The Minnesota Senate this week passed a new rule making the Capitol more family-friendly for working parents. The change allows lawmakers to bring their young children onto the Senate floor when necessary due to unforeseen circumstances or childcare issues, enabling them to cast votes and participate in debates.

Senator Julia Coleman (R–Waconia) was part of a bipartisan group of senators who worked on the rule change.

“It’s been 99 years since the first woman was elected to the Minnesota Senate. In those 99 years, little to nothing has changed to accommodate this demographic,” said Sen. Coleman. “As a legislative body, it is critical that we reflect the citizenry that sent us here. The population that sent me here is largely made up of women in their twenties, thirties, and forties, that are growing their families and no longer want to experience what they watched their mothers and grandmothers experience.”

The Minnesota House has allowed children on the floor for many years.

The new rule took effect immediately after passage.