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A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of Minnesota 1
State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. 2
WHEREAS, Melissa Hortman was born in Frid ley, Minnesota, on May 27, 1970; 3
and 4
WHEREAS, from a very young age, Melissa Hortman was drawn to politics and 5
public service, desiring to become a politician at age 10, while closely watching the 1980 6
presidential election; and 7
WHEREAS, Melissa Hortman's commitment to public service persisted throughout 8
college and law school as she obtained a degree in both political science and philosophy 9
from Boston University in 1991, a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota in 10
1995, and a Masters of Public Admi nistration from Harvard Kennedy School in 2018; 11
and 12
WHEREAS, Melissa Hortman lived her public and private life in keeping with the 13
phrase, "to whom much is given, much is expected," and she utilized her talents to bring 14
forth major legislation and change w hile helping and serving others. She served as a Girl 15
Scout leader, worked at her dad's auto parts store, and taught Sunday school at her 16
church. While working as an attorney for Central Minnesota Legal Services, she won a 17
record-setting verdict on behalf of her client against a landlord engaging in housing 18
discrimination; and 19
WHEREAS, after three attempts to serve in the Minnesota legislature, Melissa 20
Hortman was able to secure a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives during the 21
2004 election. Whil e serving in the Minnesota legislature, she was known as a staunch 22
advocate for environmental and abortion rights, police reform, and gun control policies. 23
She was also active in the areas of transportation, K -12 education funding, higher 24
education, and en ergy policy. In 2013, she was the chief author of legislation that set 25
Minnesota's solar energy standard; and 26
WHEREAS, during her tenure in the Minnesota legislature, Melissa Hortman rose 27
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through the ranks to become Minority Leader and then Speaker of the House in 2019 1
until her untimely death. She would become the longest -serving female speaker in 2
Minnesota history; and 3
WHEREAS, throughout her career Melissa Hortman would be known as a 4
thoughtful, action-oriented, honest, and selfless leader who gave her f ull commitment to 5
the task at hand. In the words of the current speaker of the Minnesota House of 6
Representatives, Speaker Lisa Demuth, Melissa Hortman was "respected by everyone at 7
the Capitol...she has had a profound impact on this institution and on my own 8
leadership..." Governor Tim Walz called her "a formidable public servant" who would be 9
remembered as a giant. Her colleague, Representative Cheryl Youakim, referred to her as 10
a brilliant negotiator who knew how to build a team and had an innate ability to see a 11
person's skill set and help them grow in their leadership capacity; and 12
WHEREAS, on the morning of June 14, 2025, Melissa Hortman, her husband, 13
Mark, and their golden retriever, Gilbert, were fatally shot in a senseless act of violence 14
in their Brooklyn Park home; and 15
WHEREAS, while her life was tragically cut short, Melissa H ortman's relentless 16
dedication to use her talents to serve others and to protect those who otherwise could not 17
protect themselves, all while exercising tact and grace, will be profoundly missed in both 18
Minnesota and this nation; 19
NOW, THEREFORE, 20
Be it resol ved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 21
Kentucky: 22
Section 1. The members of the Senate hereby express their most profound 23
sympathy upon the untimely passing of Minnesota State House Speaker Emerita, Melissa 24
Hortman. 25
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in h onor and in loving 26
memory of Minnesota State House Speaker Emerita, Melissa Hortman, a dedicated 27
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public servant who gave far beyond what was expected of her. 1