Minnesota Legislature

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Hortman, Melissa

Official House Web Page Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2005-2012 (District 47B); House 2013-2022 (District 36B); House 2023-Present (District 34B)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Anoka, Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/27/1970

Birth Place: Fridley, Minnesota

Birth County: Anoka

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Female

Religion: Catholic

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Brooklyn Park

Occupation (when first elected): Attorney

EDUCATION

Blaine High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1988
Boston University; B.A.; Political Science and Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude, 1991
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; M.A.; Graduate, 2018
University of Minnesota, Law School; J.D.; Cum Laude, 1995

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States Senate (Intern, Staff of United States Senator Al Gore and United States Senator John Kerry, Washington D.C.); [Dates Unknown]

Judicial Administration: Hennepin County, Minnesota (Law Clerk to Judge John Sommerville); 1996 to 1996

Municipal Board/Commission: Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (City Human Relations Commission); 1998 to 2000

County Attorney: Hennepin County, Minnesota (Assistant); 09/2013 to 11/2016

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Commission on Uniform State Laws; 05/28/2021 to ? [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Mark
Children: Two children: Colin and Sophie
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

She ran unsuccessfully as the Democrati-Farmer-Labor endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1998 and 2002 elections.

Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005 and the Politics in Minnesota Directory, 2005-2006.

Click to view

Total Days Served: 7045

SESSIONS SERVED

93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 34B

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: Brooklyn Park

Term of Office: 1/3/2023 to 1/13/2025

Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Leadership Position: Speaker of the House

Click to view

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 36B

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Brooklyn Park

Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 1/2/2023

Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Leadership Position: Speaker of the House

Click to view

91st Legislative Session (2019-2020)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 36B

Elected: 11/6/2018

Residence: Brooklyn Park

Term of Office: 1/8/2019 to 1/4/2021

Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Leadership Position: Speaker of the House

Click to view

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 36B

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Brooklyn Park

Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/7/2019

Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Rules & Legislative Administration Minutes
Rules & Legislative Administration: Subcommittee on Workplace Safety and Respect Minutes

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

Click to view

89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 36B

Elected: 11/4/2014

Residence: Brooklyn Park

Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2015 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Job Growth & Energy Affordability Policy & Finance Minutes
Rules & Legislative Administration Minutes

Leadership Position: Deputy Minority Leader

Click to view

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 36B

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Brooklyn Park

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015

Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Civil Law Minutes
Civil Law: Data Practices Subcommittee Minutes
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Minutes
Energy Policy (Chair) Minutes
Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
Judiciary Finance and Policy Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes

Leadership Position: Speaker Pro Tempore

Click to view

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 47B

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Brooklyn Park

Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013

Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin

Occupation: Business

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Civil Law Minutes
Redistricting Minutes
Taxes Minutes

Leadership Position: Minority Whip

Click to view

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 47B

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: Brooklyn Park

Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011

Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin

Occupation: Family Business; John's Auto Parts, Automotive Recyclers

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Civil Justice Minutes [She was a member in 2009 only.]
Finance: Energy Finance and Policy Division Minutes [She was a member in 2010 only.]
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division Minutes
Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division: Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes

Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

Click to view

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 47B

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Brooklyn Park

Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009

Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin

Occupation: Family Businessperson; John's Auto Parts, Retail Automotive Recycling

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division Minutes
Finance: State Government Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Transportation Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Transportation Finance Division: Transportation and Transit Policy Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes

Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

Click to view

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 47B

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: Brooklyn Park

Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
Transportation Minutes

Click to view

OTHER INFORMATION

Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2016 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2008 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2005 House Interview

Video
Session Preview (Video) 2021

Session Preview (Video) 2020

Articles & Books About
Schmidtke, Erin. "Collaboration Over Discipline. Whips Rely on Communication as Session Moves Forward." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 24, 2012, p. 19.

Martin, Brett. "New Member Reflections: Freshman Legislators Proud of Successes, Bipartisanship." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, July 22, 2005, p. 44-45.

Janovec, Patty. "Bound and Determined: Hortman Says Issue, Not Party, Is Important." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 4, 2005, p. 15.

District Files

District File - 2005 District 47B
District File - 2006 District 47B
District File - 2007 District 47B
District File - 2008 District 47B
District File - 2009 District 47B
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

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN 55155