Journal of the House – 1st Day - Tuesday, January
14, 2025 - Top of Page 3
STATE OF
MINNESOTA
Journal of the House
NINETY-FOURTH
SESSION - 2025
_____________________
FIRST
LEGISLATIVE DAY
Saint Paul, Minnesota, Tuesday, January 14, 2025
In accordance with
the Constitution and the Laws of the State of Minnesota, the members-elect of
the House of Representatives assembled in the Chamber of the House of
Representatives in the Capitol in Saint Paul on Tuesday, the fourteenth day of January 2025.
At the hour of twelve o'clock noon and pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2024, Section 3.05, the Honorable
Steve Simon, Secretary of State,
called the members-elect to order and appointed the Honorable Peggy Scott from District 31B as Clerk pro tem.
The prayer was offered by Pastor Ben
Mailhot, Youth, Worship and Life Group Pastor, Watermark Church, Stillwater,
Minnesota.
The members-elect of the House gave the
pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
The Clerk pro tem called the roll by legislative
district in numerical order, and the following members-elect presented proof of
their eligibility to be sworn in and seated as members of the House of
Representatives:
1A............................. John Burkel
1B............................. Steve Gander
2A............................. Bidal Duran, Jr.
2B............................. Matt Bliss
3A............................. Roger J. Skraba
3B............................. Natalie Zeleznikar
4A.............................
4B............................. Jim Joy
5A............................. Krista Knudsen
5B............................. Mike Wiener
6A............................. Ben Davis
6B............................. Josh Heintzeman
7A............................. Spencer Igo
7B............................. Cal Warwas
8A.............................
8B.............................
9A............................. Jeff Backer
9B............................. Tom Murphy
10A........................... Ron Kresha
10B........................... Isaac Schultz
11A........................... Jeff Dotseth
11B........................... Nathan Nelson
12A........................... Paul H. Anderson
12B........................... Mary Franson
13A........................... Lisa Demuth
13B........................... Tim O'Driscoll
14A........................... Bernie Perryman
14B...........................
15A........................... Chris Swedzinski
15B........................... Paul Torkelson
16A........................... Scott Van Binsbergen
16B........................... Dave Baker
17A........................... Dawn Gillman
17B........................... Bobbie Harder
18A........................... Erica Schwartz
18B...........................
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19A........................... Keith Allen
19B........................... Thomas J. Sexton
20A........................... Pam Altendorf
20B........................... Steven E. Jacob
21A........................... Joe Schomacker
21B........................... Marj J. Fogelman
22A........................... Bjorn Olson
22B........................... Terry M. Stier
23A........................... Peggy Bennett
23B........................... Patricia Mueller
24A........................... Duane Quam
24B...........................
25A...........................
25B...........................
26A........................... Aaron Repinski
26B........................... Gregory M. Davids
27A........................... Shane Mekeland
27B........................... Bryan Lawrence
28A........................... James "Jimmy" Gordon
28B........................... Max Rymer
29A........................... Joe McDonald
29B........................... Marion Rarick
30A........................... Walter Hudson
30B........................... Paul Novotny
31A........................... Harry Niska
31B........................... Peggy Scott
32A........................... Nolan West
32B...........................
33A........................... Patti Anderson
33B...........................
34A........................... Danny Nadeau
34B...........................
35A...........................
35B...........................
36A........................... Elliott Engen
36B...........................
37A........................... Kristin Robbins
37B...........................
38A...........................
38B...........................
39A...........................
39B...........................
40A...........................
40B...........................
41A........................... Wayne A. Johnson
41B........................... Tom Dippel
42A...........................
42B...........................
43A...........................
43B...........................
44A...........................
44B...........................
45A........................... Andrew Myers
45B...........................
46A...........................
46B...........................
47A...........................
47B...........................
48A........................... Jim Nash
48B...........................
49A...........................
49B...........................
50A...........................
50B...........................
51A...........................
51B...........................
52A...........................
52B...........................
53A...........................
53B...........................
54A...........................
54B........................... Ben Bakeberg
55A...........................
55B...........................
56A...........................
56B...........................
57A........................... Jon Koznick
57B........................... Jeff Witte
58A...........................
58B........................... Drew Roach
59A...........................
59B...........................
60A...........................
60B...........................
61A...........................
61B...........................
62A...........................
62B...........................
63A...........................
63B...........................
64A...........................
64B...........................
65A...........................
65B...........................
66A...........................
66B...........................
67A...........................
67B...........................
There were 133 Certificates of Election on file.
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OATH OF OFFICE
The members-elect present subscribed to the oath of office as administered to them by the Honorable Jennifer L. Frisch, Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
OATH OF OFFICE
The oath of office for Representative in the Minnesota Legislature was administered in St. Paul on Friday, January 10, 2025, to Heather Keeler by John P. Lesch, a notary public in the County of Ramsey, State of Minnesota, pursuant to Minnesota Statues, Section 359.04.
OATH OF OFFICE
The oath of office for Representative in the Minnesota Legislature was administered in St. Paul on Sunday, January 12, 2025, by Senior District Court Judge Kevin Burke to the following members-elect:
Patty Acomb
Esther Agbaje
Kristin Bahner
Kaela Berg
Robert Bierman
Ned Carroll
Ethan Cha
Mary Frances Clardy
Nathan Coulter
Brion Curran
Steve Elkins
Alex Falconer
Sandra Feist
Leigh Finke
Peter Fischer
Cedrick Frazier
Luke Frederick
Mike Freiberg
Aisha Gomez
Julie Greene
Emma Greenman
Rick Hansen
Jess Hanson
Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger
Kaohly Her
Kim Hicks
Josiah Hill
Huldah Hiltsley
Athena Hollins
Melissa Hortman
Michael Howard
John Huot
Samakab Hussein
Peter Johnson
Katie Jones
Sydney Jordan
Ginny Klevorn
Erin Koegel
Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn
Alicia Kozlowski
Larry Kraft
Fue Lee
Liz Lee
Tina Liebling
Leon Lillie
Jamie Long
Anquam Mahamoud
Kelly Moller
Mohamud Noor
Matt Norris
María Isa Pérez-Vega
Dave Pinto
Kristi Pursell
Lucy Rehm
Kari Rehrauer
Liz Reyer
Samantha Sencer-Mura
Andy Smith
Zack Stephenson
Brad Tabke
Samantha Vang
Bianca Virnig
Dan Wolgamott
Jay Xiong
Cheryl Youakim
The members present took their seats in the Chamber of the House of Representatives.
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The roll was called and the following members were present:
Allen
Altendorf
Anderson, P. E.
Anderson, P. H.
Backer
Bakeberg
Baker
Bennett
Bliss
Burkel
Davids
Davis
Demuth
Dippel
Dotseth
Duran
Engen
Fogelman
Franson
Gander
Gillman
Gordon
Harder
Heintzeman
Hudson
Igo
Jacob
Johnson, W.
Joy
Knudsen
Koznick
Kresha
Lawrence
McDonald
Mekeland
Mueller
Murphy
Myers
Nadeau
Nash
Nelson
Niska
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson
Perryman
Quam
Rarick
Repinski
Roach
Robbins
Rymer
Schomacker
Schultz
Schwartz
Scott
Sexton
Skraba
Stier
Swedzinski
Torkelson
Van Binsbergen
Warwas
West
Wiener
Witte
Zeleznikar
Secretary of State Steve Simon declared there
being 67 members present, there was no quorum, pursuant to the Minnesota
Constitution and that the House adjourned.
Niska appealed
the declaration of no quorum by Secretary of State Steve Simon pursuant to
Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure, Section 504, paragraph 5, relating to
Question of No Quorum.
Niska moved that the Secretary of State be
removed pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 3.05, and Minnesota
Constitution, Article IV, Section 15, and that Anderson, P. H., the oldest
member present, assume the Chair.
Anderson, P. H., assumed the Chair.
Niska moved to find the prior adjournment
out of order and requested a roll call.
The motion prevailed.
Niska moved
that the Clerk pro tem take
the roll for the purpose of establishing a quorum. The motion prevailed.
Anderson, P. H., directed the Clerk pro tem to take the roll for the purpose
of establishing a quorum.
The roll was called
and the following members were present:
Allen
Altendorf
Anderson, P. E.
Anderson, P. H.
Backer
Bakeberg
Baker
Bennett
Bliss
Burkel
Davids
Davis
Demuth
Dippel
Dotseth
Duran
Engen
Fogelman
Franson
Gander
Gillman
Gordon
Harder
Heintzeman
Hudson
Igo
Jacob
Johnson, W.
Joy
Knudsen
Koznick
Kresha
Lawrence
McDonald
Mekeland
Mueller
Murphy
Myers
Nadeau
Nash
Nelson
Niska
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson
Perryman
Quam
Rarick
Repinski
Roach
Robbins
Rymer
Schomacker
Schultz
Schwartz
Scott
Sexton
Skraba
Stier
Swedzinski
Torkelson
Van Binsbergen
Warwas
West
Wiener
Witte
Zeleznikar
Anderson, P. H., declared there being 67
of 133 members of the whole House, a quorum was present.
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ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Anderson, P. H., announced the next order of business to be the election of the Speaker.
The name of Lisa Demuth was placed in nomination by Baker. The nomination was seconded by Igo.
There being no further nominations, Anderson P. H., declared the nominations closed.
The Clerk pro tem called the roll on the election of the Speaker.
The
following members of the House voted for Demuth:
Allen
Altendorf
Anderson, P. E.
Anderson, P. H.
Backer
Bakeberg
Baker
Bennett
Bliss
Burkel
Davids
Davis
Demuth
Dippel
Dotseth
Duran
Engen
Fogelman
Franson
Gander
Gillman
Gordon
Harder
Heintzeman
Hudson
Igo
Jacob
Johnson, W.
Joy
Knudsen
Koznick
Kresha
Lawrence
McDonald
Mekeland
Mueller
Murphy
Myers
Nadeau
Nash
Nelson
Niska
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson
Perryman
Quam
Rarick
Repinski
Roach
Robbins
Rymer
Schomacker
Schultz
Schwartz
Scott
Sexton
Skraba
Stier
Swedzinski
Torkelson
Van Binsbergen
Warwas
West
Wiener
Witte
Zeleznikar
Demuth received 67 votes.
Lisa Demuth, having received a majority of the votes cast, was declared duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Nash, Knudsen and Backer were appointed to escort the Speaker-elect to the rostrum.
OATH OF OFFICE
The oath of office was administered to Speaker-elect Lisa Demuth by Representative Paul H. Anderson, District 12A. The Speaker expressed her appreciation for the honor bestowed upon her.
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
A communication was received from the Honorable Judge Leonardo Castro, Second Judicial District, County of Ramsey, State of Minnesota in the matter of Paul Wikstrom, Contestant, v. Curtis Johnson, Contestee.
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Niska offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
Resolved, that the findings of fact and conclusions of law received by the House from the Honorable Judge Leonardo Castro, Second Judicial District, County of Ramsey, in the matter of Paul Wikstrom, Contestant, v. Curtis Johnson, Contestee, be accepted without further review and that a vacancy resulting from a successful election contest be declared for district 40B.
The motion prevailed and the resolution was adopted.
Niska offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
Be it Resolved, that the Temporary Rules of the House for this session, the 94th Regular Session, shall be the same as the Permanent Rules of the House for the last session, the 93rd Regular Session, as they existed on Monday, May 20, 2024, with the following exceptions:
"Rule 3.50 shall read:
3.50 ELECTION
CHALLENGES. A challenge to the seating
of a member pursuant to a resolution, motion, or court recommendation must be
heard as follows.
(1) A resolution,
motion, or court recommendation filed with the Chief Clerk must immediately be
referred to the Speaker. The referral
must be announced to the body. In
announcing the referral, the Speaker must appoint a time for the election
challenge to be heard. The challenge
must be heard as soon as practicable, but no later than 14 calendar days
after the referral.
(2) At the appointed
time, the House shall resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole for the
purpose of considering the election challenge.
The Committee of the Whole is a committee of the entire membership of
the House. The Speaker, or another
member appointed by the Speaker, shall preside over the Committee of the Whole. Each caucus may appoint a member to act as
lead member on consideration of the challenge.
The Committee of the Whole may receive testimony and other evidence, and shall prepare a report for recommendation to
the body.
(3) The House must act
on a report made by the Committee of the Whole within two legislative days of
its receipt.
(4) No member whose
eligibility is challenged may vote on any procedural or substantive question
related to the challenge. Only the
Speaker or the appointed presiding member may decide whether a vote is
procedurally or substantively related to the election challenge. This determination must be announced in
advance of each vote.
(5) The Rules of the
House shall be observed in the Committee of the Whole so far as may be
applicable except that the previous question shall not be forced or speaking limited. Upon demand of 15 members, the yeas and nays
shall be called, the question voted on, and the yeas and nays recorded in the
Journal of the House. A motion that the
Committee arise shall always be in order and shall be
decided without debate. The Committee of
the Whole may adopt additional procedures to govern its proceedings that are
not in conflict with the Rules of the House.
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Rule 4.03 shall read:
4.03 WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE; BUDGET RESOLUTION; EFFECT ON EXPENDITURE AND REVENUE BILLS. (a) The Committee on Ways and Means must hold hearings as necessary to determine state expenditures and revenues for the fiscal biennium.
(b) Within 25 days after the last state general fund revenue and expenditure forecast for the next fiscal biennium becomes available during the regular session in the odd-numbered year, the Committee on Ways and Means must adopt a budget resolution. The budget resolution: (1) must set the maximum limit on net expenditures for the next fiscal biennium for the general fund, (2) must set an amount or amounts to be set aside as a budget reserve and a cash flow account, (3) must set net spending limits for each budget category represented by the major finance and revenue bills identified in paragraph (e), and (4) may set limits for expenditures from funds other than the general fund. The budget resolution must not specify, limit, or prescribe revenues or expenditures by any category other than those specified in clauses (1), (2), (3), and (4). After the Committee adopts the budget resolution, the limits in the resolution are effective during the regular session in the year in which the resolution is adopted, unless a different or amended resolution is adopted.
(c) During the regular session in the even-numbered year, before the Committee on Ways and Means reports a bill containing net increases or decreases in expenditures as compared to general fund expenditures in the current fiscal biennium estimated by the most recent state budget forecast, the Committee may adopt a budget resolution. If adopted, the resolution must account for the net changes in expenditures. The resolution may also (1) set limits for changes in net expenditures for each budget category represented by the major finance and revenue bills identified in paragraph (e), and (2) set limits for expenditures from funds other than the general fund.
If the Committee adopts a budget resolution, it is effective during the regular session that year, unless a different or amended resolution is adopted.
(d) The major finance or revenue bills may be combined or separated by a majority vote of either the Committee on Ways and Means or the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration. Combined or separated bills must conform to the limits in the resolution as those limits apply to the accounts in those bills.
(e) Major finance and revenue bills are:
the agriculture finance bill;
the capital investment bill;
the climate and energy
finance bill;
the commerce finance bill;
the children and families
finance bill;
the economic development
finance bill;
the elections finance bill;
the environment and
natural resources finance bill;
the health finance bill;
the higher education
finance bill;
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the housing finance bill;
the human services
finance bill;
the judiciary finance bill;
the education finance bill;
the labor and industry
finance bill;
the legacy finance bill;
the public safety
finance bill;
the state and local
government finance bill;
the tax bill;
the transportation
finance bill;
the veterans and
military affairs finance bill; and
the workforce
development finance bill.
the agriculture finance bill;
the capital investment bill;
the children and
families finance bill;
the commerce finance bill;
the education finance bill;
the elections finance bill;
the energy finance bill;
the environment and
natural resources finance bill;
the health finance bill;
the higher education
finance bill;
the housing finance bill;
the human services
finance bill;
the judiciary finance bill;
the legacy finance bill;
Journal of the House – 1st Day - Tuesday, January
14, 2025 - Top of Page 11
the public safety
finance bill;
the state government
finance bill;
the tax bill;
the transportation
finance bill; and
the workforce, labor,
and economic development finance bill.
(f) After the adoption of a resolution by the Committee on Ways and Means, each finance committee, and the Committee on Taxes must reconcile each bill described in Rule 4.10 with the resolution. When reporting a finance or revenue bill, each committee or division must provide to the Committee on Ways and Means a fiscal statement reconciling the bill with the resolution.
(g) After the adoption of a resolution by the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on Ways and Means must reconcile finance and revenue bills with the resolution. When reporting a bill, the chair of the Committee must certify to the House that the Committee has reconciled the bill with the resolution.
(h) After the adoption of a resolution by the Committee on Ways and Means, an amendment to a bill is out of order if it would cause any of the limits specified in the resolution to be exceeded. Whether an amendment is out of order under this Rule is a question to be decided on the Floor by the Speaker or other presiding officer and in Committee or Division by the person chairing the Committee or Division meeting. In making the determination, the Speaker or other presiding officer or the Committee or Division chair may consider: (1) the limits in a resolution; (2) the effect of existing laws on revenues and expenditures; (3) the effect of amendments previously adopted to the bill under consideration; (4) the effect of bills previously recommended by a Committee or Division or bills previously passed in the legislative session by the House or by the legislature; (5) whether expenditure increases or revenue decreases that would result from the amendment are offset by decreases in other expenditures or increases in other revenue specified by the amendment; and (6) other information reasonably related to expenditure and revenue amounts.
(i) After a resolution is adopted by the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee must make available a summary of the estimated fiscal effect on the general fund of each bill that has been referred to the Committee on Ways and Means by a finance committee or a division of a finance committee, or the Committee on Taxes and of each bill that has been reported by the Committee on Ways and Means.
Rule 6.01 shall read:
6.01 COMMITTEES AND DIVISIONS. Standing committees and divisions of the House must be appointed by the Speaker as follows:
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Capital Investment
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Climate and Energy Finance and Policy
Commerce Finance and Policy
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Economic Development Finance and Policy
Education Finance
Education Policy
Elections Finance and Policy
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
and Policy
Ethics
Health Finance and Policy
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Housing Finance and Policy
Human Services Finance
Human Services Policy
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Labor and Industry Finance and Policy
Legacy Finance
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Rules and Legislative Administration
State and Local Government Finance and
Policy
Sustainable Infrastructure Policy
Taxes
Property Tax Division
Transportation Finance and Policy
Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and
Policy
Ways and Means
Workforce Development Finance and Policy
Agriculture Finance and Policy;
Journal of the House – 1st Day - Tuesday, January
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Capital Investment;
Children and Families Finance and Policy;
Commerce Finance and Policy;
Education Finance;
Education Policy;
Elections Finance and Government Operations;
Energy Finance and Policy;
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
and Policy;
Ethics;
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight
Policy;
Health Finance and Policy;
Higher Education Finance and Policy;
Housing Finance and Policy;
Human Services Finance and Policy;
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law;
Legacy Finance;
Public Safety Finance and Policy;
Rules and Legislative Administration;
State Government Finance and Policy;
Veterans and Military
Affairs Division;
Taxes;
Transportation Finance and Policy;
Ways and Means;
and
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy."
These temporary rules shall apply until the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration, to be appointed by the Speaker, shall have made its report and the new Permanent Rules have been adopted.
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The question was taken on the adoption of
the proposed Temporary Rules of the House for the 94th Session and the roll was called. There were 67 yeas and 0 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Allen
Altendorf
Anderson, P. E.
Anderson, P. H.
Backer
Bakeberg
Baker
Bennett
Bliss
Burkel
Davids
Davis
Demuth
Dippel
Dotseth
Duran
Engen
Fogelman
Franson
Gander
Gillman
Gordon
Harder
Heintzeman
Hudson
Igo
Jacob
Johnson, W.
Joy
Knudsen
Koznick
Kresha
Lawrence
McDonald
Mekeland
Mueller
Murphy
Myers
Nadeau
Nash
Nelson
Niska
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson
Perryman
Quam
Rarick
Repinski
Roach
Robbins
Rymer
Schomacker
Schultz
Schwartz
Scott
Sexton
Skraba
Stier
Swedzinski
Torkelson
Van Binsbergen
Warwas
West
Wiener
Witte
Zeleznikar
The motion prevailed and the resolution
relating to the Temporary Rules of the House for the 94th Session was adopted.
Niska offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
Resolved, that necessary employees as directed by the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration be authorized by the House effective today, Tuesday, January 14, 2025, to better expedite the business of the House.
The
question was taken on the Niska motion and the roll
was called. There were 67 yeas
and 0 nays as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Allen
Altendorf
Anderson, P. E.
Anderson, P. H.
Backer
Bakeberg
Baker
Bennett
Bliss
Burkel
Davids
Davis
Demuth
Dippel
Dotseth
Duran
Engen
Fogelman
Franson
Gander
Gillman
Gordon
Harder
Heintzeman
Hudson
Igo
Jacob
Johnson, W.
Joy
Knudsen
Koznick
Kresha
Lawrence
McDonald
Mekeland
Mueller
Murphy
Myers
Nadeau
Nash
Nelson
Niska
Novotny
O'Driscoll
Olson
Perryman
Quam
Rarick
Repinski
Roach
Robbins
Rymer
Schomacker
Schultz
Schwartz
Scott
Sexton
Skraba
Stier
Swedzinski
Torkelson
Van Binsbergen
Warwas
West
Wiener
Witte
Zeleznikar
The motion prevailed and the resolution was adopted.
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER
The Speaker announced the appointment of Representative Olson as Speaker pro tempore; and Representative Schultz as deputy Speaker pro tempore for the 2025‑2026 session.
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The Speaker announced the appointment of the following members of the House to the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration:
Niska, Chair; Engen, Vice Chair; Jacob; Nash; Schultz; Scott; Stier; Torkelson; and Zeleznikar.
Swedzinski offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
Resolved, that the selection of permanent desks shall be as directed by the Speaker as follows:
(1) that the Republican caucus shall occupy section 1, seats 1 to 19; section 2, seats 22 to 41; and section 3, seats 42 to 69. All members of the Republican caucus shall be seated in the manner prescribed by the Republican caucus; and
(2) that the DFL caucus shall occupy section 4, seats 70 to 97; section 5, seats 99 to 119; and section 6, seats 120 to 138. All members of the DFL caucus shall be seated in the manner prescribed by the DFL caucus.
The motion prevailed and the resolution
was adopted.
ADJOURNMENT
Niska moved that when the House adjourns
today it adjourn until 12:00 noon, Wednesday, January
15, 2025. The motion prevailed.
Niska moved that the House adjourn. The motion prevailed, and the Speaker
declared the House stands adjourned until 12:00 noon, Wednesday, January 15,
2025.
Peggy
Scott, Clerk Pro Tem, House of Representatives
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