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    Housley, Karin

    Official Senate Web Page Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 2013-2022 (District 39); Senate 2023-Present (District 33)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Chisago, Washington

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 1/20/1964
    Birth Place: South Saint Paul, Minnesota
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Female
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Mary's Point
    Occupation (when first elected): Small Business Owner, Karin Housley Homes

    EDUCATION

    South Saint Paul High School; Secondary; 1982
    Augsburg College;
    State University of New York - Buffalo; B.A.; Communications, 1987

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special legislative concerns: education, economic development, aging. long-term care, and veterans.

    In 2018, she won the GOP endorsement for the U.S. Senate seat held by U.S. Senator Tina Smith but was unsuccessful in the general election.

    Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota, The Directory, 2013-2014.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 4573

    SESSIONS SERVED

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/14/2025
    Body: Senate
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/8/2022
    Residence: Stillwater
    Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
    Oath Date: 1/2/2023
    Counties Represented: Washington
    Occupation: Small business owner
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2025 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment [She was co-chair from 1/14/2025 to 2/3/2025.]
    • Education Finance
    • Housing and Homelessness Prevention
    • Jobs and Economic Development
    Leadership Position: Assistant Republican Leader - She was Assistant Republican Leader until February 3, 2025.
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader - She was Assistant Minority Leader starting February 3, 2025.
    term photo
    Click to view

    93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2023
    Body: Senate
    District: 33
    Elected: 11/8/2022
    Residence: Stillwater
    Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
    Oath Date: 1/3/2023
    Counties Represented: Washington
    Occupation: Small business owner
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment
    • Housing and Homelessness Prevention
    • Jobs and Economic Development
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/2021
    Body: Senate
    District: 39
    Elected: 11/3/2020
    Residence: Saint Mary's Point
    Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
    Oath Date: 1/5/2021
    Counties Represented: Chisago, Washington
    Occupation: Small business owner
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2021 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Aging and Long-Term Care Policy (Chair)
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
    • Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
    • Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/2019
    Body: Senate
    District: 39
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Saint Mary's Point
    Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
    Oath Date: 1/3/2017
    Counties Represented: Chisago, Washington
    Occupation: Small Business Owner, Karin Housley Homes
    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 6th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 6th Sp.S. - Author
    2020 7th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 7th Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
    • E-12 Finance and Policy
    • Family Care and Aging (Chair)
    • Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
    • Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2017
    Body: Senate
    District: 39
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Saint Mary's Point
    Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
    Oath Date: 1/3/2017
    Counties Represented: Chisago, Washington
    Occupation: Small Business Owner, Karin Housley Homes
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Aging and Long-Term Care Policy (Chair)
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
    • Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
    • Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/2015
    Body: Senate
    District: 39
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Saint Mary's Point
    Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
    Oath Date: 1/8/2013
    Counties Represented: Chisago, Washington
    Occupation: Small Business Owner, Karin Housley Homes
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Education
    • Finance: E-12 Policy and Budget Division
    • State and Local Government
    term photo
    Click to view

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/2013
    Body: Senate
    District: 39
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Saint Mary's Point
    Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
    Oath Date: 1/8/2013
    Counties Represented: Chisago, Washington
    Occupation: Small Business Owner, Karin Housley Homes
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2013 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Finance: E-12 Division
    • State and Local Government
    term photo
    Click to view

    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


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