. I I loved getting out and door knocking and and meeting my community members. So I gave it another try in 2016. Now I usually don't like to admit this, but it is the last day, so I feel like it's time to, you know, give some confessions. I ran for the Senate in 2016. I know. I know. And get I know I know the last day. That's why I'm telling you this. And I admit I admit I came as close as you can get to being a senator without actually having to be a senator. I I lost the closest race in the state. We had a month-long recount. Uh I was devastated. I thought, "Okay, I've done this twice. my my spirit of service that that makes me want to run for the legislature wasn't meant to be. And I kind of let that fire die out in my heart. Um and then one day I got a call that changed my life again. On April 14th of 2017, I got a call from DFL House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman. And she I couldn't figure out why she was calling me. and she asked me if I would be willing to run for the house. And I said, "Look, I've already I've already ran twice. You know, I lost twice." She said, "No." She said, "You're going to join me in the third times the charm club because I also ran and lost twice before I won." So, after a lot of thought, I followed the speaker's advice and gave it one more try. And sure enough, that was it. The third time was the charm. and I had the profound honor of getting elected by the good people of St. Cloud and getting to join you all here in the House of Representatives. And I'll never forget my first day being a member, getting sworn into this chamber. You know, I'm think soaking it all in. I I was told it was going to be a ceremonial day where, you know, we go in and then we we drink ponchiny cookies. And I was sitting right over there uh between Sydney and Jay and Aeron's desk. I got Polly. Paulie was I think three at the time. I'm holding poly just soaking it all in and all of a sudden I hear well representative Wolgamott yield for a question and I've I thought I was I've thought I was imagining things and so I look up from Paulie and everyone's looking at me and thankfully Jay was like well you say yes and I was like yes and I don't know why it keeps coming back to you representative Nash but you know Representative Nash was really curious what I thought about some change to the rules and so uh thankfully Uh, Representative Nash, she took about 5 minutes to ask her question. She gave me just enough time to get my bearings and and uh I went and grabbed the mic and I started talking and Jay said, "We got to stand up." So, thanks for always having my back, Jay. I stood up. I answered the be the question as best I could. Unfortunately, Representative Nash wasn't satisfied with my response to the question, but you know, it did land me a front page photo on the St. Cloud Times that day. So, you know, thank you for that, Representative Nash. And with that, my baptism of fire in the Minnesota House was complete and my time in office was underway. And uh I would just really like to share with you a few of the things that meant the most to me about some small ways where I was able to make a difference and make a change over my eight years. Uh I was very proud and grateful of the work that we were able to do in a bipartisan fashion when the co 19 exc yeah the co 19 pandemic broke out in 2020. Uh it was a deep time of uncertainty especially for our frontline workers, those who weren't able to, you know, work from Zoom or work from home, our firefighters, our paramedics, our EMTs, our nurses, our police officers, our child care providers. And this chamber was able to come together and team up with all those frontline workers and pass a workers compensation presumption was a new thing. We made a workers's compensation presumption so that for any of our frontline workers who contracted CO 19 instead of having to prove that they got it on the job because how can you do that? If a frontline worker got CO 19, it was presumed that they got it on the job and they were automatically covered under workers compensation. What a difference we made. What a life-changing difference that we made for the 360,000 frontline workers. That's how we make a difference. Something else I'm really proud of that's close to my community is the work that we were able to do with the special education cross subsidy, which is the difference between the amount. It's a good thing. It's a good thing. The state mandates that every school district provides special education services, but unfortunately the state had only been covering about 5% of that cost, leaving a huge unfunded mandate, forcing our school districts to pit students against each other. Uh it was not a good thing. And my first year, St. Cloud had one of the worst special education cross subsidies. So I worked with Representative Davney, who was the chair at the time, to put forward a bill to do a slow ramp up of aid. Started would go 3% the next year, 6% the next year, 9%, 12%. I thought, okay, we're making an incremental difference. Even that couldn't pass. Try it again the next year. That couldn't pass. Tried it again the year after that. That didn't pass. But we kept fighting. And this is what I want all of you to remember going forward. If you really believe in something, you got to keep fighting for it. And then 2023 came along and instead of a slow ramp up of to 12%, we were able to get that number from 5% to 55%. And I want to thank Chair Yuim for working with me on that. What a difference we made for special education students and educators in school districts all across the state. That's how I made a difference. One last thing I want to share about making a difference that has been a true passion of mine is in the area of pensions and teacher pensions. You know, in Minnesota, we talk a lot about being an education state, but our teachers pensions are not up to snuff compared to the surrounding states. And I was so proud to work with my my friends on the pensions commission to make some changes to teachers pensions, lowering their retirement age, reducing penalties for teachers who retire early. There's a lot of work to be done, but we made a difference for teachers. We got to remember that strong pensions equal strong schools. Those are just a few of the examples that are the most near and dear to my heart. And of course, the the biggest thing is the improvements that have been made to St. Cloud. And I've loved serving on the bonding committee and the projects from improving roads in my district, the Herb Brooks Hockey Center, the Children's Museum, the MAC. Um those are small things that I was able to make a change in St. cloud that will make the nitty-gritty grand city an even better place to live and work and raise a family for generations to come. And I would just ask each e each of you as we leave do it. Reflect on what you've done to make a difference and what you've done to make a change because that's what makes it such a special place to be here. I want to share some thank yous. I'm immensely grateful to the people of St. cloud for sending me here not once, not twice, not three times, but four times. And every one of my campaigns that I ran, I set a goal of knocking on 10,000 doors. And so, thanks everyone for opening up your door to me. It has been such an honor to be your voice here. And I'm proud to be able to look any one of my constituents in the eye and tell you that I gave 110%, our staff gave 110% to making your lives better. So, thank you for that trust. I want to thank my amazing wife, Erica. She is the most brilliant, beautiful, smart, witty, supporting person that I have ever met. She is my rock and she does so much to support my service and support our whole family. So, thank you to Erica. I also want to thank my daughters, Lily and Polly, uh, who are like all of us, our children are the reasons why we do this work. We want to make the world a better place for them. And wow, I am just so proud of the young women that they have grown to be. And I know that their time here in the House of Representatives has shaped them and been instrumental to the women that they are growing into. Uh they've they don't know anything else than being here in the House. And that's one thing that I'm really proud of that I want to make sure continues is how much of a children-friendly place this institution is. I'll never forget my first term. It was one of those days in 2019 where it's like -30° and school got cancelled. I had no child care. I thought, "Oh jeez, I got to bring my kids in. Everybody's probably going to be cranky with me." Uh, but the exact opposite happened. You all stepped up filling in with snacks and hugs and playing games and books. That's really special and we need to continue to have a pro-f family culture here in the house, letting kids on the floor, uh having snacks and games in the caucus room. Um that's a really good thing. So, thank you all for the work that you have done to set an example and share love and compassion with Lily and Paulie and help them grow into the women that they're being. I want to thank the class of 2018. We call ourselves the majority maker class. That's right. That's right. That's right. Give it up for 2018. I love you guys so much. You will forever be my brothers and sisters in service. When I look back on all of the uh absolutely unprecedented and unique situations that we have been in together, coming in as the only divided government with DFL House, GOP Senate in the entire nation, coping with the the fear and uncertainty of the global pandemic, the tragic murder of George Floyd, the amazing yet incredible responsibility of governing in a trifecta. sticking together as a team to deny quorum and pass a budget with a tied house. And of course, coming together as strong as we did to love each other and support each other and uplift each other with the loss of our beloved leader Melissa Hortman. The bond that we all as a class of 2018 and that we all have as a caucus, I really believe is unique in Minnesota history and that will forever forge no matter what any of us has to go for in our lives that will forever forge ironclad loving partnerships and relationships and I'm immensely will forever be grateful for that. Of course, none of the work that I've been able to do or any of us have been able to do would be possible without our incredible staff at our side. And I don't know what I did to get so lucky, but I have just absolutely hit the jackpot with all of my legislative assistants. And I would like to start by thanking Tara. Uh Tara was my first legislative assistant. And I will never forget our first day in session. We didn't know each other. We'd never met each other. We got assigned on the first day and I met Tara in my office and I had a million things to do. Tara had a million things to do. Neither of us knew what the heck we were doing. Um but you know, we figured it out and uh I just you know I was brand new so I had all these ideas from doing baby letters and town halls and videos and all these things and Tara was always ready to to try any trick we could to serve the people of St. Cloud. and Tara, you have just, you know, it's just been such an incredible honor to see you grow into such a strong pillar of this caucus ever since. So, thank you, Tara. I also want to thank the other LAS that I've been grateful to have, Kyle, Leah, Elena, Chris, Drew, and Carl. I want to thank you all for the incredible work that you've done constituent services, supporting the legislation. you are the true staples of why we've been able to accomplish so much here in the house. I also want to thank my incredible higher education team. Um Sean and Evelyn are just the dream team. what we've been through uh running through committee, all of our negotiations. Um it's just so special and I again I I don't know what I did to get so lucky to have such amazing people at my side supporting this work, but I'm deeply deeply grateful for that. And I hope that we will all continue to be as grateful as we should be for our staff. I'm glad that we share a lot of thanks, but we can't just say thanks to them in nice moments at the end of the year. We need to sub treat our staff with the respect that they deserve. And I have to admit that I have seen where some members um don't always do that unfortunately where staff have been belittled or degraded in ways and that just that cannot be acceptable going forward. We are so lucky to have these people who work countless hours who could be out there making way more than they do. So, please treat our staff with respect, not just on the last day of session, but every single day of the year with our actions. I want to thank the gold ties and the sergeant-at-arms teams for all that they do to keep us safe. Um, especially what we've seen this last year and recent years with the rise of political violence that threatens the work that we do in our democracy. Uh, you are more important than ever and you bring the warmth and the joy and the kindness to the job. But don't ever let those big smiles fool you. We have incredibly trained people who are willing to do whatever it takes to keep us safe. And for that, we thank you. You are the core of making sure that we can have a safe and functioning democracy here in the legislature. I also want to give a very special thanks to who I believe are the real unsung heroes of this capital, the maintenance crew, who once we leave and we have all our papers and all of our trash and we leave the caucus room like a waste hazard disaster uh should be fumigated. uh those are the folks who come in day after day and put in the hard work to make sure that this place absolutely sparkles for the work that we do here on behalf of motans. I want to give an special heartfelt thanks to our chief clerk Patrick Murphy and the entire chief clerk's office. Uh members, my my favorite times here in these eight years of the house were serving as the speaker pro 10 and the hours and hours and hours that we spent uh up on that roster. Uh for those who have done it, uh it's unlike anything that you've ever done in the world. It feels like you're flying a spaceship with there's so many things happening all the time and we have such an incredible crew that keep that ship afloat. And in addition to the knowledge and the expertise that they bring, they are so kind and they're always looking out for for us as members bringing that kindness. And I just want to give a special recognition to the candy bowl. I mean, how how would we function without that candy? Am I right? Uh you know, as as much as we like to to go back and forth, uh I think a lot it's hard to be really mad at each other when we're munching on our third Snickers bar. So, thank you for that candy. And Pat, what an honor it has been to be your student. I have just so enjoyed learning about procedure and about leadership and about the rules from you. And so, my favorite times these last eight years are when we've sat down in the retire room and go through everything and we just get into it. We go through all the procedures and we'll look, we'll go, "Oh my god, we've been in here for six hours. We better wrap it up." And then we proceed to go on for another hour and a half. But no, Pat, you are just you're a national treasure and thank you for what you do for this institution and for our families. Uh we we love and appreciate you and are so grateful for you and your entire team. So, thank you, Pat. Thank you. Last, I want to say thank you to Mark and Melissa and Gilbert Hortman for the light and love that they have brought to all of our lives. I I miss them. I love them. I think about them every day. Melissa was brilliant. She was a master strategist. She was a courageous leader. Uh she was tough as nails. She knew how to get things done. But the most important contribution that she made to this institution and that she has made to all of our lives was that she had a divine ability to see the humanity in each and every one of us. She knew that with all the bills, all the rules, all the back and forth that we are human beings. And that was reflected in the work that she did. Uh Melissa before her time, the House would meet past God knows what hours, Melissa made it a priority in a new custom that the House not meet past midnight so that members and staff could get the rest that they need and deserve. Even in the midst of huge negotiations, I would always appreciate uh getting a text from Melissa and asking me to join her on a target run so that she could get snacks to feed hungry members and staff. And I had just such cherished memories uh going with her and having fun thinking about what snacks our members would want to eat. Um and who remembers the legendary speaker snack cart, right? Um Melissa really saw the humanity in each and every one of us. And as we go forward in this house, I hope that for those of us who are leaving, whatever we have next, that we bring that humanity with us. I hope that for those of you who are staying here that you keep that humanity with you and with this chamber because as we continue to dive deeper and deeper into social media videos and artificial intelligence, we continue to get more and more dehumanized and to see each other as pawns and fodder for getting likes and clicks and all of that. Um, so I really hope that you will remember Melissa Hortman and her legacy. She and Mark and Gilbert dedicated their lives to make a difference. They dedicated their lives to make a change. And may that change continue to live on in each and every one of us with that spirit of service and that spirit of humanity. Madam Speaker and members, I would like to close by sharing the most powerful blessing that I know, the prayer of St. Francis of Aissi. Lord, make the Minnesota House of Representatives an instrument of your will. Where there is hatred, let us so love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. Oh divine master, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood is to understand. To be loved is to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Thank you to the people of St. Cloud. Thank you members. And thank you Madam Speaker. I recognize a member from Henipin, Representative Robbins. Thank you, Madam Speaker, and members. It is an honor to be here on the House floor with all of you. It has been the great honor of my life to serve the people of Maple Grove, Corkran, Rogers, and Dayton in my first term, Madina, Greenfield, Lorettto, Independence, and Maple Plane. It is an experience I never thought I'd have. I never thought I'd run for office and I'm so grateful that Joyce Pepin um uh who I just supported her campaigns for many years. Uh she stepped down and this opening came available on short notice and here I am. And I never thought I'd have this chance. So, it's an incredible blessing. And I especially um want to say thank you at the beginning to my wonderful husband Brent and my parents Dean and Joan Jacobson, my three daughters, Katherine, Lauren, and Lily. We did this as a family. You all know how hard that is on families and you all know the sacrifices everyone does to make you be able to be here. And so I'm so grateful for their love and support. and thank you that you're here. They were here the day I was sworn in. They're here again, always by my side and always praying for all of us. So, let me tell you guys, they are here and they they're in their late 80s and God is never going to take them home because we need their prayers so much. So, um I I wanted to also at the beginning thank all the staff. Um, my LA's Rachel Een, my very first LA is here. And, um, I've had tremendous LA's. Uh, Chris Malahhey, Betsy Ritzer, Caitlyn Miller, and Curtis Peterson right now. Curtis has had a big agenda with uh, being my LA. And, um, also being the CLA for the fraud committee, and he's, uh, done a great job. and all of our research staff, all of the partisan and nonpartisan staff who make the committees work, who um turn our ideas into legislation, the revisor's office, of course, my dear friend and mentor Patrick Murphy, who I I I can't thank you enough for being the guardian of this institution, and we're grateful. He has kept this place on the rails for more than 40 years. Politicians come and go, but the institution of the house, the strength of this body matters to the people of Minnesota and Patrick never waver in his commitment to the institution and I really am grateful for that. And to all your staff, you're amazing. Um, thank you for all the late hours. we we leave at midnight, they're still here for many hours after us. So, we really appreciate it. And um to other people have thanked the gold ties, the sergeants office, thank you for all you do. and to the state troopers who are here with us all the time and um someone who ha hasn't been mentioned as much but the pages and Tom Hoen really building the next generation through the house page program through our internship program I I really um am so grateful for that leadership and that investment in the future of our state and then to the house librarians I don't know if you're watching But um I am a geek and I'm a frequent flyer at the library and they are always there for me getting articles, getting things that I haven't been able to find and I'm so grateful for the support of that staff. Um I have loved this work. I'm I'm a geek. I really love the policy. I love the detail and um and it's just been such an honor to um be able to be here and and have an influence on legislation and having served mostly in the minority. Um I I didn't have major bills that passed. I had a few, but but most of it was working across the aisle and saying, "Can this piece of a bill, can this set of languages get added into stuff that you guys were carrying?" And I'm so grateful for the partnership in that um because collectively our ideas are better together and and that you were were willing to to work with us and you know we had disagreements but we fought through it. So um to Sandra and the cell phone policy bill, thank you. I think that really matters for the kids in the schools in our state. Uh, Kelly on the MCOR and on domestic violence issues that we worked on. Thank you. Um, Kristen Bonner, thank you for your partnership for all things Maple Grove and our community and on and on the social media stuff. Um, it's been great. So, and and to my colleagues on this side, like it has been such a joy to get to know you, to be in the fight with you in the minority all these years. Um we have we have made a difference. We have um showed motans um the the debate of ideas matters and it and it will always matter and I really I really care about this institution. So I'm not going to go through all the different bills where things pass but but the one that stands out to me the most are the constituent service things. the things for the firefighters, the things in pensions, the things where um you move the needle for someone just by calling a meeting with an agency because they don't know how to navigate the bureaucracy. So, to all my constituents, um I'm so grateful. My best bill ideas came from my constituents. They are in the real world and they had things that weren't working and they wanted to know what we could do to fix it. And I'm so grateful for my constituents and and the great communication, the great um support I've had from them all these years. Um there's there's a lot I want to say about this place. Um, so I I really think uh motans were at a crossroads and I'm I'm so grateful um for the opportunity to have shared the vision of um freedom and individual liberty wrapped up or not really wrapped up but supported by the by the institutions that our founders created. 250 years ago. And we cannot have individual liberty and flourishing without the institutions that are created. Divided government is a good thing. Executive branch, legislative branch, judicial, layers of government, federal, state, local, county. That diverse diffuse power is is what enables freedom. And the more that power concentrates, the less free we will become. And so I'm in this last speech want to just ask you guys to keep that in mind. Diffuse power and as close to the local level as possible is the best way to safeguard freedom. And and the danger when we get here is we think government should be the solution because this is our this is our workplace and we think oh well we have to solve that. But really the more we can think about how we can get solutions to the public to our communities to our local governments that will preserve freedom for our people and for flourishing because the best ideas aren't from here. Government is not the savior. We the people, the best ideas are out there and the risktakers, the business owners, the parents, the school teachers, the people in our communities who are knit together and um coming up with the genius ideas, the things that transform the world. We can support that and we always should have a safety net and we should always take care of the elderly and the disabled and have a a foundation. But it shouldn't become a trap. It should be a springboard, not a trap. And I just encourage you in all your work here to always think very carefully about the layers and layers and layers of bureaucracy we are building. State government has exploded. In the eight years I've served, the size of the state government, just our layer, state government, it's grown 48%. It's not sustainable. and it's too big to manage. And that's what the lesson of the fraud committee is. State government has exploded so much we can't manage all these programs. They're duplicative. They're taking taxpayers money that could be in their own pockets helping their families and communities. Instead, we're funding this edifice that we cannot support financially and it cannot support us. It's overtaking us instead of being under us. So I just encourage you as you go forward to think about how we can devolve power, how we can um have more uh of the work done in our communities, not here. Don't grow bureaucracy. Help communities find their own solutions and get behind what they are doing. And I've got too many notes. As always, my desk looks like this. Um, I I think I'll just end with um how much it's been an honor. I've made lifelong friends here. I never thought I would have. Shout out to Barb Haley if you're watching. She's my ride or die buddy. And um we've done a lot of life together. Good things, bad things. As you know, she experienced a deep tragedy. But but these friendships are real and continue to invest in them. continue. I know you guys think I'm a geek, but go disability caucus people. It's so important. I mean, that's how Sentra and I became friends. And it's so important for the institution that you know each other as people that you look beyond the labels. You look beyond the committee debates and you say, "Oh, you have kids the same age or you have this going on in your district or we went to the same school. That's how I got to be good friends with Ray Dean. We both had gotten to wash you." How random is that? But so invest the time. We're all so busy. But take the time once a month. Just once a month to show up, get to know your colleagues. Go to karaoke night. Rapinsky. I'm I am tasking you with carrying on the karaoke tradition. And and that's how we will strengthen this institution because if we know each other as people, there will be the trust that Sandra talked about. and that's how we'll get through the hard negotiations and the difficulty. Um, so I I hope Civility Caucus continues beyond Sandra and I. Um, it it really will make this a better place. And I encourage you um to to limit the bills. This institution is so great, but it's kind of gotten on steroids in my eight years since I've been here. And the best work happens in committee where you're really wrestling and talking, but if you've got 10 bills on the agenda and two minutes or three minutes for each one, you're not having the real conversations about getting getting to the the the nub of the issue and how we're going to make things better for motans. So there are institutional ways other legislators do this to limit the number of bills or to make sure everybody gets one bill in a floor debate. There are many models out there and I just encourage as an institution that we focus on the details like that. So my friends, it has been an incredible honor. I hope to stay in touch with you. I know you will continue to good do good work for the state of Minnesota and I'll always be here cheering you on. Um and and my last thank you is to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I haven't spoken a lot about my faith here, but that's what motivates me and drives me. First my faith, then my family. And the verse I wanted to share with you, which has it's not my life verse, but it has helped me for eight years. Second Corinthians 12:19. Oh, one thing I forgot to say. I've never had a job that breaks your heart. This place has broken my heart so many times. where I drive home crying. But it's worth it. It is worth it to wrestle that heart. So keep keep doing that. But here's the verse. Sorry. And I think it's for me, but I think it's for all of us. My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness. So therefore, I will boast in my weakness because that will bring greater glory to the Lord. So you guys are the best. Keep working hard, keep shining, keep fighting for limited government. Ronald Reagan said, I love this quote from Reagan. Um, man is not free unless government is limited. This is a cause and effect as neat and predictable as the laws of physics. As government ex expands, liberty contracts. Please take that to heart. God bless you guys. I recognize the member from Sherburn, Representative Noatne. >> Thank you, Madam Speaker. And would uh Representative Nash do me the honor of taking the pencil, the Dan Fabian like pencil, and if I go over time, feel free to wave it at me or throw it if needed. Uh it feels a little weird here today. Um but it is a a speech where I don't have to worry about getting gabbled down. I don't have to worry about a point of order being called. Uh, and I don't have to worry about the the phrase I feared most for the last seven years. Will Representative Noadne yield for a question? Serving in this house has been an honor. Uh, one of the greatest honors of my life. Uh, it's been an educational experience. Um, for example, I learned that a short meeting can turn into two hours. a simple technical bill can uh drag out forever. Uh I will not forget the time that then sergeant-at-arms pulled me aside in one of the first nights and he said, "Just remember, Paul, everything may have been said, but not everyone has said it." Um, I will also remember when the uh great living legend, former representative Tony Albbright, who sat in this chair right here, um, pulled me aside on the first night and he said, "Look at that board. Your name is on the board with about 5,000 other representatives and nothing can ever change that. you were on that board and uh I hope to get that name plate and um it's been an honor. Um legislating is a lot like the 33 years I spent in law enforcement. Um so it seems like a natural transition. Um in both jobs you get called at all all hours of the night. You have to deal with stressful situations and you get blamed for things that you didn't do and that you had no control over. One of the things I quickly realized during his legislative debates and how similar they are to police work is that um everybody knows how to do their job better than you. Um everyone tells you what you should have done after the fact and uh everyone is an expert. I think about you know it's all a matter how you look at things. Um, I threw less interceptions in pro football than Brett Favre did. I didn't throw any because I never played in a game, but you know, it's all depends how you look at it. Um, so it's all a matter of perspective. Just like patrol work in the in the legislature, you you get you run on caffeine and emotions and junk food and most of the times you feel you you wish you hadn't have eaten most of what you did. And uh I'll spend this next three months losing my traditional end of session 20 pounds. to the health staff, especially the clerk staff for the ones that we see. Um, like everyone else, I have nothing but as uh just such inspirational leadership that we've drawn from Chief Clerk Patrick Murphy. But I also see the rest of the clerks, the ones that we see here, the ones in back like Joanne, who's who's been such an inspiration and have to put up with a bunch of overcaffeinated, stressed out legislators hanging out in their workspace. Imagine you have your workspace and then for sometimes hours or long nights, you have to give up your workspace because uh people invade it. and uh you know, thank you for putting up with us and making everything work. Um to the constituents, thank you for having your faith in me. Thank you for uh sending me here and and it's been an honor to serve you. To the thank yous that I need to get out. Um, obviously the church cl the the clerk staff as I said my colleagues uh there's way too many colleagues I will skip someone um but I feel that I need to call out u the cop caucus uh Bald Duran Terry Steer Jeff Witty the retired COP caucus uh Brian Johnson and Matt Gracel who uh were here with me when I started um there was their inspiration has been um always remembered and I hope that the I was able to pass something on to them and that they can represent you uh going forward. Representative Mohler, you as I said before have been a fair opponent at times, always a fair opponent and a patient co-chair. You made me a better legislator. uh to my base. I had the absolute blessing of having the same LA and the same uh committee person that I worked with and the same uh person next to me for most of the time. Uh I had Mary McNamera as my LA my whole time. And I like to say that it's because I was the lowmaintenance representative. So I I took care of myself and she didn't have to be stressed out and she could work with other staff and new staff. John Hulquist who is uh an institution onto himself who has uh he was my walk-in Google. I can't tell you how many times he has reminded me of things I said or ideas that I had and by the time I say it, I've forgotten it. But he remembers it. And uh you know how many times he's pulled out a folder is like no no that like the third meeting in the the of public safety last year you said this and like my gosh that sounds like something I would have said but that's a great idea. We should do something about that. And the one legislator I will call out Nathan Nelson who I have always shared at least a wall with. The last two years they shared a a cubicle thing. Uh Nathan and I have become elk hunting uh partners and uh I just like to thank you for not showing some of the videos that you took of what I was doing to my wife's truck and um all the times that you said, "Boy, if Nikki only knew what her truck was being put through." I'm sorry. It's my truck now. I inherited it. So, um, to my family, my daughter is Emily. Emily is my, uh, oldest daughter. She is my political confidant and campaign manager, and I wouldn't be here for her, um, had she not, u strongly encouraged me against my will to be here. My younger daughter, Shelby, who's got the the heart of a true servant. Uh, she was a teacher for a while, and now she's doing community relations. Uh, engaged last weekend. I look forward to seeing what her life will become. Um to my future grandbaby, which we will have somewhere on her about July 4th. Um you've inspired me to make decisions like walk away from here. Finally, my wife Nicole. I can't wait to run away with you. Uh do things and you know, finally be retired. I don't know how good I'll be at that. Um, but I will try to uh former representative Nick Zurwas who lied to me. Nick in his very gruff voice said, "It'll be fun." It It for the most part has not been fun, but it it it has been rewarding. It has been an honor to be here. Um, I am happy to happy that I answered the call and I'm more than happy to be handing it off to someone else. Um, to Speaker Damoth, thank you for giving me a gabble. Uh, I hope I made a difference. And for everyone else, peace out. I recognize a member from Ramsey, Representative Mohler. >> Thank you, Madam Speaker. Members, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve my community in this body with you. Thanks to my constituents for putting your trust in me to represent you. And to the volunteers who helped me get here four times. To my family and friends for their love, sacrifice, and support, especially over some very difficult moments. A special shout out to my son who's here today and my dad who has watched every single committee hearing and floor session and sometimes he pays more attention to the floor sessions than I do and ask me questions afterward that I cannot answer. Thank you also to all who have mentored me and taught me about your diverse and vibrant communities across this state. Thank you also to Melissa Hortman for her mentorship and leadership. And you know, some of us wear these um buttons that are orange buttons from Lyona that say simply the best. And I don't know if everybody knows this story, but she was given an award and they played that as her walk up song and she thought that was a bit much. Um, and yesterday when I got in the car to come here for the last day of session, my Spotify was on a random mix and that song came on. So I know that she has been here with us. Working together to craft policies to benefit motans has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. I've worked with so many of you across the aisle, especially on gender-based violence issues. um and really enjoyed working with Chair Noatne who had much patience with me as well. Also, shout out to my maj majority makers class. We can't let the Corona class have all the fun today. And of course, this work could never have happened without our incredible staff, both partisan and nonpartisan. You are true public servants who give so much to this important work. The first time I visited this Capitol building, I was a law student and a girl from Indiana who had decided to move to Minnesota with my fiance Kevin, who's also from Minnesota. I had the feeling that I would work in this building. Running for office was not a goal, so I don't know why I felt that way. And I didn't even know what I really wanted to do uh after law school. But I was filled with the excitement of planning roots in this beautiful state and being open to the possibilities ahead. Minnesota, you have exceeded my expectations and given me more than I could have ever imagined. Minnesota's beauty was the first thing that hooked me. But Minnesota's people are the reason why I never want to move and the reason that I have been so proud to serve in this legislature. Motans are hearty, hardworking, and kind, even if sometimes a little passive aggressive. And my son just told me the other day that a comment I made was passive aggressive. So, I guess I I fit right in now. The motans I most admire welcome im immigrants, respect our tribal nations, embrace people as they are, fight for equity and justice and care for their communities. We saw the best of motans over the last year. Even though there were so many horrible things after the events of June 14th, we were comforted comforted by motans who reached out to us who attended the vigil for Mark and Melissa and who paid their respects to them and Gilbert in the rotunda. We saw the best from the enunciation families who experienced unimaginable tragedy yet showed up here with hope and courage even though this body ultimately let them down. And then there were the thousands of motans who helped their neighbors during an attack by the federal government. These motans stood up for constitutional rights and for each other. Whether you are retiring or not, I implore you to find the courage that these motans displayed. Our nation is sliding away from the very democracy that we are celebrating on this 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. History will not be kind of those will not be kind to to those of us who almost had courage. And I've actually seen that courage in many of you as you protected your communities during the recent occupation. And some on both sides of the aisle who spoke out against the racial profiling that happened. Members on both sides of the aisle also spoke out about the harm that motans would experience from HR1 before it passed in Congress. And courage was on display when the vast majority of this body in 2021 passed a resolution that condemned the January 6th insurrection and affirmed this body's support for democracy, rule of law, and free and fair elections. Members, more of that, please. Let's continue to muster the that courage in the months and years ahead. In the story of the emperor's new clothes, every person in that crowd could see that the emperor wasn't wearing any clothes. They were afraid to be the one to tell him. Then a child said the plain truth out loud. Members, we are that crowd. Will we be the brave one to say the plain truth out loud? As this chapter of my life comes to an end, I'm filled with a gratitude by what this state has given me. When I exit this chamber, I will have the same excitement and hope that I had as that young woman who first walked into this building, not knowing what was next. But whatever that is, I will be rooting for all of us to find that courage to be that child in the crowd who says the truth out loud. And finally, as I wear my CLA ring, I will be reminded of you and this place. The clott is an Irish symbol. It has a heart with hands holding it and a crown on top. It's the symbol of friendship, love, and loyalty. I will think about the many friendships that I've made here. I will think about my love of this institution and I will think about the loyalty that we have to our state and federal constitutions. And with that, Mr. Speaker members Minnesota. Thank you. I recognize the member from Sterns, the speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Speaker Lisa Damoth. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. members in this chamber. We are all part of history. This 94th session of the legislature with a tie is absolute history that will go down forever. If you remember, the tie in 79 only lasted one year. We beat them. We made it through two entire years to do this legislative session together. And I'm actually really really proud of that because that means maybe to the disappointment of all of us. It means though that everything that was passed out of this chamber and signed into law had to be bipartisan. There was no way through it. Those are lessons that I was hoping Melissa Hortman and I could have insisted would carry on in this place. Not a tie again, just to be very clear. Not a tie again. But my hope for the future of the House of Representatives is we would learn to do this a little bit better together because the voters insisted on it. That meant that we had to negotiate from day one in committees. That's something I hope all of the representatives that come along next will learn from that it is possible even when it seems impossible. It is absolutely possible if we work together. I have much gratitude and thankfulness to the people that support the work as we've all heard that from our perspective. First, I want to thank my family. Um although they didn't campaign alongside of me every step of the way like a lot of you had from your families, they did what was necessary. My husband Nick is a great truck driver for parades cuz he doesn't walk parades. very good truck driver. You've heard that I have four adult kids and seven grandkids. When I was first elected in 2019, we had three grandkids and we've added to those. One being just over a year ago where we had a paper push and I was presiding coming from the hospital with my family with my daughter presided and left and made it in time for that baby's birth. I didn't make all the track meets for my grandkids. I didn't make all the lacrosse games, but a lot of times I would join by FaceTime because my husband allowed that. He would just FaceTime me in. And those are the sacrifices. But I know everyone in this chamber, all 134 of us, and those that have gone on before us, we made those sacrifices because we believe in Minnesota. We believe that we could make things better when our constituents send us to this place and I know that is absolutely possible. I also want to thank my mom who watched almost every committee when I was first elected and I would get a text message in the middle of just the occasional bill presentation saying, "I like your hair. That's a nice outfit. I have some political questions for you that has continued on. She knows all of you by name and no matter what time we finish and I'm grateful that it's not past midnight except for one time, Mr. Speaker, slightly after midnight, but I would I would get a text message even last night as we wrap things up and and she said, "I know you have a few more things to do, but you need to call me. I've got questions." So, at 1:00 this morning, I called my mom who was still up and I said, "Okay, what are your questions?" And she needed to know some things. I was getting text messages, "Why are you laying bills on the table? That doesn't make sense. You have a deadline." I also know that her hero is Pat Murphy. I do know that. And we've taken pictures for her because my mom was so concerned about Mr. Murphy during COVID when you had to call the names and how would your voice handle calling all of those names? She also thought we were when we were in the chamber that he stood the entire time and I said, "No, he has a chair. He can sit." But you know, and we know, and this is kind of funny because our family was not political before I entered this realm at all. We didn't follow things closely. We were conservative. We always voted, but we weren't in the depths of what it meant to be involved at the grassroots level. And we've all grown because of that. And that is a very good thing. Every one of you in this place along with me, I know we are doing this for the future and we can't stop with that. I want to thank our staff partisan for getting us through. And you know, I've always said there's no crying in politics. There's a lot of crying in politics, actually. And it's out of gratitude. It's fighting those hard fights when we didn't think we would make it all the way through. And we did. And for Kevin, my friend who always visits me at the rostroom. The Star Tribune needs to get an updated picture of us. To Sean and the work that we did in those rooms. There were six people in those rooms. Actually, there's eight. But there were six people when we were in the tie trying to figure out a way forward. And at times that it didn't think that we would be able to do it. Andrew and Sean, you were witnesses. Pat, you were witnesses that somehow we made it through. All those things we can't talk about. That club that we're in, we made it through. Leader Stevenson, we came in together. Proud class of the majority makers as I've heard from my college. Hold on. Hold on. There were five Republicans. There may have been 35 of y'all, but we were really happy to be here. Leader Stevenson, you stepped up to lead your caucus this year and we made it through. We didn't see eye to eye and we did the work for the people of Minnesota. That's what needs to be remembered. So, thank you. Our nonpartisan staff, you know, even um you've heard different people call out, but our research, our advisors, HR, because they are very important. Budget and accounting, I mean, those that don't normally get mentioned. Thank you. And when we don't have to contact you, that's usually a pretty good thing for some of that. I remember when I came in in 2019 and we were on that um uh the tour that we had on the Thursday after the election, everybody coming in really tired. We walked into this chamber and I heard you're one of 5,000 people that has ever had the responsibility and the opportunity to serve in this role. And I didn't take that lightly. From that day, that very first day, walking in as a newly member elect, I said, "If I ever lose the awe for what this place means and what it stands for, I need to be done. I have not lost the awe for this place. I want to continue carrying it forward because what it means to our state and the future that we can continue to build on this When I became minority leader uh in 2023, Melissa called me and she said, "I'd like to meet with you meet weekly." And I said, "You don't even need my votes. Why why do you want to do that?" She said, and this is her leadership. Again, we did not agree politically, but she said, "We'll get to know each other personally as people, and then we'll get to do the work." And that has stood out for me. She's the only speaker I served under. that has absolutely stood out to me and that's something I want to continue carrying forward. As you've heard from other members already say, when we get to have those conversations and get to know each other, it makes us do the work better when it's hard and when it's easy. So, continue that going forward. The chief clerk puts out this thing with all of our names. I don't know how many people grab it, but I have this at home. I have it in both of my offices in my bag. all DFL, all Republican. I also have it from 2025 with different names on, but I have it the new one because I pray for every person that's listed on here even when we don't agree and I will continue doing that forward. Before I close, there's a verse in Nehemiah that has given me life and strength. And it is the joy of the Lord is my strength. That's what allows me to smile. That's what allows me to come in and do the hard work every day. People have said, "How do you have energy?" And I said, "I don't I don't know, but the joy of the Lord is my strength." I want to encourage you to leave any place that you touch better than you found it. And that's working with people that you both agree with and disagree. It has been my honor to serve the people of District 13A. It has been my honor to serve in this chamber. And it has been my honor to serve as speaker of the Minnesota House. Thank you. Heat. Heat. I recognize a member from Freeborn, Representative Bennett. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and members. So, I was told that we have two minutes per year that we've served. And I'll just say, perish the thought if I speak for 24 minutes. Come slap me up if that happens because you know, if you know me, you know what I think about long floor speeches. I just want to share a bit from the heart here. And I'll start by sharing how I got to this place in the very beginning because a little over 12 years ago I was uh happily teaching school, teaching first grade and it was a spring. It was a Saturday afternoon, beautiful sunny day and um probably in May and a neighbor from down the street came knocking on my door. little know that I didn't even know that he was the chair of a of our BPOU and I didn't even know what a BPOU was at that time. But anyway, came knocking at my door. I stepped outside and chatted with him and he starts talking about this and that and thinking why is he here talking to me? And pretty soon he says, "Have have you ever considered running for office?" He was talking about running for the Minnesota House. And in my mind, I thought, "Are you crazy?" because no I had not and I quite honestly had never thought about it. But after speaking to him, I told him,"Well, I will think about it. I'll pray about it over the summer and I'll let you know in the fall." And that's what I did. And I went from no way to in the fall saying, "Yes, I will do this." And the thing that tipped me over the edge of doing it is my over 750 kids, all of my former students, because I knew that I wanted them to have the same opportunities and freedoms that I've had growing up. And so now here I am 12 years later. I And time flies, I guess. So here's some words I've thought of. And by the way, it's been an honor to serve these 12 years. But here's some words that I think uh come to my mind when I think of these 12 years serving. Privilege. It's a privilege. An honor. Joy. Fulfilling. Fun. Frustrating. We all know that. I'll just share a moment of fun. uh former representative Dennis Smith used to have a candy uh jar on his desk and he had a thing about don't reach into there, use this cup. And uh it it was a very strong uh feeling on his part. And so I got a bunch of um of those rubber work gloves and brought a whole bunch of them here and we all we had a whole bunch of us stick them on and come around ready to grab into his candy bucket and got a picture. It was quite fun. uh frustrating well those long long endless floor speeches I could say. So I'll share with you a high moment. I would say I I'd have to say it was um just a few days ago when our when that anti-grooming bill passed. That was amazing to me and definitely a high moment. Most interesting moment. Well, I served on the bonding committee for a couple terms and one of our stops was the Henipin County Corners building and uh those of you who are there with me maybe you remember this, but we went up into this observation room. Leon's shaking his head. Yes. And uh I won't get into the details for you, but they did inform us that some people faint when they go in that room. So, we observed things and I thought it was super interesting. So, uh, yeah, that's weird, but I I love that biology and so on. Funniest moment, a number of years ago, we used to have our retiring speeches after we gabbled out at midnight. So, you can imagine going for a few hours after that. Yes, it was very tiring. And I remember uh very well, we're going on and on and people are really tired. And somewhere back in here, former representative Tony Albreight, he was up there, but now he's not there anymore. But all of a sudden, we hear this during a speech, this thunk. And to turn around and look, and all we see are Tony Albreight's shoes and his fancy socks that he wears sticking up in the air because he had flipped over backwards in his chair. Those of you who are here probably remember that. It was a funny moment. my low moment, those long endless floor speeches. Um, if I could be remembered for one thing, I guess two things. One would be uh remember that I truly care. And the second thing is to be remembered as a bridger of gaps because we have gaps in this state. We have gaps between the left and the right. We have gaps between rural and metro, urban, suburban, rural. And we don't have to compromise our principles to bridge those gaps. I won't compromise on my principles and you shouldn't have to either. But we can seek to understand and listen and respect and fill those gaps and find solutions that actually work to fix problems. So those are things I would like to be remembered for. I end this with mixed emotions these 12 years because part of me really wants to go on. there's so much more to do. And I've had many people in my own district and even up here say, "Won't you go on?" And I I've determined I've I've I've been a believer in term limits from the start coming into this. I've even carried legislation on term limits. I've done this for 12 years. I know it's not it's not supposed to be a career. Our founding fathers never meant it to be a career. So I'm term limiting myself at 12 years. It's no judgment on anybody who has longer but for me as to to stand on my principles I need to do that. So it's been a tough decision. I want to say thank you. Thank you to uh first I'll start with just staff LA's our media writers our committee administrators. Um I especially want to say thank you to Jody Weather Withers. worked with him from the beginning on education. He's been amazing. Great example of a committee administrator. I don't know, Jody, your brain must be in these this high IQ area because I don't know how you do all that, but you've been amazing. Also, John Hulquist, another one uh committee administrator I've worked with that just there are so many I could go on and I won't name any more names so that I don't leave people out, but um also our nonpartisan research. I think of especially Tim Stum and Christina Pah who have I've worked with on education. They've been amazing. Um other staff um well first of all I have to say our chief clerk clerk Patrick Murphy all of you up there all of the sergeant-at-arms staff people our troopers. It's amazing and we could not do this without you. So thank you. And then just to all my colleagues, my friends, you've become family. It's hard to believe that. But it's been amazing. So thank you. And I just want to close by reading uh what has been my life scripture since probably my early college years. And I want to share this with you. It's from the 37th Psalm starting with verse three. Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in him and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noon day. So, thank you to everybody both in this chamber and without. It's been a pleasure and an honor to serve with you and to serve my local communities. And I'll just say this is never goodbye. It's just see you later. So, thank you. finishing his seventh term. I recognize the member from Morrison, Representative KCA. Get comfy, boys. So, um, as with most things my family knows, I have no idea where this speech is going to go. Um, I don't know where it's going to end, and you're just going to be along for the ride. So, let's just see how this goes. Um, a couple of housekeeping items. Uh, leader Nisca, thank you. Um, because my idea for siny die was the right thing in March and you finally made that happen. And, uh, to Chris McCall who pointed out, yes, I do have the ability to go up to midnight and we'll see how this goes today. So, Madam Speaker, I rise to give my final speech on the House floor. I rise to acknowledge my time has passed and the path ahead is not a roundabout where I will make a U-turn. But I want to start with a couple things that I've learned. As many of you know, Chief Clerk Pat Murphy's office is a repository for all the things all things in the legislature. And the towering stacks of information rival the Library of Congress. But I am here to tell you that despite seeing a Bedawin shepherd leave there, the Dead Sea Scrolls are not in fact in your office, Pat. Members, there is no gold star for introducing the most bills. Just saying the revisers are people, too. And in all of my time here, I have never seen a bill introduced on the last day that is considered for action. So, pro tip, if you're introducing a bill on the last day to cover up for a really bad earlier, that really bad vote is still going to be on your record forever. The buffet choices run by Eric at the snack shop rival most of the good restaurants that I've been to. And the House of Representatives is designed to be a forum for disagreement. And the Mason Manuals is our guide for discussion and procedures. It is d it is designed to encourage debate, not stifle it. So members, when you're thinking of reaching for that mason's, maybe just reach across the aisle. Many people I have looked to or many people here have looked at these three seats with much desire. Lots of room back here, lots of privacy. It's like we have the best place. But I have to tell you, my experience here has not been one of greatness. It has been a lot of disruption. You see, I'm an incredibly serious and focused individual who speaks a lot, sometimes two or three times on every issue. And Representative Swidinski and Representative Schumacher are the most disruptive, difficult human beings that you could ever serve with. They're jokes and they're they're just not funny. Just telling you to you too, my friends. Thank you for keeping me grounded. I didn't know how to be a legislator when I was elected. I've made many career choices by the mantra, how hard can it be? In fact, I was working at home transitioning from one of my many great career ideas and I read that redistricting was happening and leaving the area that I lived in without a sitting legislator. So, I announced loudly sitting for my home office I should run for office. I was saying this with the same seriousness that anybody might say, "Hey, I should clean the garage." My wife, the smart, good-looking one in the relationship, said, "Yes, you should do that." What I heard was, "Yeah, good luck with that, Rockstar. Remember how you promised to clean the garage?" And I said, "Well, I will." I fired off an email to the local newspaper. Within 60 minutes, the press release was out. Suddenly, I was getting a lot of attention. I was elected in 2013, and I sat right there. And I thought to myself, how hard can it be? This is one of the most challenging, emotional, exhausting, disappointing, and rewarding endeavors I've ever taken on. But one lesson I learned quickly is best summarized by one of my favorite authors, David Brooks. Success leads to the greatest failure, which is pride. Failure leads to the greatest success which is humility and learning. In order to fulfill yourself, you have to forget yourself. Members, I'm not special, nor should I ever consider myself more than a member of 134 at any given session. I would love to tell you about the accomplishments I did, but I didn't do those. It was the will of the body, and I carried ideas that were here many, many times before me. Serving the legislature should be an exercise in public service and sacrifice. We have all complimented the nonpartisan staff for the work they've accomplished and the manner in which they conduct themselves. To date, I am not aware of any ethics complaints against any nonpartisan staff. My education team interaction with Mr. Strong, Miss Pah, and Miss Beckl have always 100% of the time been knowledgeable, accommodating, and immensely professional. No matter the issues or the questions, these individuals always treated us members with respect and patience. They were present in the moment, and they always set themselves aside. I'm sure they have opinions, and I'm sure the fatigue and emotions affect them. But despite the labor laws they have broken time and time again, they give us a great example to follow. They always set themselves aside and never ask for credit. In the House of Representatives, we too often make this about ourselves. I don't ever see nonpartisan staff checking their hair and their iPad before they do a video. I don't ever see them coming up with the best zinger lines. Instead, they do their darnest to make us look good. And we should reciprocate by lifting up the many labor laws and hours you have broken to bring our constituents a better product. My friends, pride blinds us to the reality of our divided nature. Pride blinds us to our own weaknesses and misleads us into thinking we are better than ourselves. Pride deludes us into thinking that we are above reproach. We are the authors of legislation that affect other people and the greatest accomplishments we have is to make a difference for someone else. So today I am fortunate enough to give my retirement speech. I have listened to many speeches in the past from people who I have immense respect and I've always wondered what this moment would be like. It's interesting. I am lucky to stand on the shoulders of previous members like Representative Joe Hoppy who taught me to pass good legislation and not pedal legislation. Representative Sarah Anderson who sat next to me in my first session, who always helped me bridle my enthusiasm and to be deliberate. And many times as I was getting ready to vote, my family and my my daughters who were watching all the time would text in and say, "Dad, we don't care how you're going to vote. How's Representative Anderson going to vote?" Representative David's who reminded me of the power of forgiveness. Former education chair Jen Lon who showed me that calm and cool is powerful. and Roger Ericson, my first DFL roommate, uh we he sat in the back row, I sat over there and we got to know each other in committee and and the reason Representative Green and Representative Vernig and others that I I say we should sit next to each other in committee because Roger and I would sit next to each other. We'd sit down in committee and he would hand me the salmon sheet, I would hand him my sheet, we'd look at it and go, "Oh, that's what you're going to do? Okay, how about a twins game a night?" or we would go fishing or we would go hunting. And the funny thing was I I know the researchers, you're brilliant. I've seen your sheets. You've seen ours. We know what's coming because we need to talk to each other. And I learned so much from those interactions. The bigness of this place has taught me that humility is a raw reminder that being human is about enduring struggles and recognizing my weaknesses leads to strength. I am thankful to the many many people who share their stories and experiences. I am thankful that I was able to listen learn. The greatest gift of being a legislator is being a sponge and absorbing all the information and all the people. Time and time again people handing me their stories and their challenges and I carried their burden the best I could. I was never the hero. I was simply a ferry pilot who helped them get from one side of the river to the other. And to those travelers that I fied, they paid me by leaving a little bit of themselves with me that allowed me to be a better person. So, there are so many people that I have to thank. I'm going to start with speaker Lisa Damoth, who to me was Lisa and a friend and and her husband who Thank you, Nick. for giving us a time with Oh, there you are. Um and and Nick paid my daughter $10 to go up one time at a restaurant. It was the funniest moment ever in a spot that she wasn't supposed to go. But Aninsley is one of your biggest biggest supporters and admirers. So, thank you for that. and and thank you for allowing me to be an education chair because frankly if you knew my past you would have never had to take me off committee because you would have never put me on committee. So I'm very grateful that that moment happened. G Jody Withers. Oh my gosh, she's just my Buddha of education and committee administrator. You always said you wanted me to look good. Thank you. Jean Codington who gave me treats. John Prime, Medicine and humor. Cindy and Jennifer who shared the grand grandparents morning gossip corner with me when I came early with my coffee. Thank you. And Janelle Bokeh. I would have retired two sessions ago, but you reminded me I still had value left. So to the constituents who elected me and trusted me, thank you for choosing me to be your servant. And by the way, if the Irishman up front wasn't so wasn't so astute with voice voice recognition, one of my daughters would have been able to do a proxy vote during CO. I am very thankful to my good friend, Senator Jeff How, who came in with me. We were elected in 2013, and our families have grown together. And no offense to a couple members in here, but we were the original two couple from the Senate and the House, and we didn't have to do it through matrimony. Finally, to my wife, Wendy and my children, Alexander, Amelia, Eliza, Ansley. Thank you for the support you have given me. Your wavering love and support were simply amazing. You lifted me up when I needed a hand, and you pulled me back down when I got ahead of myself. And yes, we will run away, my first wife and I, and we are going to do amazing things. To the loyal opposition, Chair Yuim and all my education members, yes, we fought, we talked, we agreed, we disagreed. I wish that we had had a little earlier time to as we worked things out a couple sessions ago because I think we were really, really pulling it all together and there's amazing work to be done. So, members, leaving the harbor is scary, but I am so looking forward to the next opportunities. Thank you. finishing his eighth turn, the member from Lion, Representative Swisinski. >> Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, members. Democrats in this room, Republicans in this room, the people are watching. And I was reminded of that most mornings when I was late for committee and my mom would call and say, "Chris, where are you? I'm looking at your seat and you're not there. It was just a couple times, but it wasn't all the time. But that is true. And I was thinking about as everyone was uh sharing their thoughts of their careers tonight or this afternoon about recruiting candidates. And oftentimes when we joke that oftentimes the candidate you recruit, the spouse, the husband or the wife would be the better candidate. And when I think and I look across this room and I look at my wife Jessica, you would be the better candidate. your great mom, your great wife, your great partner. Thank you. I would recommend each of you thank your spouse if you have one. And if you need to get one, go get one because they'll be better than you. And I want to thank my three daughters, Winterfred and Hildy and Adeline. You are beautiful women. Those girls grew up on this house floor. And to my sons, Harry and Crosby, man, you look me. You make me look good. Thank you. You guys are great young men. You have all five of your children have a great future. to my parents, for a mom who is always willing to call and call me out and who helped shape me to the young man that I am. And one of the stories that you often hear living a life on a farm growing up in the 80s is my mom did a lot of work with a group called Birthright. And I can remember a number of years ago, you know, this time of year, she got a graduation invitation. And that graduation invitation was from a girl she did not know from about 30 miles away from our home in Lincoln County. and it said, "We'd like you to come to our party. You don't know who I am." And then it said, "Over." And on the back side of that card, it said, "18 years ago, you had a conversation with my mom. She was debating whether or not to have me. And because of that conversation, I want you to come to my graduation. friends, it's impactful parents that make impactful kids. and to my dad who's passed away. No matter how much work we had to do on the farm, feeding cattle, picking rock, building equipment, we could always find time during the middle of the day around 11:00 to make it into the shop to work on a project. And I used to think it was just to work on a project because it was actually because my dad liked to listen to Rush Limbo. so bad. And because we didn't have Bluetooth or any other technology, that's the only place we could do it. And for that, I thank you for that memory. And my dad to my dad who was also blind. Um he never got to see my wife or my kids while on this earth. But I know that the first time he looked on the face of Christ, he also got to look on the face of my wife and kids. And it's that relationship with the Lord that is so important to me. that I would encourage each of you that if you do not have one to pursue that relationship with him because this world is full of firsts and lasts. The first time my wife walked into this building was after we were elected to represent us here in this building. At 30 years old, she walked through those doors between the so right by the governor's office and she's like, "I've never been in here before." And then we came to this floor and served together as a husband and wife, the people of Southwest Minnesota. It's not easy when you start this job with one, you end up with five. We did make it home once in a while. And I can remember Paul Anderson many times asking after an election, everyone's coming back to the Capitol, so are you going to have another kid or did you have another kid? And the answer was usually yes. And I thank you for that friendship, especially as a freshman to Paul Anderson and Bob Gunther and Dean Erdall and Greg Davids and that mentorship of inviting people in to include them from places where you're not from. And when we're talking about singing karaoke or whatever, I can tell you what, if you can sing karaoke in front of someone, you're probably not going to hate that someone because they've seen you probably at your worst. I want to thank all of you for your willingness to serve. It's a challenge to be among challenging people, among challenging times. We each dig our heels in, some of us way better at it than others, to represent what we think is best. And when we think about right and wrong and winning and losing, whether it's in marriage, if your goal is to win an argument with your spouse, that means your spouse has to lose it. And when we're on this floor, I challenge us both that if our goal is to win the argument, the other side will lose the argument. To build a better marriage is to build a better state. And our goal as Republicans and Democrats should not be that I will win the argument and you will lose or I will lose. You know what I'm saying? But is to how do we build a better Minnesota? How do we come up with ideas that maintain constitutional rights, protect life and liberty and individual freedom, that empowers families, that empowers communities, that empowers people around our state. Because if we win in this body from a collective standpoint where bipartisanship can reign, we can all win. The argument for motans and ultimately our country. It appears at times we are very divided. We're divided in the ideals that sometimes separate us. And how do we overcome those divisions? We create friendships. We can seek out the commonalities that make us who we are stronger. In some cases, that's our faith. And sometimes that's in what our beliefs are on a particular issue, whether that's education or energy or other policy. To Joe and Ron and Nathan, thank you for your friendship. And to each and every one of you, I would recommend developing those relationships across the aisle. Ca, Joe, Dawn, Tom, Scott, Brian. You folks have names for your classes. We have the COVID class. We have the majority makers. >> And I'm like, you know what? In 2010, I was elected. And I don't know if we really got a class other than the longest state shut government shutdown in US history class. I don't know. Does that have a ring to it? Folks, we live in a diverse state with wonderful people. And we could not get here without relying awfully heavy on those that came before us. Whether it's members of the House, never of the Senate, but truly our families. This is a beautiful building. This is a beautiful place to serve. And it was said earlier, if this place ever loses its awe, you should leave. Well, I can tell you what. I'm leaving, but I haven't lost y a and that's tough. I love this state. I love each and every one of you. Even though it doesn't seem like it sometimes across the aisle, but I do. You all care. You all want what's best for us as a state. I want to thank Sharon Goldish, one of the best darn LA's this side of the Mississippi, Mark Nisley for his work, Indiana Smallman, and a host of great LAS who have served in the past. Mark, thank you. This place truly would not be the same if it wasn't for the institutional knowledge of the staff. And I hate to thank some of the lobbyists, too, but they do bring a lot to the table. And my kids especially want to thank Pat for all the gallons upon gallons upon gallons of candy that they've taken over the years. And as a reminder, on the front corners, there's usually mints members. That's not for us. Those mints are really for the staff so they don't have to smell our bad breath. And so as you step out of this room for sometimes the first time, for the last time, remember there are firsts and there are lasts. There is the first speech you give on the House floor. There will be this speech that I give on the House floor. It'll be the first time you bring a child onto this house floor. And there will be a last time you bring one of your wonderful five kids onto this house floor. And I see babies being bounced on that side of newborns, of toddlers. Bring them to this space. Show them what it's like to be a parent and a legislator and a lover of the Lord. Thank you, Minnesota, for the opportunity to serve. Have a great summer. I recognize a member from Rock, Representative Schumacher. >> Thank you, Madam Speaker, and members. This will be the longest I've ever spoken on the House floor. I promise you the bar is set very low. When I've been thinking about what I was going to say today, I was thinking about kind of my origin story and how that how this all came about that I got here. And it it starts way back with the the supper table. Growing up, my folks always had the news on. There was always commentary that was going on. That's where I started to form opinions, to have opinions, and to be interested in current events. Then it comes to about 8th grade, and I'm sharing these opinions in class, and I had this uh history teacher, Mr. Benson and he said, "All right, you've got opinions. How about you do something with them?" Wasn't enough to just have them. You had to actually put them to action. He wasn't pleased when I started a teenage Republican uh group in the school after that, but I did. And it was uh a great experience for me to have that. And because I had started that, I wasn't going to be dating anybody at that time. So I had plenty of time to learn about issues that were going about. >> I also had the opportunity when I was in high school to be a high school page. And so that's when I first met uh Pat Murphy when he was just the deputy, just the lowly deputy at that time back in 2003. But that was one memory I had of of my week at the capital. The other one was that I as a page got to bring a box of Kleenex to Representative Palowski. So those are the only two things I remember about that week anymore. But it's sometimes that's just how it goes. In college, I got kicked out of the college Republican group because I was willing to go to a a polysai event that they were having a campus debate and no one from the college democrats were organized enough or interested to participate in the debate. And so I offered I figured I know my view on things and I know the opposing view on things. I could just offer that and was booted. So I'm a longtime learner of the litmus test that our side loves to give uh people throughout. And so that helped though because then I could start dating after that because I had all this free time and um unweird interests going on. But it's this whole thing and it's bothered me ever since then. the the idea that you can't hold two opposing thoughts in your head at the same time. That that causes people to get anxious or not be able to uh identify with themselves because I identify issues as being part of who they are and that shouldn't be what it is. And that's why so many people get frustrated with me around here and when I'm trying to get things accomplished because I do try and see every issue from the positions that are being brought and I am able to hold two opposing viewpoints in my head at the same time. And I wish that we could have more of that, but I've just learned recently in a a book about consciousness that some people don't even have images in their brains when they're thinking about things. And so I'm just blown away at so many things these days. I started uh well I didn't actually start running for office. I was forced into running for office. We had a candidate in southwest Minnesota. I'd gone to college. I moved back home because that's when we started our family businesses. And the candidate that we had dropped out the weekend before Memorial Day and filing deadline was Tuesday of that week. And we didn't have anybody. We had tried recruiting for months, couldn't find anybody. And so it was literally a group of party leadership that got into a room at uh someone's house and we just went down the row. Could you do it? Could you do it? There were two of us who said they could do it. The other one said I could but I don't want to. And so it ended up being me. My mom picks me up from that meeting because I don't know, I'm still 14 years old or something. And I'm telling her about all of this and just what had happened because it's so just mind-blowing. And I figure the other guy would get convinced because the HRCC wanted him. They did not so much want me. And so I tell her all of this and she says to me in the most loving motherly way, "You mean they can't find anybody better?" And so with that, you now know my backstory and why I was a big proponent for marriage and family therapists in this state because there's just not enough when it comes to that. As I said, I wasn't the caucus choice in that election, I was running against the former majority leader on the DFL's side that year. What I found out after the election is that on Labor Day when they did the polling, I was 30 points behind. Had they told me that at the time I would have packed up and moved to Sou Falls, South Dakota, but um we knew that if we just kept the effort going and and introduced myself to to people that that would be the the way to go. And it turned out that they were right with that. So, not only was I not supposed to run, I wasn't supposed to win. And then 16 years later, I'm still here for that. And I'm thankful for that. And one memory because you don't especially the first term, you don't you're still back home all the time. Your brain is still back home. It's hard to transition up here. And so on Thursdays after session would end, I would drive the four hours back to Lever and we would have our evening cleaning shift with the cleaning business. and I'd go and clean buildings at night and and try to help just keep the family business afloat during that time. And that really kept me as Representative Krisha was talking about staying grounded that really kept me grounded. Five and a half minutes and I'm off point one yet. There were some historical moments and we've talked about the the COVID piece in here, the longest shutdown in government history. We I got to experience that. The capital renovation was the other piece that I noted during my time here of just how disruptive that was. To have a whole session, a special session in room 10 was an experience that I get to have that so many few so few others do, but it was uh definitely special. And then of course the evenly divided legislature this year. I have had my fill of historic moments in the Minnesota legislature. We could calm it down just a little bit. legislative accomplishments. I'll go from memory. I'll go from memory on it. Uh the Louiswis and Clark water project was probably the first big one where I had to go against our caucus on how they wanted us to vote. We needed that water project to be in Leverne so that we had a safe and reliable source of of water. It was also at that time $11 million for a bonding project was a huge deal. And so to get that to happen, we had to be open with our caucus leadership at the time to let them know that this was our intent to do that. So there were no surprises in the end. And then they were willing to work with us to get to that point instead of just trying to surprise on the House floor. There's a big lesson in that because we were able to get that. Now we have water. my cleaning business and other businesses are able to continue providing the services that they can because they have the water that they need. The competitive workforce factor for DWRS, we know that our human service systems are always a big target when it comes to to budgets and that the people who do those that work are underpaid. No matter what they get paid, they're going to always be underpaid. But there's no way to track it before within the disability waiver rate system. And this was a very heavy lift for me because first I had to understand the DWRS system as it was the competitive workforce factor as a concept and then try to explain it to everyone else whose eyes glaze over as soon as you start using the acronyms. But we were still able to be successful with that because I took the extra time to research and learn and I had the the advocacy groups come in several times to explain the same concepts over to me again and again until I finally was able to to get that back. Expanding the bed capacity piece for Regent's Hospital, we did it again this year. Real easy compared to the year when we had doctors protesting outside my office. I had nuns protesting outside my office. the same day I had the adult diaper companies protesting outside my office. I should probably get more context to that story, but the nuns stopped protesting as soon as they saw the adult diapers taped up to my door. And it made the biggest difference overall in in uh how we got through that session. But there was so much in the the trading and the positioning and looking more at just the the competitive nature of especially Twin City Hospital Systems and and learning from that. There was a lot of good that could be pulled from learning from that piece of it. And then the biggest piece, the the one cornerstone of my entire career up here that I am the most pr proud of is that we were able to overhaul our funding system for our long-term care nursing home system to the value-based reimbursement system. The same kind of concept. It was years in the making to build up. It took a lot of research and we had to have a lot of understanding. We had a lot of input from every different group that was going to be involved with it and we were able to get it done in a year where we still had a cut target because there was only one session I was here where human services did not get a cut target. We had a cut target but we were still able to get the 134 million to to get that done. And it was great because I was 29 years old and I was the chairman of the aging and long-term care committee. So we have that dichotomy to to figure out. And the second greatest thing about that was that Leon Lily was my Representative Lily was my committee lead for that one. He wasn't aware of the big pipe then, but he's done a very good job of recognizing that uh since then. And so it's been very useful uh to me to have Representative Lily as a a colleague and a friend on on these things and very thankful for you and the work that we were able to do at that time. Long-term care has always been an an area of interest of mine because it is the largest employer in my district. People are aging. the the entire population of the state is aging. It's just that out in my area, it's happening faster. It's happening sooner than it is everywhere else. And so, we needed the infrastructure to be able to support that. And that's what I've been fighting for every single day, every single year, every single term that I've been up here is to make sure that we have the infrastructure to provide care locally so that people are able to receive the care they need in the place that they want it. And that will be something I continue to work on in one way, shape, or form as I move forward in my career, I'm sure, because there's so much more work to do. And the other thing that always gets me when I think about long-term care and and nursing homes in particular, there was a situation back in April of 2014 where one of my small towns of about 800 people, there was an ice storm. Closed down the roads, closed down the electric lines. There was no way to get in and out of the community for about three or four days. No one had power. They all went to the local nursing home so that they had a place to stay, that had the backup generator, that had the institution there to be able to support such a uh crisis in the the community. They had that where um without them there, they I don't know what the community would have done. It would have been quite a different story for them. And so I'm thankful for that and recognize how long-term care centers are really parts of the community. With that, after we passed VBR, I toured over 119 different long-term care centers throughout the state. Uh, and I only made it to about a third of them, but it was still quite a uh tour to learn about the different things that facilities are trying to do to make the experience for the residents better. Uh, whether it's uh based on sound or based on light, they always had a different way that they were trying to approach and find better solutions that made the the experience better. And I've always been thankful for that, that they're not just resting on their laurels. They're always looking for something better because the truth is no one wants to be in uh a center like that, but if they need it, they want it there and they want it close. And so the fact that on top of that, they're also trying to make it innovative and make it better is just very touching to see that it's that that is the the heart behind the people who are providing care in our communities. The only thing that these people did that was wrong was grow old. And that's something we want everyone to do. And so I'm very thankful that I was able to have the opportunity to defend this, that I had a platform in order to do that over the last decade and a half. And of course there's always more work to be done and to continue with that uh because we see a change in in that industry as well. and the the more that we have to debate the balance between regulatory protections and the independence of the uh residents who are living there, the more we're going to go down a path that is going to require us to find out something new uh instead of skilled nursing or assisted living. And so we have that and I'm at 13 minutes now. Thank yous. I have to start with thanking my family. Uh Randy and Sharon, my parents still work with them in the the business. They're talking about retirement in the next four or five years and we're talking about what that transition means. They did give me a little red flag one time. They signed up for National Write Your Congressman so they could find out what's happening in the legislature and be able to be put in contact with their local legislators. And I'm like, "Guys, it's it's me. You I'm here all the time. You just ask. It would have been easier." But they uh they put up with that and uh they also put up with the office hours I end up holding at the store. I like to say especially around campaign time that I was the most accessible because all you need to do was come to the store and you're going to find me there. And sometimes if you didn't find me, my mom would take a lot of the brunt of the conversation. So I owe her quite a bit uh for taking on issues and responding on my behalf for me. It was it's been great, but she's sick of it. So, I need to I need to do my part with that. And the same thing with my brother. We know that we're the next generation of of this business that started in the basement of my folks's house and is now four locations on Main Street and has grown into I think it's seven or eight different lines of business in that time. And he's trying to carry that all on his own. Well, I disappear for 6 months. It's great for our relationship because we don't it's oil and water most of the time, but it's also a lot of stress to to put on him. And so I'm thankful that he's willing to to do that while I'm here. But again, time to get back there. Steve Perkins was a mentor of mine from long ago. He was the other one in the original story about who else was going to run. Um he decided that St. Augustine, Florida was a better place in the winter than St. Paul, Minnesota. And so that's what he did. but he's always been a strong mentor for me. He's been with me along the way with the campaigns and with the healthc care policies. He was always has always been so terrific and whenever I have a big decision, he's the one I call first to get his perspective. I also have to thank my uh other business partner for the bridal shop, Katya Sto. She is currently very upset with me because I haven't responded to any text messages over the last 3 days as if I haven't had anything else to do. But it reminds me that we do a lot of work to shield what happens here from the people back home. And so I found myself over the years lamenting in my head about how a lot of my time gets spent managing people's disappointment and the amount of work that I'm able to accomplish at a time. And that hurts. That really hurts. And I've just become tired of being able or having to do that at that point. And so that was a large driver for why we move on. have a few staff members to thank. Uh I would go through the LA's, but I had 14 of them, about one a year. I don't know what it is about me, but it >> just just happens to be that. Uh Megan Rosbach, the CA for the last two years for human services. I don't know that you could have paired two opposite personalities. I've noticed that when she writes a text message, she has more expression in her face than what I do all day long. And so she's been able to take that. It's the ying and yang of of uh negotiations or committee work. It's it's really worked out well. We've complimented each other well. And to see her ability to grow in in the position that she has has been really great. And I'm excited to see what she ends up doing with her future and and thankful for her with that. Rebecca Rhyrs and J.R. Swanson were rounded out the team for human services this year and and did a great job. Rebecca unfortunately came on at the same time I was announcing that I was leaving and so we uh kept our distances most of the time. I she didn't know what to do with me and I still don't know what to do for myself. Jason Wenish, he was my uh media writer for 14 years. Then this last year got switched to uh Gavin Miller for that. But Jason was a a great person. He would always lecture me about the email updates I would send because they'd always straddle the fence. It was never too controversial. and he had hand gestures and other gestures that he'd used to indicate when he thought I was maybe riding the fence a little too much. Uh Holly Iverson, Chelsea Olsen, they helped me with the aging long-term care committee. They were on that tour of the 119 sites just like I was. The two LAS that I will point out, uh Janelle, as Ron pointed out, we share the same LA for several years. And Janelle is one of those people who's always got your back. She's always defending you. even if you know you're wrong, she's still going to try and encourage you because that's what you want. And so whomever gets her next year, you're very lucky. Uh and then uh Nicole Abraham was another favorite of mine. She was with me in 2019 where it felt like kind of a country music song was my life and she was able to support me through that time. She also at one point had to write an armatus between representative Krisha and I because we were pranking each other so much and she was tired of getting baby powder all over the place because of our antics. And so she had stopped our meetings so that we could sign this uh release saying that we would stop pranking each other at least while she worked with us. That was great. Uh Jeremiah Winstead. Jeremiah came into Health and Human Services when uh he was first here and the best thing because he's he's a little spunky with especially when it comes to procedures and it was his first term and we didn't know what to make of Representative Lebling as chair yet and there was a procedural motion that needed to happen and no one was really sure how it was supposed to go. Jeremiah chimes in all on his own, unprovoked, to say exactly what the motion should be. He was told to be quiet and then Representative Leeing asks the nonpartisan staff to what motion should be made. And they sheepishly said the same thing that Jeremiah had said. And Jeremiah just turned back in his chair with a little grin on his face and put his head down for a little bit. It was it was fun to fun to see that and fun to see where Jeremiah has been able to grow in that time too. I've had a good number of friends that I've developed here. You know, it's always the most terrifying part or when you're considering whether you leave or stay, you wonder what happens to the people who are friendly to you here if they stick around or they uh don't. And so uh I'm hopeful that these people stick around. uh Bean sister, you know who you are. She taught me how to think about health and human services as the whole on things. In my first term as the chair of health and human service policy, she was the one who would be in my office connecting the dots on all the different bills that were going on and really gave me a new perspective on on these things and made it a successful year for me. And so I'm thankful to her for that and for so much more that she's given me over the years. There's a group I'm a part of called the Quorum. They are the best and fastest group of gossipers around the capital and so I get most of my news from there. That's usually how I find out what our budget targets are is from that group. Um yeah. Yeah. Thanks fellas. Uh and then it's it's that whole team mentality. And so when something bad happens to one of us, the the badness is less because we're all there. And when something good happens to us, the goodness is better because we're all there. And so I'm very thankful for them. even during the speech today, they've had enough times to uh break my facial expressions just because it's really good. Uh and then to my friend Thelma, you know who you are. Our pact got me through the last two years and that's been very meaningful to me. I'm ready for a new pact. I think that because you've been a warm and safe and helpful place to me that there's plenty of room for further potential out there and your pipe stone is ready for members. I already talked about Leon Lily and all the greatness that that he brought to the the committees there. Representative Leeling, I have to share just one story with that outside of the Jeremiah one. uh when we first when she first took over as committee chair, she invited me in to talk about legislative priorities. And I had to express that just two days prior my grandmother had passed away. And so when she's asking me about legislative priorities, I'm I went into her office and I said, "Look, I don't I don't really care right now. I don't want to be here. I have things I'm trying to work through." And she was so kind with me in that moment. and she just let me sit there and be in that moment for a little bit. Let the words hang and then was supportive about it and that was our first round together and it was great ever since. Those types of little interactions that meant so much to me. I doubt she even remembers that but it meant the world to me. Yep, she doesn't. Uh, but it meant the world to me and that side of humanity there to just let that be because that was an awful session for me to try and try and get through for that reason and I didn't tell anybody else and you didn't either. It was that was good and that was I was very appreciative of that. Chair No, I talked about you last night. I you are a gentleman's gentleman and it irritates me that I can't compete with that at all. So, I try to compete with the hair and the beard and As the session went along, we started dressing the same. We both wear gray suits the same days and um it just kind of evolved into that. And it was great that we could work together. We understood where each other's buttons were, what issues we were, and we just let them go. We knew those weren't the things to fight because we have such bigger issues to deal with. And he didn't poke me. I tried not to poke him. And then we could go into negotiations whether it was with tribunal or with the Senate. And we were always a united force in that because we always had the right way to be. And to watch him work throughout some of these issues that I wasn't the most engaged with, but he was to watch him do the work that he needed to do is he could do a master class on how to be a legislator up here and the state would be better for it. The only thing he's a cat person, but outside of that, um it's really really useful and I wouldn't have learned that except for conference committee two days ago. He he decided he needed to share that. Um, two my two dearest friends here, Swed and Ron. Swed's been my big brother since we first got elected. He's always giving advice whether I've asked for it or not. He's always there with the advice and it's always been good advice. And um, it turns out that our YouTube algorithms line up a lot in a weird way, but it it makes sense. and the the friendship has always been there. These are the only two people for whom I will answer the phone when they call. And so it's it's always been been useful to have the advice and to be able to just talk through things. That's always been great. And for Ron, this poor guy, he knows more about me than anybody should. And the quote he always throws back at me is, "Joe, it's hard to be your friend and be truthful with you." And so I I take that before I tell him things. Now, I have a filter um for that. But a few years ago, Ron and I were in his office and we had committed to each other that we were going to level things up. And we referenced that point because we did do that. We got this little bit of competitive nature between the two of us. And if he was doing something better, then I was going to do something better. And and we just kept that going for the last four or five years. And eventually it leads to this. And that means that we have to do a new pact here, too. That we do level up moving forward. And that's where my mind is going now is that we need to be able to bring this to the next level. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to offer uh obituaries or eulogies for members that served in my district who have passed away. And it was always striking to me that when I would go through their obituaries, their time in the legislature was a sentence of a four paragraph life. And that always gave me pause to reflect on this whole thing that this should just be a sentence. And so as I move forward and do whatever the next thing is, I've done some great things. Even if I didn't write them down, I've done some great things here. And I need for myself to be able to make this time, these 16 years, one sentence in my obituary. And so that's the charge I have moving forward. I thank you all for the years of service. Please do not hug me on your way out and wish you best wishes in the future. I recognize a member from Sterns, Representative O'Driscoll. >> Thank you, Madam Speaker. And before I forget, I'd like a roll call, please. Seeing 15 hands, there will be a roll call. Um, I am probably the most unlikely candidate to be here in the Minnesota House of Representatives and serve with great people like Suzinski and Schumacher and Kisha and Torqulson and the list goes on. When I came to the legislature in 2010, I was just finishing up my um tour of duty as the mayor of the city of Sartell. And I remember sitting right over here looking at the roster going, "What's a kid from Sartell doing in a place like this?" And I kept my mouth shut for the entire first year. And I know that some of you find that hard to believe, but it's true. I wanted to learn how this place worked. And I wanted to get to know people. That's what this business is about. Relationships, working with people, getting the people's business done. And when we had this 6767 thing going, that's right. Paying attention. I I appreciate you paying attention to me at least as I'm heading to the door. Maybe not on my floor speeches, but I do appreciate that. Um you folks more than my my side apparently at this point, but you take what you can get, I guess, at this late stage in the game. Uh and I and I was just aruck by that 6767. So I went back and I called um Al Patton was a DFL member in the legislature back when this last situation happened. I took him to lunch. around Christmas time and I said, "Al, how does this work?" And he goes, "Oh, please don't do it the way we did it." He said, "It's a disaster." And I said, "I'm going to be a part of history as a legislator, but I'm also going to be a part of history back in this split house." And he looked at me and he said, "I've known you all your life. You will figure this out and you will lead." And we did with all of you. All of us. Wow. I don't even think the Senate figured it out yet. We had leverage on them because when we agreed, they had no choice but to agree with us because we had the best product the legislature could put out. Because we worked together. Oftenimes people say to me, Tim, who are you more like, your mom or your dad? And I said, 'Well, I actually am like both of them. My dad was the police chief in the town that I grew up in. And he said, "You need to defend yourself, your friends, your family, and those who can't." And it's going to be rough. You're going to be bumping people on the lunch line, and you're going to get bumped. You're going to fall. But you got to get up and you got to keep going. As I ran to the door ready to take the world on, I could hear my mom's voice. Please, please do it diplomatically. And I've always tried to marry those two things together in my public service. I'm a public servant because of my father. Nothing changes your life than watching your father's life almost be taken in your presence in the line of duty. It was Super Bowl Sunday 1991. I was heading back to my apartment. My brother and I shared and there was gunfire in the building next to us. And that was before we had cell phones and before we had all the other tools that we have. And because my dad was a police chief at our home growing up as kids, we had what we called the bat phone. It was the phone for the police department in our home. And I remember calling my brother and my mom and I said, "You're not going to believe this. But dad's at it again. It's 9:00 at night. He gets called out. An individual is having a mental health crisis. And I watch this through my apartment window. He galvanized my commitment to public service. And I've never looked back. He sat up here with my mom on swearing in day and a year later passed away. And I know he will be proud of the work I did in this body for the people helping those who can't help themselves. getting good public policy out there working for the people. I have been blessed with two co-chairs of commerce. Cully her and I knew each other on pensions. And by the way, why am I big pensions wonk? My dad. I thought if he can put his life on the line, the least I can do is help people that do that to protect us to be there when we need them. Whether it's good times, bad times, mental health crisis, whatever the case may be. Cully and I sat down and we said, "How are we going to make this work?" And we live by three simple rules. I am going to come to you with the world's greatest ideas, coach her, and I know you're going to love them. You're going to bring me all the votes I need to get this done or something short of that. I said, "I'm going to have these ideas. You're going to say, "I can't do it." And I have to take you at face value that that's the case. And likewise, you're going to come to me and you say, "We got these great ideas." And I even say, "We can't do it." But we need to be honest and we need to always communicate. And we found a lot of places to work. As we know, Cully became the mayor of St. Paul. I remember earlier this year when we had uh we were guests of the St. Paul delegation over at the River Center. Cully dropped what she was doing, came running across the the the crowd and she says, "Ha." like Holly does and said,"I meant telling everybody you quit because I left." And I said, "Well, I might be looking for a job. I can help you balance your city budget if you want." She hasn't gotten back to me yet. I'm not sure why. And then with the unfortunate events of June 14th and things that had transpired since then, there were some shakeups and move around in this chamber and Aaron Kegel and I ended up being co-chairs. The extent of my contact with co-chair Kegel up to that point was sitting across the commerce table from one another in committee bickering back and forth as the duo minority does. And Representative Stevenson who was the chair of that committee at the time and I was the lead. I got to tell you, Zach's a pretty cool cookie, but I know how to how that guy works and how he ticks. He called me up and he was petrified, literally petrified when we had to go online with co and he said, "We can't have any more meetings. We have to get all of our work done during the time that is allotted. We're not getting extra time." And I said, 'Well, that's very easy. As long as I can do my job, you will be able to do your job. Leader Stevenson, do you remember that conversation? And we made it work. We made it work. I also am proud of the fact that in my freshman year, my first year, I kept my mouth shut and I met people like Denise Dietrich, who, as I mentioned earlier this session, was the godmother of school trust lands and representative Dietrich and I worked diligently to put this bill together, get it passed in 2012. because I didn't say much and I just kind of blended in as the wallflower that I am like Joe Schumacher. I um put this bill up, we got it passed, all of a sudden members started coming, "How long have you been here?" I said, "Well, this is my freshman year. Stop." I said, "No." They said, "Yeah, you don't act like a freshman." Even Greg Davids told me that I don't act like a freshman. And I was proud of the work that we did establishing the school trust science commission which is there now in the work that we've done and being able to double the amount of money that's in that fund for the kids in the state of Minnesota. We're not screwing the kids anymore. Tommy would be proud of that constitutional amendment that's going on the ballot this fall. I am proud of that. Things come around and they go around. When I heard that we were going to have this constitution, I thought, what a great way to close a career. The way you started it. Relationships around this place mean everything to me. When I came in, there was 36 of us. Today, there are six of us. After this year, there will be three of us. And for those who are majority makers, so are we. I love your families. Kelby and Donna Woodard, their kids grew up here. I taught him Latin in the retiring room for heaven's sakes. I remember Kel's oldest son, Tipton, was, "Oh, we got to come back to the Capitol again." He's a junior in high school, right? St. Thomas Academy. He'd rather be running with his buddies and stuff. I finally one day sat down and I said, "When you go back to school, do you ever talk about what's happening like in the news and politics?" "Yeah, in social studies class." I said, 'Do you ever talk about the Minnesota legislator? He said, 'Ye. I said, ' Do you realize that those kids are seeing secondhand what you're actually experiencing on the House floor and the relationship that you have built with legislators? He goes, "Well, I never really thought of it that way." And he changed his ideas about why he was here. And he said, 'I'm going to make a positive impact on the other students that I go to school with because of my experience here. The Swedlings watch you guys grow up. Ron and Wendy Creature, your kids are great. Joe, your kids are great, too. >> The reason I say that is when Joe came into the legislature, he was 24 years old. I would I would say, "Oh, this family, which family do you belong to, Joe?" Now, I love I love Joe. Oh, I love giving him a bad time. Um, he and I have had some interesting experiences, you know, in the legislature as bachelors, um, watching things happen and unfold here. But it's been, it's been, uh, a great experience. My first time in this building was about this time in 1976. What was going on in the news in 1976? The United States was going to the last country in the world to move from the English form of measurement to the metrics system. How we doing on that one? Yeah. 50 years later, not so good. The other part that I remember is riding on the school bus coming down here with my sixth grade class and because it was the year for the metric system and a big changeover, we had t-shirts that said meters are neater in Sartell. And God loved the folks at the historical society who gave us a tour and said, "What's so fancy about your parking meters in Sartell?" And I said, "No, the metric system." I said, 'We don't have have any parking meters in Sartell. And I remember being on that bus tired and just from the experience of the day. And on the radio, the bus driver had the Bellamy Brothers songs playing from the 196 1976. And I thought, "Wow, that's kind of cool." I was there during the bsentennial year. I had no idea at that time that this man who's standing in front of you would be saying, "I'm finishing up a 16-year career of working with people, getting stuff done on the 250th anniversary of this great country." And Leon with pensions, you came on, you said, "I don't know anything about pension." I said, "That's fine." We reset the the the seating orders. You were next to me. We got amazing work done. and I value our friendship. You and I were friends before that, but we just become stronger. You are a great player in the pensions world. Stick with it, please. Please. Speaking of pensions, it hasn't always been Rosie in the pensions world. 2018 we've made some pretty drastic changes and cuts and I am so glad that the last couple years we've been able to restore those cuts and to be able to help the people again who help us here in this state and here in this chamber. I have so many people that I have come in contact with here at the front desk. Pat, during the time that I was speaker prom, you you bailed my butt out of more hot fires than you should have ever had to have because of what was going on around here. To the countless LAS, CAS, writers, staff folks, you're amazing. And I have over the years had staff come to me as they're leaving and they kind of have the sheepish look on their face. It's like, I just need to tell you I'm going to be leaving and going and doing something else. And I cheer with them. I have always thought and wanted to work to build people to be at that next level. And so as I wrap up my career here in the Minnesota House, I will remember two things. The great relationships that we had and the future that we're building for Minnesota. As I wrap up, I want to do a special shout out. You knew it was coming, didn't you, Torque? My freshman year with the chaos of 36 new members in this house and everybody trying to figure out which way is up and committees and everything. I went into I was in the DMZ. If you've been around to you know what the DMZ is. It's the third floor on the so because it's the it's the overflow for Republicans and Democrats. We're on the DMZ. I went into Torque's office and I closed the door and I said, "What the blank am I doing here? These people are crazy." It is unbelievable. And I started talking about stuff and Torque as he does sat there. Let me get it all out. Puke it all out. Get it going. And he just looked at me in his torque way and said, "This place needs more people like Tim O'Driscoll and not less people." I don't know to this day if that's true. But I'll leave you with this. When President Truman relieved Douglas MacArthur of his duties during the Korean War, Douglas MacArthur went to Congress and said these infamous words, "Old soldiers never die. They just fade away." I kind of think that's what happens with legislators, too. Old lo legislators never die. They just fade away. And time and history will be the judge as to whether Paul Tolson was right. this place needs more people like Tim O'Driscoll and the impact that I had on her time in history will will prove one way or the other. So as I take leave, thank you. God bless you and God bless this country. serving in his ninth term. I recognize a member from Brown, Representative Torlson. >> Thank you, Madam Speaker. Uh I'm a farm kid. Uh, and back in the day when we raised hay and on the farm to feed the cattle, we used to do a lot of bailing. We'd bail hay and it wasn't it wasn't with this big fancy machinery they have now. It was you lift every bail one at a time out in the field. You stack them on a bail rack. You put about a 100 bales on a bail rack, haul them to the farm and unload them one at a time up the bail elevator. Uh, and a guy that worked for us, his name was Ed Schlowman. He would he was the guy that unloaded the rack. And he'd get to the end and he'd get to the last bail and he'd say, "Here's the bail I've been looking for. I'm the bail you've been looking for. Uh it's uh an honor to follow all these uh fine speeches and fine people that have done great work for this state. I'm going to tell you a little story that goes back to before I was ever elected when I was first thinking about running and I had been recruited uh actually by my predecessor Brad Finstead. You may have different reactions to Brad Finstead, but that's okay. Uh he called me up and said, "Uh, Paul, would you think about running for the Minnesota legislature?" And I I said yes. and the word got out. And shortly after I got a phone call from a constituent of mine who was very interested in one particular issue and she spent about 45 minutes with me on the telephone explaining every detail of that issue and quizzing me on whether I knew all these details. Of course, I didn't know any of them or many of them. Uh, and I felt after I hung up the phone like I had really failed failed my test and I was there were a lot of other people who were interested in the same office. So I had competition and uh I slipped my cell phone into my shirt pocket and I went across the house and went to the family room where my wife was sitting and I was really frustrated and I don't know exactly what I said. It wasn't too nasty but it was it wasn't all pleasant either. And I said something about how these singleiss issue people can really drive me are going to just drive me crazy and I don't know how I'm going to handle this. And and so I got my frustrations out. About a half an hour later, my cell phone rang again. It was my campaign manager. My campaign manager said, "Uh, Paul, I I think your campaign might be over." I said, "Over? What do you mean?" Uh, Paul, you forgot to hang up your phone when you went to see your wife. Wow. Uh, so I thought, well, what do I do? What do I do? And I thought, you know what? I'm going to hit this head on. I called her up. I said, I want to come to your house and I want to learn more about your issues. She said, okay. So, we sat in her living room. Now, I knew that she had not hung up and she could have hung up and not listened into my conversation and she knew what I had said in that time after we had talked. So, we're sitting there talking to each other, but we don't talk about what's in the room really about the telephone conversation. Uh, we just talked to each other, got to know each other, got to know the issues. Also, sometime later, it's the night of my endorsement. It was a long night there. We ended up going 11 ballots. It was around the fifth or sixth or seventh ballot that I was twisting arms trying to get a few more votes. I was so close to getting 60%. I thought, well, maybe I can get her to vote for me, you know, if I just if I'm really nice and ask really nice. So I went to her and I said I kneel down beside her and I said, "Would you think about switching your vote to me?" And she said, "Paul, I've been voting for you since the first ballot." Uh we would none of us would be here if it wasn't for the people that support us and vote for us and help us do our jobs. Uh voters are so important because that's why we're here. Uh I have to share uh my first term of my senator was Dennis Frederickson from New Minnesota. Dennis Frederickson served 30 years in the Minnesota Senate. 30 years, not once in the majority. Uh the year after he quit, the Republicans took the majority in the Minnesota Senate. Uh pretty amazing. Uh Dennis and his wife Marge were tremendous help to me when I was first running for office. They knew all the ropes and they did a a great job helping me get through my first campaigns. Uh there's just so many so many so many things uh to talk about when you've been here as long as I have uh many years now. Um but I'm not going to go on too long this this afternoon, folks. Uh but a few things. Uh first, my classmates. Uh we had a pretty goodized class, but we're down to just a few. myself, Paul Anderson, who skipped out, and Peggy Scott, who's here, and then the only two-time freshman, at least that I'm close friends with, Greg Davids, uh, who came back after a little vacation from the legislature, uh, and now he's, uh, back and most senior member of the body. Uh, so that was it's a great pleasure to serve with those and a couple of other members of my class. Uh, one of them happens to be the president of the Senate, Bobby Joe Champion. And Bobby Joe and I were roommates for orientation. So, uh, we had quite a time and we learned a lot. Jeff Hayden was also in our class. Jeff is no longer in the Senate, but of course he's lobbying and we all see him around here quite regularly. You know, once in a while somebody will ask you, who in history would you like to sit down and have a conversation with? And one of the people I think of is Cass Gilbert. I think most of you know that Cass Gilbert, the architect of this building, uh I think he was a genius. I really do. Uh this building that we serve in is so beautiful, so well put together, and so inspiring, not only to us, but to all the sixth grade kids and all the other people that come and visit this building. Just last the night before last, there must have been 500 prom queens here. It was it was it was amazing. And uh you young ladies come for their kinssonas. It's just a just a really inspiring place. And I was privileged to be on the capital investment committee during the time that this building was being re renovated. Uh and so I could come most anytime I wanted, put on a hard hat and get a tour of the building. You know, this room for instance was completely filled with scaffolding so the painters could go up on top and actually do that detailed painting that they did. Those people are so patient and the workers that worked here during that time were so proud of the work they were doing. You could just see it in their eyes. You could just tell that they knew they were working on something, something very special. This capital, I've toured many of the capitals around the country and ours is as beautiful or more beautiful than any. And I thank Cass Gilbert for his attention to detail. Just think what those guys did. They didn't have computers. They didn't have CAD systems. Uh and when they built it, they didn't have these huge cranes. uh it was done with tools that uh that we would laugh at today, but they did tremendous tremendous work. I had the chance to serve on the uh as chair of the transportation committee right after I was chair of capital investment and uh I don't know if you remember this but there was a point in time uh where they awarded a bunch of uh corridors of commerce projects around the state and it so happened that they were all connected to the metro. the rest of the state was ignored and I was really really angry and I headed out with Charlie Zelli. I remember it was in the transportation building and I was not at all nice to him that day. Um but we made up and uh and it's a lesson in you know we do have angry words here once in a while. Um, but we don't have to hold a grudge and we can make up and we can continue to work even after hard times. Um, it happens. It happens in relationships. Uh, but please don't wall yourself out from others. Uh, I went on and when Charlie retired finally from the Metropolitan Council, I went to his retirement party over here at Union Station. It was very interesting, but I was the only Republican in the room. It was a lot of a lot of Democrats, but uh I survived. Uh I uh moved on uh after transportation. Uh when I' I've been in and out of the majority a number of times, but I when it was time to do redistricting, I was the lead on our redistricting team. And some of those team members are here today. Uh they did great work. uh we hired the best staff we could find and we worked hard and I learned a lot during that time. You know, it only happens every 10 years. So, you don't have that chance to uh it's not like you're building on your past experience because you don't have any. Um but we hired a guy who was a really a whiz at the computer and handling that computer. And I'm concerned, I'm really concerned about what's going on around this country right now. Uh we're seeing redistricting used as a political sledgehammer. Uh and we're happening on both sides of the aisle. And I just hope and pray that we here in Minnesota aren't tempted to follow that course. I think it'd be a horrible mistake. Uh I know it's tempting whichever way you know whoever would happen to be in the majority at the time uh and try to take advantage of that it would be a true disservice to the citizens of Minnesota. Uh then um we uh had a situation where I' I've served under a number of speakers but uh where there was a change the most recent change in speaker and was a surprise to me. I was a big supporter of Kurt Doubt and I thought he was going to continue to be our speaker. Well, it didn't turn out that way. And following uh the decision to have a new speaker of the house, that speaker turned to me and asked me to be her number two. Uh I had no idea it was coming. We didn't know each other very well at the time and uh I was surprised to be asked uh but I uh was honored and the two of us worked together uh closely uh since then. Uh it's been a great honor of my political career to do that. Uh to be in the small room where decisions are made is truly an honor. Uh going toe-to-toe with the governor is kind of fun actually. Uh and I think we've done good work. Uh Tim talked about it. this this adventure we're on in a tide house is uh something that's never been done in the way we've done it before. I am so thrilled that we landed on a way to do this that actually works. Uh the system of co-chairs here in the house I think has worked amazingly well. It's forced the workload down to the committee level where really it should be and uh everything that comes out of committee has bipartisan support. It's it's really amazing. I of course uh was named chair of ways and means and that put me in that small room with Zach Stevenson. Uh and I didn't quite know what to expect. We had we had never really worked together either. And uh the one thing I remember before we did start working together is the day that he gave up and gave a great speech. And at the end of the speech, he said, "Folks, this speech was written by Chat GPT." I got up and said, "Zack, that's the best speech you've ever given." Uh but uh as it turned out uh while we have certainly our differences uh our ability to uh work together and try and untie the knots that develop in this tide situation proved I think to be valuable. I hope he does too. Uh but I wore him out. I guess he left ways and means. Uh but he left for the the worst possible reason. Of course, you know, during the the negotiations last year, uh in the governor's reception room, I the governor was on one side of the table. I was directly opposite from the governor. I had Lisa on my right and I had Melissa on my left for hour after hour. Some things should just never happen. No one that serves here should have to make that sacrifice. And I hope uh we all understand how painful that is for the institution uh to see a speaker go down. Awful. Uh, so the thank you list is way too long for me to start naming names, but I'm going to name a few anyway because I kind of have to. But, uh, first I would like to talk a little bit about Patrick Murphy. Uh, so he, you know, he's been really an honor for me to work with and I share something I have some I have something in or a connection with Patrick Murphy that no one else will ever have because there was a day when uh I thought I had been checked out from from the House floor and I was I was over in Minneapolis I was in the outskirts of Minneapolis at a meeting and my phone rang and it said, uh, it's a call of the house. But I thought I was checked out. No, it's a call of the house. You better get here as quick as you can. I come I race down the freeway. I come running up the steps, and as I'm coming up the steps, I hear Torlson, Torlson, Torlson. I was the first person he ever called out, I believe, in that way. Uh, and from then on, for about a year and a half, every time I went into the meeting, I heard >> Yeah. Yeah. Lucky me. Uh, it's just a it's a it's one of a long series of torquems around here. Um I I don't know if you're all familiar with that, but uh when we were doing M drive, you remember M drive, the horrible license system that we had to get rid of and replace. Took millions of dollars and a long time. Finally got it done. Governor and I actually worked together to get that done. And then we had to name the new uh the new system. It's now called min drive, but one of the names considered was torque drive. Uh, I have a I I'm a farmer and I still have a hog barn and that hog barn I have an LLC to because we set it up that way. The name of my LLC is Torque Chops. Uh, and there's a lot of other Torqueisms. There's Torque time which starts at about 8:30. And I'm not going to speak quite that long, but I'm working on it. Uh uh it's, you know, the familiarity, the humor is really a good thing. Frank Hornstein and I went back and forth in transportation and I had a rule in my committee that nobody should ever be funnier than the chair when I was chair. It was against the rules to but Frank Hornstein, he'd break the rule all the time. Um, yeah, I there's so many staff people that I've worked with, uh, partisan, nonpartisan, Republicans, Democrats. Um, I could go on and on and on. I do have to call out my current LA Ally, who has been uh, amazing, brought me through some tough times. And then uh my family is here, my wife is here, my daughter is here, and my grandson Saurin is here. Hi Sa. Uh and my next grandchild is here, too, although she can't wave yet. I have I don't know how often this has happened here at the Minnesota legislature where a legislator has a child who is a lobbyist. I in my memory it's never happened but it's been my great privilege to serve here and work with my daughter as a lobbyist and we've uh as you noted maybe last night getting that bill passed for tech modernization she played a big part in it. We worked as partners, professional partners, and what a what a privilege to be able to do that. And then finally, uh, last night, um, we saw, I think, some great work in this house. Uh, we saw the plane land. I've been here for 18 sessions. Sometimes the plane lands nicely and smoothly, and sometimes it's all hell breaks loose. I've been here for both uh and uh I was just totally impressed. Um I'm going to call out a couple other staff members. First, the navigator of the plane, Jeremiah Wingstead, who was mentioned earlier. Um just he's just brilliant uh and knows exactly what to do when and knows the floor and all that stuff that I choose to ignore. Uh, next we have the co-pilot of the plane, Andrew Wagner, who uh has done a great job working with our caucus, a great job doing this thing of being tied and, you know, respecting the other side while communicating clearly, hanging on to our issues that we think are important, but recognizing the issues that are important on the other side of the aisle. And then finally, the chief pilot, uh, Lisa Damoth. Uh, thank you for landing the plane smoothly. It doesn't always go that way. It should. Some people say that any landing you walk away from is a good landing. Um, I would not agree with that. Uh, there have been some bad landings here. And, uh, I challenge those of you that come back to continue to have good landings. a friend, a colleague of mine, uh, Gene McGinius, who was my archeneemy in the environment committee, often said that coming to the legislature is a lot like going back to college. Now, I don't think she meant the part where we hang out at downtown or at our apartments and party a lot. I I think she meant the part where we all have a lot to learn. Uh, and that is one of the most important things we as legislators must do if we're going to serve our constituents, serve the state of Minnesota. Well, we have to be willing to learn, to learn from each other, to learn from the lobbyists, to learn from our colleagues, uh, to learn from our staff, both partisan and nonpartisan, to find the best path forward. U, we're not going to give up our values. We're not going to change our minds about what we think is important. And we're going to disagree. I've disagreed vehemently with some people here, some in my own caucus, by the way. Uh but if you sit down and communicate and work hard, often you can find a path forward that benefits everyone. And really, that's what we're here to do. Um, so thank you. Thank you for uh listening. Uh, thank you for sticking around, those of you that are still here. Uh, thank you for what you do for the state of Minnesota, uh, in this beautiful facility uh, that is such a testament to our history. I'll just end with this from Ecclesiastes. To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. Members, there is a motion at the desk. The clerk will report the motion. >> Torqulson. Torlson. And members, there really is a motion at the desk, too. The clerk will report the motion. >> Nisca moves that the chief clerk be and is hereby instructed to inform the Senate and the governor by message that the House of Representatives is about to adjourn this 94th session. Siny die. I recognize a member from Anoka, Representative Nisca. >> Thank you, Madam Speaker, and members. That's my motion, but perhaps I should defer to Representative Kisha to present it. >> We're going to a vote on the motion. All those in favor say I. >> Those opposed, nay. The motion prevails. Announcements. I recognize the the member from Morrison, Representative KCA. >> Madam Speaker, I would like to make a motion for sin. >> Those in favor. >> All those in favor say I. >> Those opposed, nay. >> Representative Kisha has moved that the House stands adjourned. Sy. The motion prevails. The House stands adjourned. Signy die.