Summer Senate - Equipping Tomorrow's Leaders
taking testimony
friday - state senate building
friday - state senate building
You choose the issues and you write the bills during Monday-Thursday sessions
friday - state senate building
friday - state senate building
friday - state senate building
Final hearings on bills, debate, voting - persuade your fellow senators (State Senate Office Building only if permission is granted.)
Going Deeper with witnesses
friday - state senate building
Going Deeper with witnesses
After hearing formal testimony spend informal time with the most incredible witnesses - here, State Senator Jim Abeler, GOP-Anoka/Andover.
The Summer Senators of 2020
what?
A student-led, legislative experience unlike any other. Decide on urgent issues to pursue, work with committees, prepare, present, and pass your own bills.
when will the 2021 session convene?
July 12-16, 2021. Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM, with a huge end-of-session bill signing (and vetoing) ceremony. Intense, fast-paced, exciting, fun.
who?
Summer Senate will be limited to the first 21 Members to apply.
Summer Senate is for you if you fall into one of these categories:
- Student Senate alumni - Any Age (given first preference)
- Mr. Racer's former students who could not enroll in Student Senate
- Friends and family members of any of the above, at least Grade 11
- College-aged individuals who'd love the experience
where?
The Monday-Thursday sessions were held in the Youth Room at First Evangelical Free Church, 2696 Hazelwood Ave, Maplewood, MN.
The Friday session is generally held in the Minnesota State Senate Office Building - the same location as the State Senators meet during the legislative year - the same rooms in which they consider the bills that become laws under which you must live. (This is subject to permission, and Covid-19 could be a barrier.)
Summer Senate Press Conference - August 8, 2019
student-led initiative to provide emergency insulin
Summer Senate passed a resulition on July 12, urging Gov. Walz to call a special legisaltive session to pass the Alec Jones Emergency Insulin Program. Also on July 12, the Senator's passed SF 8, a bill to establish the emergency insuling accessability program. Wanting ot do more, they asked Mr. Racer to set up a press conference where they could express their request publicly.
August 8, at 11 AM, 10 of the Summer Senate Members, along with State Representative Mike Howard, DFL, and States Senators Jim Abeler, GOP, and Scott Jensen, GOP, held the press conference in the State Capitol Press Conference Room, B971, at the State Capitol. Shawn Osterhus, Sally Hazen, and Hayley Tschetter each spoke, along with Mr. Racer and the elected legisaltors.
After the press conference, the Summer Senators delivered the resolution and SF 8 to Governor Walz' office.
TV News Reports
The Senators were pleased to see WCCO TV and KMSP TV report on the press conference. KMSP eventually took down the report.