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    López Franzen, Melisa

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 2013-2022 (District 49)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/9/1980
    Birth Place: ,
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Female
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: Hispanic, Latino or Spanish Origin
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Edina
    Occupation (when first elected): Attorney

    EDUCATION

    Benitos Cerezo High School, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; Secondary;
    Interamerican University of Puerto Rico; B.A.;
    University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute; M.P.P.;
    Hamline University School of Law; J.D.; 2006

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Judicial Administration: Hennepin County, Minnesota (Clerk in the Public Defender's Office); [Dates Unknown]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Nathan
    Children: Two children: Philip Sebastian and Arthur Roger (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    She grew up in Puerto Rico.

    In an interview with an Edina Magazine article "Edina Women with Vision" in June 2013, she says "I'm the first Democrat and first woman to win this state Senate seat. I'm also Hispanic."

    She is the first Latina and person of color to lead a legislative caucus in Minnesota. (Minnesota Reformer, October 11, 2021)

    She announced she would not seek reelection in 2022.

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

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 3647

    SESSIONS SERVED

    92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/2021
    Body: Senate
    District: 49
    Elected: 11/3/2020
    Residence: Edina
    Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
    Oath Date: 1/5/2021
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney and small business owner
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy [She was a member in 2021 only.]
    • Finance
    • Human Services Reform Finance and Policy [She was a member in 2021 only.]
    • Rules and Administration [She was a member in 2022 only.]
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader - She was elected as Minority Leader on September 13, 2021.
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader - She resigned as Assistant Minority Leader on July 29, 2021.
    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: 49
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Edina
    Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
    Oath Date: 1/3/2017
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney and small business owner
    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 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:
    • Taxes
    • Transportation Finance and Policy
    term photo
    Click to view

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2017
    Body: Senate
    District: 49
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Edina
    Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
    Oath Date: 1/3/2017
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Taxes
    • Transportation Finance and Policy
    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: 49
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Edina
    Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
    Oath Date: 1/8/2013
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2015 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
    • Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Budget Division
    • Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Budget Division
    • Higher Education and Workforce Development
    • Transportation and Public Safety
    term photo
    Click to view

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/2013
    Body: Senate
    District: 49
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Edina
    Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
    Oath Date: 1/8/2013
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Finance: Health and Human Services Division
    • Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Division
    • Transportation and Public Safety
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    • Lopez, Richardo. "Chief Priority for New Senate DFL Leader: Win Back Majority." Minnesota Reformer, October 11, 2021.

    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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