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    Utke, Paul J.

    Official Senate Web Page Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 2017-2022 (District 02); Senate 2023-Present (District 05)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Morrison, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 12/3/1956
    Birth Place: ,
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Park Rapids
    Occupation (when first elected): Insurance Agent

    EDUCATION

    North Dakota State College of Science; College Graduate;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Council/Aldermen: Park Rapids, Minnesota (City Council); [Dates Unknown] [Elected]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Nancy
    Children: Two children (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special legislative concerns: health care, taxes and regulations, transportation, workforce and training, education.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 3001

    SESSIONS SERVED

    94th Legislative Session (2025-2026)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 05
    Elected: 11/5/2024
    Residence: Park Rapids
    Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
    Counties Represented: Becker, Cass, Hubbard, Morrison, Todd, Wadena
    Occupation: Insurance agent
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Health and Human Services [He was co-chair from 1/14/2025 to 2/3/2025.]
    • Higher Education
    • Human Services
    term photo
    Click to view

    93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 05
    Elected: 11/8/2022
    Residence: Park Rapids
    Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
    Counties Represented: Becker, Cass, Hubbard, Morrison, Todd, Wadena
    Occupation: Insurance agent
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Health and Human Services
    • Human Services
    term photo
    Click to view

    92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 02
    Elected: 11/3/2020
    Residence: Park Rapids
    Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
    Counties Represented: Becker, Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Otter Tail, Wadena
    Occupation: Insurance agent
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2021 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2021 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
    • Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy
    • Human Services Licensing Policy (Chair)
    • Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
    • Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy [He was a member in 2022 only.]
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 02
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Park Rapids
    Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
    Counties Represented: Becker, Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Otter Tail, Wadena
    Occupation: Insurance Agent
    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
    • Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
    • Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
    term photo
    Click to view

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 02
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Park Rapids
    Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
    Counties Represented: Becker, Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Otter Tail, Wadena
    Occupation: Insurance Agent
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
    • E-12 Policy
    • Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
    • Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    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.

    Photographs

    Torrey Westrom and Paul Utke on the Minnesota Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota 4/19/2023. Torrey Westrom and Paul Utke discuss senate business during a floor session. Torrey Westrom is a Republican from Alexandria and Paul Utke is a Republican from Park Rapids. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.
    Paul Utke and David Osmek on the Minnesota Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota 1/23/2017. Paul Utke and David Osmek converse on the Sernate Floor. Paul Utke is a Republican from Park Rapids and David Osmek is a Republican from Mound. Photo credit: David Oakes, Senate Media Services.

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