# Athena Hollins *American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2021* Athena Hollins (born October 18, 1983) has represented District 66B in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] since 2021.[^1] She sits as a member of the [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL). Her district covers parts of [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]] in Ramsey County, [[Minnesota]].[^1] She was majority whip of the House DFL caucus from 2023 to 2025.[^1] Her legislative record includes bills on conversion therapy for minors and vulnerable adults, the "gay panic defense," the statute of limitations for reporting sexual assault, and no-knock warrants.[^3] A 2022 no-knock proposal she introduced passed the House within a larger public safety bill. Senate Republicans and the chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, [[Warren Limmer]], opposed it.[^4] ## Early life, education, and career Hollins was born in Hawaii. She earned a B.A. in psychology from Reed College and a J.D. from the University of Saint Thomas in 2011.[^2] Her law practice after graduation covered estate planning and family law.[^2] She was president of the Payne-Phalen Community Council. She has worked in community relations and in diversity and inclusion, holding a post as senior director of diversity and foundations.[^2] ## Minnesota House of Representatives Hollins first won her House seat in 2020 and won again in 2022.[^3] Before her first win, she sought the DFL endorsement against John Lesch, a DFL incumbent of nine terms. She lost the endorsement to him but beat him in the primary.[^3] Besides her 2023–2025 term as majority whip,[^1] the cached Wikipedia article lists other roles.[^3] It names her vice chair of the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee. It places her on the committees for Climate and Energy Finance and Policy and for Public Safety Finance and Policy, and on the Taxes Committee's Property Tax Division.[^3] It lists her caucus memberships as the House People of Color & Indigenous (POCI) Caucus, the Black Maternal Health Caucus, and the Queer Caucus.[^3] Her bill to bar conversion therapy for minors and vulnerable adults cleared the House floor twice, in 2021 and again in 2023.[^3] She also introduced a bill to prohibit the "gay panic defense," which the article describes as being used to plead down murder charges against LGBTQ victims.[^3] Legislation she sponsored to remove the statute of limitations on reporting sexual assault was enacted.[^3] Her 2021 bill would have banned no-knock warrants statewide. The Legislature instead approved a less restrictive policy.[^4] Police killed Amir Locke in a later no-knock case, after which she introduced a bill placing further limits on such warrants.[^4] The [[governor]], Walz, said he would sign the measure if it reached him.[^4] It passed the House in 2022 as part of a larger public safety bill, but Senate Republicans and Limmer, as chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, opposed it.[^4] Hollins has criticized the Minnesota Police and Peace Officer's Association (MPPOA). She said the association had been "steadfast in support of the status quo".[^4] She was also a signatory to a letter asking the Biden administration to halt the Line 3 pipeline.[^4] ## Personal life Hollins and her spouse live in Saint Paul's Payne-Phalen neighborhood.[^5] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Athena Hollins* (revision 1376030580, retrieved 2026-10-26) — lead: born October 18, 1983; House member since 2021; DFL; District 66B including parts of Saint Paul in Ramsey County; majority whip 2023–2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athena_Hollins [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Athena Hollins*, section *Early life, education, and career* (revision 1376030580, retrieved 2026-10-26) — Hawaii birth; Reed College B.A. in psychology; University of Saint Thomas J.D. 2011; family law and estate planning; Payne-Phalen Community Council president; senior director of diversity and foundations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athena_Hollins [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Athena Hollins*, section *Minnesota House of Representatives* (revision 1376030580, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2020 election and 2022 reelection; endorsement and primary contest with John Lesch; committee and caucus memberships; conversion-therapy bill passed House 2021 and 2023; "gay panic defense" bill; statute-of-limitations legislation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athena_Hollins [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Athena Hollins*, section *Minnesota House of Representatives* (revision 1376030580, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2021 no-knock bill and less restrictive policy adopted; post–Amir Locke bill; Walz statement; 2022 House passage and opposition by Senate Republicans and Warren Limmer; MPPOA statement; Line 3 letter. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athena_Hollins [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Athena Hollins*, section *Personal life* (revision 1376030580, retrieved 2026-10-26) — residence in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood of Saint Paul with her spouse. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athena_Hollins