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Pappas, Sandra L. "Sandy"

Official Senate Web Page Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1985-90 (District 65B); Senate 1991-2012 (District 65); Senate 2013-2022 (District 65); Senate 2023-Present (District 65)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Dakota, Ramsey

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 6/15/1949

Birth Place: Hibbing, Minnesota

Birth County: St. Louis

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Female

Religion: Jewish

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Sandy

City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul

Occupation (when first elected): Legislator

EDUCATION

Robbinsdale High School; Secondary;
University of Minnesota; German Studies, 1969
Metropolitan State University; B.A.; Public Policy, 1986
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; M.P.A.; Bush Fellowship, 1993

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: community development, education, taxes and tax policy, transportation, transit, metropolitan issues, women's issues, children's issues, immigrant issues, labor, health care, consumer protection, criminal justice reform, social and economic equity.

She ran as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsed candidate for Mayor of St. Paul in 1997; she lost to Norm Coleman.

Religion according to Jewish Community Relations Council and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

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Total Days Served: 14791

SESSIONS SERVED

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/14/2025

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: Saint Paul

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

Counties Represented: Dakota, Ramsey

Occupation: Executive Director, Forward Global Women

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2025 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2025 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment (Chair) [She was the chair beginning 2/3/2025. She was co-chair from 1/14/2025 to 2/3/2025.]
Finance
Judiciary and Public Safety
Labor
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Committees
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct (Chair) [She became a member and chair on April 7, 2025.]
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Joint and Permanent Rules

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93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2023

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: Saint Paul

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

Counties Represented: Dakota, Ramsey

Occupation: Executive Director, Forward Global Women

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment (Chair)
Finance
Judiciary and Public Safety
Labor

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92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Saint Paul

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Executive Director, Forward Global Women

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment
Judiciary and Public Safety 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: 65

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Saint Paul

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Vice President, Women Legislators' Lobby

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
2020 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
2020 3rd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 3rd 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:

Capital Investment
Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy
Rules and Administration

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Saint Paul

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Vice President, Women Legislator's Lobby

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy
Rules and Administration

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Saint Paul

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Vice President, Women Legislators' Lobby

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce
Finance
Finance: Subcommittee on Equity
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees Subcommittee
Rules and Administration: Ethical Conduct Subcommittee (Chair)
Rules and Administration: Personnel and Budget Subcommittee (Chair)
State and Local Government

Leadership Position: President of the Senate

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Saint Paul

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Vice President, Women Legislator's Lobby

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce
Finance
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct (Chair)
State and Local Government (Chair)

Leadership Position: President of the Senate

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Saint Paul

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Higher Education

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2009

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator/College Instructor; Political Science, Metropolitan State University

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2010 2nd Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Finance
Finance: Higher Education Budget and Policy Division (Chair)
Finance: State Government Budget Division
Higher Education (Chair)
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Elections

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2007

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator/College Instructor, Political Science, Metropolitan State University

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Finance
Finance: Higher Education Budget and Policy Division (Chair)
Finance: State Government Budget Division
Higher Education (Chair)
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Elections

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2005

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce
Commerce: Liquor (Chair)
Finance
Finance: Early Childhood Policy and Budget Division
Finance: Higher Education Budget Division (Chair)
Jobs, Energy and Community Development
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Economic Development and Tourism
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Housing
Rules and Administration

Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/2003

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004
Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004: Liquor (Chair)
Education
Finance
Finance: Higher Education Budget Division (Chair)
Jobs, Housing and Community Development-2003/Jobs, Energy and Community Development-2004 [She was a member in 2004 only.]
Rules and Administration

Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Oath Date: 1/3/2001

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
2002 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2002 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Insurance
Education (Chair)
Education: Assessment and Testing
Education: Early Childhood Education
Education: Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Budget Division
Education: Technology
Education: Workforce Education
Rules and Administration
Taxes
Taxes: Property Tax Budget Division
Transportation

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1999

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Children, Families and Learning
Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
Local and Metropolitan Government
Taxes
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax
Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division (Chair)
Transportation

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1997

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: College Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Children, Families and Learning
Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
Local and Metropolitan Government
Taxes
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax
Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division (Chair)
Transportation

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79th Legislative Session (1995-1996) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1995

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Instructor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Education
Education: Education Funding Division
Metropolitan and Local Government
Metropolitan and Local Government: Metropolitan Affairs
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Tax
Transportation and Public Transit

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1993

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Education
Education: Education Funding Division
Metropolitan and Local Government
Metropolitan and Local Government: Metropolitan Affairs
Metropolitan and Local Government: Metropolitan and Local Government Tax Division
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Tax
Transportation and Public Transit

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77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1991

Body: Senate

District: 65

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Oath Date: 1/8/1991

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Consumer Protection/Regulated Industries (Liquor)
Education
Education: Education Funding Division
Education: Higher Education
Education: Joint Senate/House Libraries (Chair)
Metropolitan Affairs
Transportation
Transportation: Public Transportation
Transportation: Transportation Safety

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76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1989

Body: House

District: 65B

Elected: 11/8/1988

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/4/1989

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator/Homemaker

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Agriculture, Transportation and Semi-State Division
Appropriations: Computer
Insurance
Judiciary
Judiciary: Criminal Justice Division
Judiciary: Facilities Assessment (Chair)

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1987

Body: House

District: 65B

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
Oath Date: 1/6/1987

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: State Departments Division
Judiciary
Judiciary: Crime and Family Law Division
Judiciary: Sentencing Guidelines
Labor-Management Relations
Metropolitan Affairs
Metropolitan Affairs: Environment
Metropolitan Affairs: Government Structure
Rules and Legislative Administration

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1985

Body: House

District: 65B

Elected: 11/6/1984

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/8/1985

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Crime and Family Law
Crime and Family Law: Family Law
Judiciary
Transportation
Transportation: Special Subcommittee on Department of Transportation

Session Notes: Her margin of victory over Frank J. Rodriguez, Sr. in the 1984 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary election was so small that a recount occurred.

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

"House Bids Farewell to Five Members." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 13, 1990, p. 10.

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.