Feb. 12 - OPENING DAY 2024 Legislature

A Capitol visitor breaks a beam of light coming from the French doors on the second floor off the rotunda on the opening day of the 2024 Legislative Session. This session will be about passing a bonding bill of construction projects around the state and to fix laws passed last year.

ERA advocates rallied in the rotunda to put equal rights on the ballot in 2026.

ERA proponents held up and waved green and white “Yes on ERA! “ signs during a rally in the rotunda. Advocate groups have agreed to add abortion access protections to the ERA amendment which could pass this year but won’t appear on a ballot until 2026.

Jean Buckley peeks out from a “ERA NOW” sign during a rally for passage of an ERA amendment this year.

An ERA proponent holds her sign of support for the passage of an amendment during a rally in the Capitol rotunda.

Gov. Tim Walz, with a pan of apple blondie bars, makes his way to the Senate and House Chambers to welcome back legislators on the opening day of the 2024 Legislative Session.

Gov. Tim Walz greets House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth with a hand shake and a pan of apple blondie bars on the floor of the House Chamber during the opening day of the 2024 Legislative Session.

Senators recite the Pledge of Allegiance as the Senate convenes on the opening day of the 2024 Legislative Session.

Newly elected Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy answers a procedural question during the opening day of the 2024 Legislative Session. Sen. Murphy became majority leader after Sen. Kari Dziedzic resigned the leadership position due to health reasons.

A group brought their signs and sang for support of the North Star Act outside the House Chamber calling on legislators to stand with immigrants.

Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Jamie Long meet the press after the House adjourns on the opening day of the 2024 Legislative Session

House Minority Leader Lisa Demote meets the press after the House adjourns on the opening day of the 2024 Legislative Session

ov. Tim Walz meets with the press off the rotunda on the opening day of the 2024 Legislative Session.

Revenue Commissioner Paul Marquart and Rep. Aisha Gomez, chair of the House Taxes Committee, testify on HF2757 during a hearing of the Taxes Committee. The bill would adjust the standard deduction amounts for tax year 2023. Last years tax law reduced the standard individual income tax deduction by undoing the inflation adjustments instituted since 2019.

The House Education Policy Committee hears Rep. Cedrick Frazier’s HF3489 to fix a law passed last year prohibiting school resource officers from using prone restraints on students.

Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson testifies on HF 3489 to fix a law passed last year prohibiting school resource officers from using prone restraints on students.

Youth advocate, Ali Alowonle of Education for Liberation Minnesota, testifies on HF3489 as the bills author Rep. Cedrick Frazier listens during a hearing of the Education Policy Committee. The bill passed the Education Policy Committee and was approved 7-5 and moves to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee.