Zack Stephenson | |
|---|---|
| Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from the 35A district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | John Heinrich |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1984-07-18)July 18, 1984 (age 40) Coon Rapids, Minnesota |
| Political party | Democratic–Farmer–Labor |
| Spouse | Austin |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Coon Rapids, Minnesota |
| Alma mater | Knox College University of Chicago |
| Occupation | Prosecutor |
Zack Stephenson (born July 18, 1984) is an American politician and member of theMinnesota House of Representatives. A member of theMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 35A in the northwesternTwin Cities metropolitan area.
Stephenson was born and raised inCoon Rapids, Minnesota, and graduated fromCoon Rapids High School in 2002.[1] He attendedKnox College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in public policy analysis in 2006, and theUniversity of Chicago Law School, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 2010.[2]
Stephenson is a prosecutor forHennepin County. He was formerly a staffer for U.S. SenatorAmy Klobuchar.[1]
Stephenson was first elected to theMinnesota House of Representatives in2018. He chairs the Commerce Committee, and also serves on the Climate and Energy Committee and the Elections Committee.[3]
During the 2019 session, Stephenson successfully authored a bill to get rid of Minnesota's "marital rape exception". Before his bill passed, Minnesota law prevented prosecution of rape in certain circumstances when the victim was married to the rapist. With the bill's passage, rapists can be prosecuted regardless of whether they are married to the victim.[4]
Stephenson also successfully authored a provision to take the first steps towards building a new Mississippi River crossing betweenDayton, Minnesota, andRamsey, Minnesota.[5]
In 2020, Stephenson was the chief author of a bill to provide grants to small businesses that were not able to operate due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. The bill allocated $62.5 million in grants up to $10,000, with $18 million reserved for microbusinesses, defined as businesses with less than 6 employees. Stephenson's bill passed the House by a margin of 129 to 5 and was unanimously approved in the Senate.[6]
Stephenson's legislative priorities include consumer protection and combating climate change. In 2021, he authored the Energy Conservation and Optimization Act, which significantly expands Minnesota'senergy conservation programs.[7] The bill is expected to cut carbon emissions in Minnesota, in particular by incentivizing "fuel switching", whereby utilities offer consumers incentives to switch from less efficient fossil fuels to more efficient electricity.[8] Stephenson also authored the Natural Gas Innovation Act (NGIA), which passed into law with bipartisan support in 2021. NGIA gives Minnesota regulators and utilities new tools to decarbonize the building sector, establishes a new goal to reduce the use of fossil gas, and starts a new regulatory proceeding to plan for furtherdecarbonization.[9]
In 2021, Stephenson also secured passage of Minnesota's Student Borrower's Bill of Rights, which regulates student loan servicers and protects student borrowers from abusive practices.[10] He has also authored legislation to ban price gouging by prescription drug companies.[10]
During the93rd Minnesota Legislature, Stephenson garnered attention as the DFL point man oncannabis legalization.[11] Stephenson also authored legislation that banned political donations from foreign-owned corporations, a bill providing a rebate for electric vehicles, and legislation to criminalize certain misleadingdeepfakes.[11]
Stephenson and his wife, Austin, have two children. He resides inCoon Rapids, Minnesota.[2] In 2023, he came out as bisexual.[12]