Gov. Tim Walz signs bill honoring late Minnesota House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman

Allison Kite, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Apr 14, 2026

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MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota lawmakers renamed a solar energy program prized by the late House Democratic-Farmer-Labor leader Melissa Hortman in her honor following her killing.

Gov. Tim Walz announced Tuesday that he had privately signed the legislation but said more public efforts to recognize Hortman were yet to come.

The legislation renames Minnesota’s community solar garden program, which allows residents who can’t install their own panels to subscribe to third-party arrays, as the Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program. It passed the Minnesota House unanimously and the Senate with a wide bipartisan majority.

“Speaker Hortman helped build something truly transformative for Minnesota,” Walz said. “Naming this program in her honor ensures her legacy lives on as her work continues to shape our future. I am proud to sign this bill in honor of my dear friend.”

Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were shot and killed in their home last year. Prosecutors say Vance Boelter, who is charged in their killings, had a list of Democratic politicians and supporters of abortion rights that he planned to target. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were shot the same night but survived their injuries.

Since returning to St. Paul in February, lawmakers have debated a number of proposals to honor the Hortmans, including renaming the State Office Building and establishing a state park on the grounds of the Capitol.

House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson, Hortman’s successor and mentee, said it was a “wonderful” first official tribute to Hortman.

Democrats often call her the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history, but Stephenson noted while she shepherded numerous DFL priorities, the solar program was one her proudest legislative accomplishments.

“She would often say being speaker was a great job but being energy chair was the best job she ever had,” Stephenson said.

He said her accomplishments alone mean her legacy should be remembered and protected, but he also hopes having tributes to her around the Capitol will allow people years into the future to learn about her and remember her killing.

“It’s important to have reminders of her and what happened around us ... so that we hopefully can learn from it in a durable way,” Stephenson said.

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—Ryan Faircloth of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this story.