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    Torkelson, Paul

    Official House Web Page Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2009-2012 (District 21B); House 2013-2022 (District 16B); House 2023-Present (District 15B)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Blue Earth, Brown, Redwood, Renville, Watonwan

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 7/12/1952
    Birth Place: , Minnesota
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Saint James
    Occupation (when first elected): Farmer; Corn, Soybean, and Pork/Former Music Teacher

    EDUCATION

    St. James High School; Secondary;
    Gustavus Adolphus College; B.A.; Instrumental Music Education, 1974

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Governor’s Clean Water Council (Member); 2006 to 20??
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Clean Water Council; 09/2011 to 20?? [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Cindy (married July 1980)
    Children: Two children: Annika and Britta
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He had some Swedish ancestry.

    He farms on the farm established by his great-grandfather in 1878.

    He was a member of the East Sveadahl Lutheran Church in Watonwan County, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota, The Directory, 2009-2010.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5582

    SESSIONS SERVED

    93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 15B
    Elected: 11/8/2022
    Residence: Hanska
    Term of Office: 1/3/2023 to 1/13/2025
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Brown, Redwood
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Deputy Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 16B
    Elected: 11/3/2020
    Residence: Hanska
    Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 1/2/2023
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood, Renville
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2021 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    91st Legislative Session (2019-2020)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 16B
    Elected: 11/6/2018
    Residence: Hanska
    Term of Office: 1/8/2019 to 1/4/2021
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood, Renville
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2019 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2019 1st Sp.S. - Author
    2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Ethics Minutes
    • Ways & Means Minutes
    • Ways & Means: Capital Investment Division Minutes
    • Ways & Means: Transportation Finance & Policy Division Minutes
    • Ways & Means: Water Division Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 16B
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Hanska
    Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/7/2019
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood, Renville
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2017 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2017 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 16B
    Elected: 11/4/2014
    Residence: Hanska
    Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood, Renville
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2015 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2015 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 16B
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Saint James
    Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood, Renville
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2013 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance Minutes
    • Legacy Minutes
    • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
    • Taxes: Property and Local Tax Division Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 21B
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Nelson Township
    Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood, Watonwan
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Minutes
    • Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Minutes
    • Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance: Energy Minutes [The Energy Subcommittee was created in 2012.]
    • Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance: Legacy Funding Division Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 21B
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Saint James
    Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
    Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood, Watonwan
    Occupation: Farmer; Corn, Soybean, and Pork/Former Music Teacher
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Finance: Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Cultural and Outdoor Resources Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division: Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division Minutes
    • Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Session Interviews
    Session Interview (Video) 2009 House Interview


    Articles & Books About
    Hegarty, Susan. "Altitude Adjustment. Ag and Water Issues Linked for Torkelson." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 6, 2009, p. 18.


    District Files

    District File - 2009 District 21B
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

    Contact this legislator

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