According to Article V, Section 3 of the Minnesota State Constitution, "The Governor shall communicate by message to each session of the legislature information touching the state and country." Over the years, this message was often the inaugural message. The legislature met annually through 1879. During each of those sessions, the House and Senate journals recorded the convening of joint sessions in the Hall of the House of Representatives in order to hear the annual message of the Governor.
The legislature met biennially from 1881 to 1971. During this time period, the journals referred simply to the "message of the Governor" and occasionally to the "biennial message of the Governor." As far as we could verify, Governor LeVander's 1969 message to the legislature was the first to be titled "State of the State."
The legislature began meeting annually in flexible biennial sessions in 1973. Since the 1973-74 session, messages have been delivered by the Governor to the legislature at the beginning of each session, but not always in the second year of the biennium.
The first time an inaugural address was given outside the Capitol building was in 1983, when Governor Perpich delivered a separate inaugural address at Hibbing High School. Other inaugural addresses have been held elsewhere.
The State of the State has been held outside the Capitol building eleven times: twice in Bloomington; twice in Rochester; twice at the Governor's Residence, and once in Hutchinson, Mankato, St. Cloud, Winona, and on the University of Minnesota campus. All other State of the State addresses appear to have been held at the State Capitol.
In earlier years it was common for both the incumbent governor to deliver a message and the governor-elect to deliver his inaugural address. Governor Adolph O. Eberhart explained the custom at the beginning of his January 6, 1915 Final Message:
"In accordance with the custom established in this state, I have the honor to communicate to you such information and recommendations as seem appropriate at the close of this administration. Recognizing the fact that to the incoming governor belongs the privilege as well as the responsibility of communicating such information and recommendations. I shall follow an established custom in this state, and in addressing the legislature on this occasion shall confine myself largely to policies already established and work not yet completed."
Below are links to inaugural addressees, "State of the State" addresses, and selected special messages to the Legislature by Minnesota governors. They have been scanned and archived by the Legislative Library. The collection is not comprehensive. If the location of the speech was outside the State Capitol, the city is noted.
| Date |
Governor |
Title |
Text |
Location
(If known) |
State
of
State
Speech? |
|
3/26/2024 |
Timothy Walz |
State of the State 2024 (video), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Owatonna High School |
Y |
|
4/19/2023 |
Timothy Walz |
State of the State 2023 (video is part 3 of the House Floor Session), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/2/2023 |
Timothy Walz |
2023 Inaugural Address |
PDF |
Fitzgerald Theatre, Saint Paul |
|
|
4/24/2022 |
Timothy Walz |
State of the State 2022 (video is part 2 of the House Floor Session), 6 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
3/28/2021 |
Timothy Walz |
State of the State 2021 (postponed from the original date of March 21st) (video), 6 p.m. |
PDF |
Mankato West High School |
Y |
|
4/5/2020 |
Timothy Walz |
State of the State 2020 (video), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Governor's Residence, Saint Paul |
Y |
|
4/3/2019 |
Timothy Walz |
State of the State 2019 (video is part 2 of the House Floor Session), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/7/2019 |
Timothy Walz |
2019 Inaugural address |
PDF |
Fitzgerald Theater, Saint Paul |
|
|
3/14/2018 |
Mark Dayton |
State of the State 2018 (video is part 2 of the House Floor Session), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/23/2017 |
Mark Dayton |
State of the State 2017 (video is part 2 of the House Floor Session), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
3/9/2016 |
Mark Dayton |
State of the State 2016 (video), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
University of Minnesota - McNamara Alumni Center |
Y |
|
4/9/2015 |
Mark Dayton |
State of the State 2015 (video is part 2 of the House Floor Session), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/5/2015 |
Mark Dayton |
2015 Inaugural address |
PDF |
Landmark Center, Saint Paul |
|
|
4/30/2014 |
Mark Dayton |
State of the State 2014 (video is part 3 of the House Floor Session), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
2/6/2013 |
Mark Dayton |
State of the State 2013 (video), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
2/15/2012 |
Mark Dayton |
State of the State 2012 (video is part 2 of the House Floor Session), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
2/9/2011 |
Mark Dayton |
State of the State 2011 (video is part 1 of the House Floor Session), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/3/2011 |
Mark Dayton |
2011 Inaugural address |
PDF |
Landmark Center, Saint Paul |
|
|
2/11/2010 |
Timothy Pawlenty |
State of the State 2010 (video), 11 a.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/15/2009 |
Timothy Pawlenty |
State of the State 2009 (video), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
2/13/2008 |
Timothy Pawlenty |
State of the State 2008, 11 a.m. |
PDF |
St. Cloud Civic Center |
Y |
|
1/17/2007 |
Timothy Pawlenty |
State of the State Address: A Better Minnesota (video), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/2/2007 |
Timothy Pawlenty |
2007 Inaugural Address, (video), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Fitzgerald Theater, Saint Paul |
|
|
3/9/2006 |
Timothy Pawlenty |
State of the State Address (video is part 1 of the House Floor Session), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/18/2005 |
Timothy Pawlenty |
State of the State Address, 11 a.m. |
PDF |
Rochester |
Y |
|
2/5/2004 |
Timothy Pawlenty |
State of the State Address (video is part 1 of the House Floor Session), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
2/6/2003 |
Timothy Pawlenty |
Governor Pawlenty's State of the State Address (postponed from the original date of February 4th) (video), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/3/2002 |
Jesse Ventura |
State of the State Address, 6:30 p.m. |
PDF |
Governor's Residence, Saint Paul |
Y |
|
1/4/2001 |
Jesse Ventura |
State of the State Address: Bold Reforms for a New Economy (video), 3 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
2000 |
Jesse Ventura |
No message |
|
|
|
|
3/2/1999 |
Jesse Ventura |
Governor Jesse Ventura's State of the State Address: The State of the State is Great! (video), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
2/4/1998 |
Arne Carlson |
State of the State Address (video), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/16/1997 |
Arne Carlson |
Strengthening our Minnesota Community: 1997 State of the State Address (audio), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/16/1996 |
Arne Carlson |
State of the State Address (audio), 7:30 p.m. |
PDF |
Bloomington |
Y |
|
1/18/1995 |
Arne Carlson |
State of the State Address (audio), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
2/15/1994 |
Arne Carlson |
State of the State Address, 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Rochester |
Y |
|
1/14/1993 |
Arne Carlson |
State of the State Address (audio is part 2 of the House Floor Session), 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
2/11/1992 |
Arne Carlson |
State of the State Address, 7 p.m. |
PDF |
Hutchinson |
Y |
|
1/22/1991 |
Arne Carlson |
State of the State Address (given jointly with Lieutenant Governor Joanell M. Dyrstad) (audio is part 2 of the House Floor Session), 6:30 p.m. |
PDF |
Capitol |
Y |
|
1/7/1991 |
Arne Carlson |
Inaugural Speech |
PDF |
|
|
|
2/15/1990 |
Rudolph Perpich |
1990 State of the State: Building on our Success, Bloomington (First time the citizens of MN were asked to participate in the address. *Please see print copy for citizen contributions.), 12 p.m. |
PDF |
Bloomington |
Y |
|
1/4/1989 |
Rudolph Perpich |
The State of the State, 6:30 p.m. |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
2/9/1988 |
Rudolph Perpich |
The State of the State 1988: Minnesota Preparing for the 1990's, 6:30 p.m. |
PDF |
Winona |
Y |
|
1/7/1987 |
Rudolph Perpich |
The State of the State: A Report to the People of Minnesota, 7 p.m. |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
1986 |
Rudolph Perpich |
No message in 1986 |
|
|
|
|
1/10/1985 |
Rudolph Perpich |
The State of the State: A Message to the Minnesota Legislature and to the Citizens of Minnesota, 7 p.m. |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
1/10/1984 |
Rudolph Perpich |
The State of the State: A Message to the Minnesota State Legislature And the Citizens Of Minnesota, 12 p.m. |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
1/5/1983 |
Rudolph Perpich |
State of the State Address: A Message to the 73rd Session of the Minnesota Legislature and the Citizens of Minnesota., 12 p.m. |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
1/3/1983 |
Rudolph Perpich |
Inaugural Address |
PDF |
Hibbing |
|
|
1/13/1982 |
Albert Quie |
State of the State Address. See also Tax Supplement to the State of the State Message, January 13, 1982., 12 p.m. |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
1/7/1981 |
Albert Quie |
State of the State Address |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
1/24/1980 |
Albert Quie |
State of the State Address |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
3/15/1979 |
Albert Quie |
Special Message on Education |
PDF |
|
|
|
2/5/1979 |
Albert Quie |
Special Message on Tax Relief |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/4/1979 |
Albert Quie |
Final Draft 1979 Inaugaral [sic] Address, State of Minnesota |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/24/1978 |
Rudolph Perpich |
A Message to the Reconvened 70th Session of the Minnesota Legislature and the Citizens of Minnesota |
PDF |
|
|
|
4/21/1977 |
Rudolph Perpich |
Address on the State of the Arts to the 70th Session of the Minnesota State Legislature |
PDF |
|
|
|
2/18/1977 |
Rudolph Perpich |
Energy Message to the 70th Session of the Minnesota State Legislature |
PDF |
|
|
|
2/15/1977 |
Rudolph Perpich |
Special Message: Corrections, Crime and Criminal Justice to the 70th Session of the Minnesota State Legislature |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/5/1977 |
Rudolph Perpich |
The State of the State: A Message to the 70th Session of the Minnesota State Legislature |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
12/29/1976 |
Rudolph Perpich |
1976 Inaugural address |
PDF |
Capitol |
|
|
1/21/1976 |
Wendell Anderson |
Governor Anderson delivered an informal message. A handwritten note on the document says "This is supposed to take the place of a State of the State Message." |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/8/1975 |
Wendell Anderson |
Second Inaugural Address of Governor Wendell R. Anderson to the 69th Session of the Legislature of Minnesota |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/16/1974 |
Wendell Anderson |
State of the State Address to the 68th Session of the Legislature of Minnesota |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
1/17/1973 |
Wendell Anderson |
Budget Address To The 68th Session of the Legislature |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/3/1973 |
Wendell Anderson |
State of the State Address to the 68th Session of the Legislature of Minnesota |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
3/23/1971 |
Wendell Anderson |
Special Message: Ethics in State Government and Legislative Reform: To Meet the Challenge of a New Day |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/27/1971 |
Wendell Anderson |
Budget Address To The 67th Session of the Legislature |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/6/1971 |
Wendell Anderson |
Inaugural Address of Governor Wendell R. Anderson |
PDF |
|
|
|
3/7/1969 |
Harold LeVander |
Consumer Protection: A Special Message to the 66th Session of the Legislature |
PDF |
|
|
|
2/27/1969 |
Harold LeVander |
Combating Crime: A Special Message to the 66th Session of the Legislature |
PDF |
|
|
|
2/13/1969 |
Harold LeVander |
Executive Reorganization: A Special Message to the 66th Session of the Legislature |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/29/1969 |
Harold LeVander |
Budget Address To The 66th Session of the Legislature |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/8/1969 |
Harold LeVander |
State of the State to the 66th Session of the Legislature |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
1/4/1967 |
Harold LeVander |
Inaugural Address to the 65th Session of the Legislature |
PDF |
|
|
|
4/11/1963 |
Karl Rolvaag |
The Needs of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension: A Special Message to Members of the Sixty-Third Legislative Session |
PDF |
|
|
|
4/10/1963 |
Karl Rolvaag |
A Mental Health Program for Minnesota: A Special Message to Members of the Sixty-Third Legislative Session |
PDF |
|
|
|
4/1/1963 |
Karl Rolvaag |
Inaugural Address of Governor Karl F. Rolvaag |
PDF |
|
|
|
3/30/1961 |
Elmer Andersen |
Special Message to the Legislature on Welfare and Mental Health |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/4/1961 |
Elmer Andersen |
Inaugural Address of Governor Elmer L. Andersen |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/11/1960 |
Orville Freeman |
Interim Address of Governor Orville L. Freeman to the People of Minnesota |
PDF |
|
|
|
3/23/1959 |
Orville Freeman |
Economic Well-being: A Special Message (Presented to the Members of the
Minnesota Legislature March 23, 1959) |
PDF |
|
|
|
2/23/1959 |
Orville Freeman |
Consumer Interests: A Special Message |
PDF |
|
|
|
2/9/1959 |
Orville Freeman |
Administrative Efficiency and Governmental Reorganization: A Special Message |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/7/1959 |
Orville Freeman |
Third Inaugural Address of Governor Orville L. Freeman |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/9/1957 |
Orville Freeman |
The Second Inaugural Address of Governor Orville L. Freeman |
PDF |
|
|
|
2/25/1955 |
Orville Freeman |
Governmental Reorganization: A Special Message |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/5/1955 |
Orville Freeman |
Inaugural Address of Governor Orville L. Freeman |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/3/1951 |
Luther Youngdahl |
Inaugural Address of Governor Luther W. Youngdahl |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/6/1949 |
Luther Youngdahl |
Centennial Inaugural Address of Governor Luther W. Youngdahl |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/3/1945 |
Edward Thye |
Inaugural Message of Governor Edward J. Thye |
PDF |
|
|
|
4/21/1943 |
Harold Stassen |
Farewell Address |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/6/1943 |
Harold Stassen |
Inaugural Message of Governor Harold E. Stassen |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/3/1939 |
Harold Stassen |
Inaugural message of Governor Harold E. Stassen |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/5/1937 |
Elmer Benson |
Inaugural Message of Governor Elmer A. Benson |
PDF |
|
|
|
12/6/1933 |
Floyd Olson |
Special Message of Governor Floyd B. Olson |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/7/1925 |
Theodore Christianson |
Inaugural message of Governor Governor Theodore Christianson |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/7/1925 |
Jacob Preus |
Farewell Message of Governor J. A. O. Preus |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/5/1921 |
Jacob Preus |
Inaugural Message of Governor J. A. O. Preus |
PDF |
|
|
|
1919 |
Joseph Burnquist |
Inaugural Address of Governor J. A. A. Burnquist |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/6/1915 |
Winfield Hammond |
Inaugural Address of Governor Winfield S. Hammond |
PDF |
|
|
|
1915 |
Adolph Eberhart |
Final Message of Governor Adolph O. Eberhart |
PDF |
|
|
|
1913 |
Adolph Eberhart |
Second inaugural Address of Governor Adolph O. Eberhart |
PDF |
|
|
|
1911 |
Adolph Eberhart |
Inaugural Message of Governor Adolph O. Eberhart |
PDF |
|
|
|
1907 |
John Johnson |
Inaugural Message of Governor John A. Johnson |
PDF |
|
|
|
1893 |
Knute Nelson |
Inaugural Address of Governor Knute Nelson |
PDF |
|
|
|
1893 |
William Merriam |
Biennial Message of Governor William R. Merriam |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/14/1891 |
William Merriam |
Biennial Message of Governor William R. Merriam (as reported in The Windom Reporter, January 22, 1891) |
PDF |
Capitol |
|
|
1/9/1889 |
William Merriam |
Inaugural Address of Governor William R. Merriam |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/9/1889 |
Andrew McGill |
Biennial Message of Governor A. R. McGill |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/5/1887 |
Andrew McGill |
Inaugural Address of Governor Andrew R. McGill |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/4/1877 |
John Pillsbury |
Annual Message of Gov. J. S. Pillsbury |
PDF |
|
Y |
|
1/9/1873 |
Horace Austin |
Annual Message of Governor Austin |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/10/1868 |
William Marshall |
Annual Message of Governor Marshall |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/4/1865 |
Stephen Miller |
Annual Message of Governor Miller |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/13/1864 |
Stephen Miller |
Inaugural Message of Governor Miller |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/11/1864 |
Henry Swift |
Annual Message of Governor Swift |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/7/1863 |
Alexander Ramsey |
Annual Message of Governor Ramsey |
PDF |
|
|
|
9/9/1862 |
Alexander Ramsey |
Extra Session: Message of Governor Ramsey |
PDF |
|
|
|
1/9/1862 |
Alexander Ramsey |
Annual Message of Governor Ramsey |
PDF |
|
|
|
6/3/1858 |
Henry Sibley |
Governor's Message |
PDF |
|
|
|
12/11/1857 |
Samuel Medary |
Governor's Message (delivered by "Mr. E. H. Cook, private Secretary to his Excellency") |
PDF |
|
|