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    Rice, James Isaac "Jim"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1971-72 (District 39); House 1973-82 (District 54B); House 1983-92 (District 57A); House 1993-96 (District 58A)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 10/12/1925
    Birth Place: ,
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death: 10/15/1996
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Jim
    City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
    Occupation (when first elected): None Listed

    EDUCATION

    De La Salle High School; Secondary; Graduate
    University of Minnesota; S.L.A.;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Army (World War II, Combat Infantryman, 2.5 years); 194? to 194?
    State Governor Staff: Minnesota Governor Karl F. Rolvaag's Office (Secretary); 03/25/1963 to 01/31/1965
    State Governor Staff: Minnesota Governor Karl F. Rolvaag's Office (Executive Secretary/Chief of Staff); 02/01/1965 to 01/1967 [Appointed]
    County Board/Commissioner: Hennepin County, Minnesota (Park Reserve Commissioner); 1967 to 1971

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Jill Elizabeth
    Children: Eight children: Mary, Sheila, Maura, and Brenna (daughters); Sean (he was appointd to become a Hennepin County Judge in 1987), Brian, Devin, and Eamon (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

    A portion of West River Parkway, between Plymouth Avenue and Portland Avenue, in Minneapolis, Minnesota was named after him.

    He died of an apparent heart attack in his legislative office in the State Office Building in St. Paul, Minnesota. A 2002 Session Weekly article indicates his office was on the fifth floor but the Legislative Manual and the Official Directory of the Minnesota Legislature both indicate his office was Room 381.

    His funeral was held at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 9417

    SESSIONS SERVED

    79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1995
    Body: House
    District: 58A
    Elected: 11/8/1994
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/1995 to 10/15/1996 (unfinished term)
    Oath Date: 1/3/1995
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Financial Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs
    • Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Business Regulation Division
    • Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Real Estate and Commerce
    • Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance (Chair)
    • Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance: Transportation Finance Division
    • Ways and Means
    Reason for unfinished term: Death
    Session Notes: Due to health issues he announced his retirement and did not run for reelection for the 80th session. He died while in office on October 15, 1996.
    term photo
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    78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1993
    Body: House
    District: 58A
    Elected: 11/3/1992
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/1/1995
    Oath Date: 1/1/1993
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Financial Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Controversial Bills
    • Commerce and Economic Development: International Trade, Technology and Economic Development Division
    • Economic Development, Infrastructure and Regulation Finance (Chair)
    • Labor-Management Relations
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Ways and Means
    Session Notes: He was sworn in on January 1, 1993 by his son District Court Judge Sean Rice. (Technically, he was sworn in before his term began.)

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1991
    Body: House
    District: 57A
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
    Oath Date: 1/7/1991
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Financial Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Economic Development, Infrastructure, and Regulation Division (Chair)
    • Labor-Management Relations
    • Labor-Management Relations: Worker's Compensation and Unemployment Insurance
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Ways and Means
    Session Notes: He was sworn in a day before the convening of the House in Minneapolis by his son District Court Judge Sean Rice.
    term photo
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    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
    Body: House
    District: 57A
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/3/1989
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Financial Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation and Semi-State Division (Chair)
    • Labor-Management Relations
    • Labor-Management Relations: Unemployment Insurance and Workers' Compensation
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs: Metro Affairs
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Ways and Means
    Session Notes: He was sworn in in Minneapolis by his son Minnesota District Court Judge Sean Rice.

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
    Body: House
    District: 57A
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Financial Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation and Semi-States Division (Chair)
    • Labor-Management Relations
    • Labor-Management Relations: Unemployment Insurance and Workers Compensation Division
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Ways and Means

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
    Body: House
    District: 57A
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/8/1985
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Financial Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation and Semi-States Division
    • Budget
    • Labor-Management Relations
    • Labor-Management Relations: Unemployment Insurance and Workers Compensation Division
    term photo
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    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: House
    District: 57A
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Financial Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations (Chair)
    • Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation, Semi-State Division
    • Appropriations: Education Division
    • Appropriations: Health, Welfare, and Corrections Division
    • Appropriations: State Departments Division
    • Labor-Management Relations
    • Labor-Management Relations: Workers' Compensation Division

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: House
    District: 54B
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
    Oath Date: 1/6/1981
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Financial Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Health, Welfare and Corrections Division
    • Labor-Management Relations (Chair)
    • Labor-Management Relations: Workers Compensation
    • Reapportionment and Elections
    • Reapportionment and Elections: Election Laws
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    term photo
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    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: House
    District: 54B
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/3/1979
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Financial Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Health, Welfare and Corrections Division
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: Elections and Campaign Practices
    • Labor-Management Relations (Chair)
    • Labor-Management Relations: Worker's Compensation

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
    Body: House
    District: 54B
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 12/31/1978
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Financial Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Health, Welfare and Corrections Division
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs (Chair)
    • Higher Education
    term photo
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    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
    Body: House
    District: 54B
    Elected: 11/5/1974
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/6/1975 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/7/1975
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Health, Welfare and Corrections Division
    • Health and Welfare
    • Higher Education

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/2/1973
    Body: House
    District: 54B
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/5/1975
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: Health, Welfare, and Corrections Division
    • Crime Prevention and Corrections
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • Health and Welfare
    • Higher Education
    term photo
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    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
    Body: House
    District: 39
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    Oath Date: 1/5/1971
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • City Government
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Education
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • Health, Welfare and Corrections

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    News Sources

    The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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