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Lawmakers will likely be coming back to St. Paul for a special legislative session next month. But with the Capitol closed for renovation, state officials are looking for a place for them to meet.

Offers have come in from St. Paul College, the University of St. Thomas and the St. Paul Hotel.

Commissioner Matt Massman heads the state's Department of Administration and said his office is scouting out options. 

"Certainly we will be in St. Paul, and we're looking at the 

 as well as a number of entities that have contacted us of interest," he said. "But we're also really looking in the Capitol complex, around state facilities that are currently available to us. You know, the primary expectation will be meeting the functional needs of a legislative session."

 and says he'll call lawmakers back to fix it. Talks with Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt are expected to start next week.

Tim Nelson

Author

Offers have come in from St. Paul College, the University of St. Thomas and the St. Paul Hotel. Dayton has suggested meeting in a tent on the Capitol lawn.

Gov. Mark Dayton and House Speaker Kurt Daudt are expected to begin negotiations next week over a special session.  But where, exactly, that special session would occur remains up in the air. Renovations at the Capitol mean lawmakers won't be able to meet inside the building.  Gov. Dayton has suggested setting up a tent on the Capitol lawn. And the St. Paul Hotel issued a news release this week offering its space.  MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Department of Administration Commissioner Matt Massman, who's been looking at options.

Tent? Hotel? Hunt for special session venue underway

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