When researchers are looking for legislative intent, they are often researching contemporaneous legislative history, as referenced in Minnesota Statutes 645.16. There are other statutes related to legislative intent as well.
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has a guide to legislative history research, which is a good starting point. You can also watch an hour-long presentation on conducting legislative history research. If you have questions, contact the Library at (651) 296-8338 or library@lrl.mn.gov.
Last reviewed: 06/25/2026