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Nelson, Carla J.

Official Senate Web Page Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2003-2004 (District 30A); Senate 2011-2012 (District 30); Senate 2013-2022 (District 26); Senate 2023-Present (District 24)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Dodge, Olmsted, Wabasha

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/22/1957

Birth Place: Webster City, Iowa

Birth County:

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Female

Religion: Non-denominational, Christian

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Rochester

Occupation (when first elected): Teacher

EDUCATION

University of Northern Iowa; Special Education and Teaching
Drake University, Iowa; B.E.; Special Education
University of Minnesota; M.E.; Education, Teacher Leadership; Reading Specialist Certification

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Office on the Economic Status of Women Advisory Committee; [Dates Unknown]

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Capitol Area Architectural Planning Board (CAAPB); 02/07/2005 to 20??

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Higher Education Finance Authority Board; 08/04/2005 to 2009 [Appointed]

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation; 01/07/2008 to 01/02/2012

State Board/Commission/Council: Governor's Workforce Development Council; 09/07/2011 to 06/30/2016 [Appointed]

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs; 09/09/2013 to 01/01/2015 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Terry
Children: Three children
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: education, jobs, health care, commerce, higher education, taxes, economic growth.

She moved to Rochester, Minnesota in 1983.

She ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 2004 and 2006 elections.

She ran for the 1st Congressional District in the 2018 election but lost the primary and continued her term in the Senate.

She is a member of Autumn Ridge Church, a nondenominational Christian church, in Rochester, Minnesota.

Religion provided by Carla J. Nelson.

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Total Days Served: 5736

SESSIONS SERVED

93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 24

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/3/2023 to 1/11/2027

Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted

Occupation: Retired teacher

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Jobs and Economic Development
Taxes

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92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 26

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 1/2/2023

Counties Represented: Olmsted

Occupation: Business owner - insurance, financial services

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Health and Human Services Finance and Policy
Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
Taxes (Chair)

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 26

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021

Counties Represented: Olmsted

Occupation: Business Owner - Insurance, Financial Services; Olmsted Financial Group

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 3rd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 3rd 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:

Capital Investment
E-12 Finance and Policy (Chair)
Finance
Health and Human Services Finance and Policy

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 26

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021

Counties Represented: Olmsted

Occupation: Business Owner - Insurance, Financial Services; Olmsted Financial Group

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2017 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2017 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
E-12 Finance (Chair)
Finance
Health and Human Services Finance and Policy
State Government Finance and Policy and Elections

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 26

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Olmsted

Occupation: Business Owner - Insurance, Financial Services; Olmsted Financial Group

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Budget Division
Finance: Subcommittee on Equity
Health, Human Services and Housing
Higher Education and Workforce Development
Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development
Taxes

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 26

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Olmsted

Occupation: Business Owner - Insurance, Financial Services; Olmsted Financial Group

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment
Education
Health, Human Services and Housing
Jobs, Agriculture, and Rural Development
Taxes

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 30

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013

Counties Represented: Olmsted, Wabasha

Occupation: Insurance, Financial Services; Olmsted Financial Group

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
2012 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2012 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Economies
Capital Investment
Education
Jobs and Economic Growth
Local Government and Elections

Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Whip
Leadership Notes: She was selected for this position in 2012.

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 30A

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005

Counties Represented: Olmsted

Occupation: Teacher

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Education Policy Minutes
Higher Education Finance Minutes
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes

Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

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OTHER INFORMATION

Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2003 House Interview

Articles & Books About
Janovec, Patty. "A New Perspective: From Parks and Local Development to Education, Nelson Brings Real Life Experience to the House of Representatives." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 14, 2003, p. 23

District Files

District File - 2003 District 30A
District File - 2004 District 30A
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.

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Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 321 State Capitol, Saint Paul, MN 55155