Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Skip Navigation Links > >

Beard, Michael "Mike"

House 2003-2012 (District 35A); House 2013-2014 (District 55A)

Party when first elected:  Republican

Counties Served:  Scott

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 7/22/1953
Birth Place: , Pennsylvania
Birth County:
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion: Evangelical Christian
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Mike
City of Residence (when first elected): Shakopee
Occupation (when first elected): Business, Beard Communications; Publisher of Various Christian Publications Including the Minnesota Christian Chronicle Newspaper

EDUCATION

High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1971
University of St. Thomas; Attended College; Entrepreneurial Classes
Bethany College of Missions; B.A.; Bible Missions, 1975

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal Council/Aldermen: Shakopee, Minnesota (City Council); 1992 to 1995
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Regional Transit Board; 1993 to 1995 [Appointed]
County Board/Commissioner: Scott County, Minnesota (County Commissioner); 2015 to ? [Elected]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Karen
Children: Four children: Amy and Lisa (daughters), (2 sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was raised in Clearfield, Pennsylvania.

He was an amateur airplane pilot.

Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005.

Total Days Served: 4383

SESSIONS SERVED

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 55A
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Shakopee
Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
Counties Represented: Scott
Occupation: Business
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2013 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 35A
Elected: 11/2/2010
Residence: Shakopee
Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Counties Represented: Scott
Occupation: Business
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2011 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • 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.]
  • Government Operations and Elections Minutes
  • Transportation Policy and Finance (Chair) Minutes
  • Ways and Means Minutes

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 35A
Elected: 11/4/2008
Residence: Shakopee
Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
Counties Represented: Scott
Occupation: Business
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Commerce and Labor: Telecommunications Regulation and Infrastructure Division Minutes
  • Finance: Energy Finance and Policy Division Minutes
  • Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division: Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division Minutes
  • Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division Minutes
  • State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections: Local Government Division Minutes
Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Whip

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 35A
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Shakopee
Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
Counties Represented: Scott
Occupation: Business
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Biosciences and Emerging Technology Minutes
  • Commerce and Labor: Telecommunications Regulation and Infrastructure Division Minutes
  • Finance: Energy Finance and Policy Division Minutes
  • Finance: Transportation Finance Division Minutes
  • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes
Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Whip

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 35A
Elected: 11/2/2004
Residence: Shakopee
Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: Scott
Occupation: Business
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Minutes
  • Regulated Industries Minutes
  • Transportation Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Ways and Means Minutes

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 35A
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Shakopee
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
Counties Represented: Scott
Occupation: Business, Beard Communications; Publisher of Various Christian Publications Including the Minnesota Christian Chronicle Newspaper
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2010 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2006 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2003 House Interview


Video
Departing Member Interview (Video) 2014


Articles & Books About
Jones, Jeff. "Guided By His Past: Backgrounds in Business, Religion, Transportation Have Led Beard to the House of Representatives." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 7, 2003, p. 21.


District Files

District File - 2003 District 35A
District File - 2004 District 35A
District File - 2005 District 35A
District File - 2006 District 35A
District File - 2007 District 35A
District File - 2008 District 35A
District File - 2009 District 35A
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.