Despite the slow start for the House with only eight bills introduced after the first few days of session, a couple hundred were in play prior to the House shutdown.

The stalemate between Democrats and Republicans in the Minnesota House headed into its third week on Monday, as DFL lawmakers continued a boycott that’s brought the chamber to a standstill. After party leaders failed to reach an agreement over the weekend,

House Republicans drafted a motion on Monday, Jan. 27 to ask absent Democrats to end their boycott, and for those who remain absent to forgo their legislative salary, but Secretary of State Steve Simon adjourned the House floor before the motion could be heard.

The Minnesota Supreme Court has sided with Democrats in an ongoing power struggle with Republicans. The justices, in a written ruling released Friday afternoon, agreed with House Democratic leaders and Secretary of State Steve Simon who argued that a quorum in the House was 68 members under the state constitution,

Justices said a quorum is 68 members, meaning there are not enough Republican House members to do business unless DFLers show up.

In a major victory for Minnesota House Democrats Friday, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that 68 House members must be present for a quorum, which means the lower chamber has had no official proceedings during a Democratic boycott.

The high court heard oral arguments Thursday over the temporary control of the Minnesota House. “This is a highly unusual situation we find ourselves in,” Justice Anne McKeig said during early questioning of attorneys.

Minnesota Democrats are trying to prevent Republicans from taking advantage of a temporary one-seat majority caused by a vacancy in a Democratic-leaning seat, and the chamber is expected to return to 67-67 after a special election.

The Minnesota Supreme Court handed Democrats a major win Friday, effectively ruling that Republicans didn’t have enough members to conduct business in the Minnesota House. The state’s highest court ruled that a quorum — the necessary number of members needed to conduct business — is 68 members out of 134 officials.