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Dahms, Gary H.

Official Senate Web Page Sessions Served

Other Information

Senate 2011-2012 (District 21); Senate 2013-2022 (District 16); 2023-Present (District 15)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, Renville, Watonwan, Yellow Medicine

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 1/14/1947

Birth Place: Clements, Minnesota

Birth County:

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: United Methodist

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Redwood Falls

Occupation (when first elected): Insurance Agent, Dahms Insurance Agency

EDUCATION

Redwood Falls High School; Secondary;
University of Minnesota; B.S.; Agricultural Business Administration

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

County Board/Commissioner: Redwood County, Minnesota (Soil and Water Conservation District); [Dates Unknown]

County Board/Commissioner: Redwood County, Minnesota (County Commissioner); ? to 12/2010

County Board/Commissioner: Redwood County, Minnesota (Agricultural Society); [Dates Unknown]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Barb
Children: Two children: Michelle (daughter), Michael (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: budget, taxes, jobs, economic development.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Redwood Falls, Minnesota.

Religion provided by his 2010 campaign Website.

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Total Days Served: 5232

SESSIONS SERVED

94th Legislative Session (2025-2026) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/14/2025

Body: Senate

District: 15

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
Oath Date: 1/2/2023

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, Yellow Medicine

Occupation: Retired insurance agent

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development
Commerce and Consumer Protection [He was co-chair from 1/14/2025 to 2/3/2025.]
Finance
Rules and Administration [He served on this committee from 1/14/2025 to 2/3/2025.]

Leadership Position: Assistant Republican Leader - He was Assistant Republican Leader until February 3, 2025.

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader - He was Assistant Minority Leader starting February 3, 2025.

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93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2023

Body: Senate

District: 15

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
Oath Date: 1/3/2023

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, Yellow Medicine

Occupation: Former County Commissioner, Retired Insurance Agent

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Broadband and Rural Development
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Finance

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92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: Senate

District: 16

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
Oath Date: 1/5/2021

Counties Represented: Brown, Lac Qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, Renville, Yellow Medicine

Occupation: Retired insurance agent, former county commissioner

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2021 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2021 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Finance and Policy
Capital Investment
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy (Chair)
Housing Finance and Policy

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91st Legislative Session (2019-2020) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2019

Body: Senate

District: 16

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
Oath Date: 1/3/2017

Counties Represented: Brown, Lac Qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, Renville, Yellow Medicine

Occupation: Retired insurance agent, former county commissioner

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
2020 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
2020 4th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 4th Sp.S. - Author
2020 5th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 5th Sp.S. - Author
2020 7th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 7th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy
Capital Investment
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy (Chair)
E-12 Finance and Policy
Rules and Administration

Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: Senate

District: 16

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
Oath Date: 1/3/2017

Counties Represented: Brown, Lac Qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, Renville, Yellow Medicine

Occupation: Retired Insurance Agent, Former County Commissioner

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy (Chair)
E-12 Finance
E-12 Policy
Rules and Administration

Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

Leadership Position: Majority Whip

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89th Legislative Session (2015-2016) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: Senate

District: 16

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/8/2013

Counties Represented: Brown, Lac Qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, Renville, Yellow Medicine

Occupation: Retired Insurance Agent, Former County Commissioner

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce
Education
Finance: E-12 Policy and Budget Division
Finance: State Departments and Veterans Budget Division
Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: Senate

District: 16

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/8/2013

Counties Represented: Brown, Lac Qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, Renville, Yellow Medicine

Occupation: Insurance Agent, Dahms Insurance Agency; Former County Commissioner

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2013 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce
Finance: E-12 Division
Finance: State Departments and Veterans Division
Jobs, Agriculture, and Rural Development

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader - He was named Assistant Minority Leader on February 24, 2014.

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: Senate

District: 21

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Redwood Falls

Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Oath Date: 1/4/2011

Counties Represented: Brown, Lyon, Redwood, Watonwan

Occupation: Insurance Agent, Dahms Insurance Agency

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Economies
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Environment and Natural Resources

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OTHER INFORMATION

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.

Photographs

Gary Dahms and Jordan Rasmusson converse during a floor session. Gary Dahms is a Republican from Redwood Falls and Jordan Rasmusson is a Republican from Fergus Falls. 4/11/2023. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.

John Jasinski, Gary Dahms, John Hoffman, and David Tomassoni converse on the Senate Floor. John Jasinski is a Republican from Faribault, Gary Dahms is a Republican from Redwood Falls, John Hoffman is a Democrat from Champlin, and David Tomassoni is a Democrat from Chisholm. 3/1/2018. Photo credit: David Oakes, Senate Media Services.

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