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    Hilstrom, Debra

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2001-2002 (District 47B); House 2003-2012 (District 46B); House 2013-2018 (District 40B)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/21/1968
    Birth Place: Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
    Birth County: Hennepin
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Female
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Brooklyn Center
    Occupation (when first elected): Small Business Owner

    EDUCATION

    Park Center High School; Secondary; Graduate
    University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; B.A.; Sociology Major, Speech Communications Minor, 1990
    William Mitchell College of Law; J.D.; 2010

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Board/Commission: Brooklyn Center, Minnesota (City Planning Commission); 1993 to 1994
    Municipal Council/Aldermen: Brooklyn Center, Minnesota (City Council); 1995 to 2000 [Elected]
    State Legislative Staff: Minnesota Senate (Legislative Assistant to Senator Linda Scheid); 1997 to 2000

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Joel
    Children: Three children: Stephanie (daughter); Jeremy (son), and Dillon (adopted son)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Religion provided by the 2006 WCCO TV Voters' Guide.

    She announced her candidacy for Secretary of State in 2013 but later withdrew.

    In 2018, she ran for attorney general but she lost the primary.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 6579

    SESSIONS SERVED

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 40B
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Brooklyn Center
    Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/7/2019
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Prosecutor
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2017 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Civil Law & Data Practices Policy Minutes
    • Commerce & Regulatory Reform Minutes
    • Public Safety & Security Policy and Finance Minutes
    • Ways & Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 40B
    Elected: 11/4/2014
    Residence: Brooklyn Center
    Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Prosecutor
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Civil Law & Data Practices Minutes
    • Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy & Finance Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 40B
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Brooklyn Center
    Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Prosecutor
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2013 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Civil Law Minutes
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Minutes
    • Judiciary Finance and Policy (Chair) Minutes
    • Public Safety Finance and Policy Minutes
    • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 46B
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Brooklyn Center
    Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Deputy Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 46B
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Brooklyn Center
    Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Student, William Mitchell College of Law/Massage Therapist
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2010 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Civil Justice Minutes
    • Finance: Public Safety Finance Division Minutes
    • Public Safety Policy and Oversight (Chair) Minutes
    • Public Safety Policy and Oversight: Crime Victims/Criminal Records Division Minutes
    • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
    • Taxes Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 46B
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Brooklyn Center
    Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Massage Therapist
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: K-12 Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: K-12 Finance Division: Disparities in Student Support and Service Minutes
    • Finance: Public Safety Finance Division Minutes
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs (Chair) Minutes
    • Public Safety and Civil Justice Minutes
    • Public Safety and Civil Justice: Criminal Records Relief Minutes
    • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
    • Taxes Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 46B
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Brooklyn Center
    Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 46B
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Brooklyn Center
    Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Small Business Owner
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Judiciary Policy and Finance Minutes
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 47B
    Elected: 11/7/2000
    Residence: Brooklyn Center
    Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Small Business Owner
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2002 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Session Interviews
    Session Interview (Video) 2003 House Interview


    Articles & Books About
    "Speaking of the House." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 4, 2005, p. 23.

    Stahl, Theresa. "Crime Fighter." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 19, 2001, p. 16.



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

    Legislators Past & Present Home