Senate leader can’t imagine ‘26 session ending ‘without taking a vote’ on gun restrictions
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The majority leader of the Minnesota Senate said Tuesday she expects the chamber will weigh in on proposals to ban assault-style weapons and impose additional restrictions on firearms next year.
Following the seating of two new senators, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said a special session to take up the measures seemed increasingly unlikely but action would resume when lawmakers return in February. Sens. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, DFL-Woodbury, and Michael Holmstrom Jr., R-Buffalo, were sworn in, bringing the Senate back to its full 67-member complement,
Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, she said there is additional public pressure to add restrictions on guns. That comes after the shooting death of a House DFL leader and wounding of a state senator over the summer and the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and Church in Minneapolis that left two children dead.
“I don't think we get through the session without taking a vote on this issue,” Murphy said. “I don't imagine that we leave the session without taking a vote.”
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Murphy stopped short of committing to bring the proposals to the floor for a vote.
There are questions about whether there would be enough votes in the Senate to pass any gun measures. Even within the DFL Senate caucus there are members who haven’t staked out a public position. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers and candidates have held a series of community conversations around the state to raise the issue of gun violence prevention.
Murphy noted that the legislative math is still difficult to act sooner on legislation around additional school safety and firearm restrictions. While the Senate is back to full capacity, the House is down two members following a special election that saw former Rep. Hemmingsen-Jaeger, DFL-Woodbury, move to the Senate and Rep. Kaohly Her win the St. Paul mayor’s race. She has a House seat in preparation of the move to city hall.
House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson said his caucus would work to keep both seats in the Democratic column. Both districts have supported DFLers in recent elections.
“We are as committed as ever to maintaining the balance that Minnesotans voted for a year ago. The results of these elections will, again, determine the balance of the House,” Stephenson said. “With the Republican chaos in Washington, D.C., Minnesotans deserve leaders who are solely focused on getting the work done that will make all our lives better.”
With Republicans holding a 67-65 temporary edge there, Murphy said conversation of a special session for gun violence prevention is likely on hold.
“They have been really clear in the House that the Republicans don't want to vote on any measures dealing with gun violence prevention and the safety of our kids in schools, and so to bring everybody in for a special session to take a vote that feels like the outcome is clear, is something that the governor is weighing,” Murphy said.
Republican leaders have maintained that they would participate in a special session if Gov. Tim Walz calls one. But they’ve expressed concerns about legislation that could limit access to firearms.
