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Minnesota Senate

Minnesota Senate Offices

Secretary of the Senate, Senate Desk

The Secretary of the Senate, Senate Desk, conducts daily legislative sessions, overseeing activities conducted at the desk that center around the actual enactment of legislation. The Senate Desk ensures that the Senate functions smoothly and conforms to Senate Rules and the constitutional and statutory provisions that relate to the mechanics of enacting legislation.   

Order of Business
     Agendas and Calendars		   The Senate conducts business following a set agenda as stated in the Guide to the Minnesota Senate, The Orders of Business, often referred to as the Daily Orders of Business. All agendas and calendars prepared for a legislative session are produced by the Journal Production Office.
 
Procedural Rules   The Senate conducts legislative business procedures as stated in the Rules of the Senate and Joint Rules of the Senate and House of Representatives. The Secretary of the Senate ensures parliamentary procedures are followed.

 

The Secretary of the Senate, Senate Desk, provides external and internal legislative information and production services to public and Senate members and employees. The Senate Desk functions under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Rules and Administration, under the direction of and including the Secretary of the Senate. Senate Desk functions are conducted primarily at the large desk at the front of the Senate Chamber. Senate Desk is occasionally referred to as "Front Desk", which describes both the large desk at the front of the Chamber and the many activities conducted at the desk that center around the actual enactment of legislation.   

The Senate Desk is responsible for the following activities during floor sessions:

  • Conducting roll call.
  • Following daily agendas as stated on all calendars, ensuring the Senate Order of Business are followed and moving legislation through the process.
  • Introducing Senate bills and engrossments.
  • Processing and reading bill introductions, messages from the House of Representatives, floor amendments, bills reported out of committee, motions, and all the other written material that is a part of the legislative process.
  • Certifying passage of bills.
  • Keeping minutes and coordinating the functions of the sessions.
  • Overseeing production, duplication, and distribution of Senate Agendas, General Orders, Calendars, and printed bills.
  • Overseeing production, duplication, and distribution of the Senate Daily and Permanent Journal.
  • Overseeing Governor's appointments processing.

 

Date timeline Description
   
July 1 State fiscal year begins each year, and in odd-numbered years, state fiscal biennium begins.
July through December Groundwork is laid for upcoming legislative session. Ongoing budget activity, budget-related events, trends, and issues are analyzed for their fiscal policy implications. Budget divisions, committees, and legislative commissions hold special meetings to examine pending issues.
End of November Department of Finance issues November Forecast of state revenues and expenditures.
Beginning of January Legislature convenes, begins official budget hearings and committee hearings to discuss pertinent issues and bills. Staff drafts bills and amendments upon request of Senators.
Fourth Tuesday in January in odd-numbered years, or third Tuesday in February, if a new governor has just been elected Governor issues detailed budget for following biennium.
Mid February Governor issues detailed budget and policy bills for the next biennium.
End of February Department of Finance issues February Forecast of state revenues and expenditures.
March to June Legislature finishes committee and budget hearings, bills are debated and voted on in floor sessions, and conference committees meet to finalize bills. Governor signs or vetoes legislation.
Monday following third Saturday in May Constitution mandates end of regular session.

 

Minnesota Senate Members
Minnesota Senate Committees
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Minnesota Senate Caucuses

Secretary of the Senate
Staff List red diamond image Organized by Name
A C E H J K L M O P R T V W Z
Staff Member red diamond image Title Room and Building red diamond image Phone
 
A
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Ric Almer
Co-Director Index 		110 Capitol
(651) 296-5250
 
C
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Marge Collins
Executive Assistant 		231 Capitol
(651) 296-4174
 
E
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Joy Elliott
Senior Indexer 		110 Capitol
(651) 296-0268
 
Mark Engebretson
Indexer 		110 Capitol
(651) 296-5604
 
Andrew Erickson
Legislative Assistant 		G-2 Capitol
(651) 296-0855
 
H
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Xchel Hernandez Zendejas
Desk Assistant 		232 Capitol
(651) 296-0504
 
J
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Linda Jackson
Director Journal Production 		G-3 Capitol
(651) 296-0161
 
K
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Andy Knaak
Committee Page 		G-24 Capitol
(651) 296-5099
 
Aaron Kupcho
Committee Page 		G-24 Capitol
(651) 296-5099
 
L
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Mike Laurent
Committee Page 		G-24 Capitol
(651) 296-5099
 
Mike Linn
Second Assistant Secretary of the Senate 		G-1 Capitol
(651) 296-5249
 
Richard Long
Messenger 		G-3 Capitol
(651) 296-0227
 
M
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Melissa Mapes
Engrossing Secretary 		G-2 Capitol
(651) 296-4149
 
Amanda Murr
Legislative Assistant 		G-3 Capitol
(651) 296-6663
 
O
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Gabrielle Orfield
Legislative Assistant 		G-2 Capitol
(651) 296-0855
 
P
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Colleen J. Pacheco
First Assistant Secretary of the Senate 		232 Capitol
(651) 296-0227
 
R
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Scott Radunzel
Assistant Director Journal Production 		G-3 Capitol
(651) 296-4183
 
T
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Robin Thoreson
Indexer 		110 Capitol
(651) 296-4970
 
Jessica Tupper
Third Assistant Secretary of the Senate 		232 Capitol
(651) 296-8854
 
V
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Chris Vaaler
Committee Page 		G-24 Capitol
(651) 296-5099
 
Manuel Vasquez
Co-Director Index 		110 Capitol
(651) 296-4392
 
W
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James Wurst
Messenger 		G-3 Capitol
(651) 296-0227
 
Z
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JoAnne M. Zoff
Secretary of the Senate 		231 Capitol
(651) 296-2344
 

Minnesota Senate red diamond image Capitol Building red diamond image 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. red diamond image St. Paul, MN 55155-1606