# Patty Acomb *American politician, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019* Patty Acomb (born September 28, 1965) is a [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL) member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]], where she has sat since 2019.[^1] Her seat, District 45B, lies in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area and takes in Minnetonka and part of Hennepin County.[^1] Before entering the House, she held elected office in Minnetonka and received an appointment from Governor [[Mark Dayton]] to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources.[^2] In the House she chairs the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee, and in 2019 she founded the House Climate Action Caucus.[^3] ## Early life, education, and career A native of Minnetonka, [[Minnesota]], Acomb finished at Hopkins High School.[^2] She earned a bachelor of science in natural resources from the [[University of Minnesota]].[^2] Her employers have included the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Hennepin County Environmental Services.[^2] She also did energy policy work for the National League of Cities.[^2] Minnetonka voters put her on the city's Park Board in 2009.[^2] She held a Minnetonka City Council seat from 2012 until she won election to the state [[Legislature]].[^2] During her council tenure she was a member of the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, of the water supply advisory committee of the [[Metropolitan Council (Minnesota)]], and of a governmental advisory committee to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.[^2] Her appointment to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, made by Dayton, ran from 2015 to 2018.[^2] ## Minnesota House of Representatives She won her House seat in 2018, entering the race after Jon Applebaum, the DFL incumbent who had served two terms, said he would not run again.[^3] Voters have returned her at each biennial election since.[^3] Her current assignments are chair of the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee and membership on the Health Finance and Policy, Sustainable Infrastructure Policy, and Ways and Means committees.[^3] She had been that climate committee's vice chair in 2021–2022.[^3] In 2019 she organized the Minnesota House Climate Action Caucus and became its chair.[^3] ### Climate and energy Acomb has pushed for a goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota by 2050.[^4] She has backed weatherization and, describing her approach to a green-economy transition, said she "preferred carrots rather than sticks".[^4] Her bills include a grant program for schools to install solar energy systems and to add energy instruction to their curricula.[^4] She also offered an amendment to prohibit public utilities from subsidizing builders' use of natural gas.[^4] In 2021 she went to Glasgow for the COP26 climate change conference.[^4] The record assembled here does not give bill numbers, vote tallies, or the final disposition of these measures.[^4] ## Personal life She lives in Minnetonka with her husband, Craig; they have two children.[^5] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Patty Acomb* (revision 1365696993, retrieved 2026-10-26) — lead: birth date, House service since 2019, DFL membership, District 45B and its geography. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Acomb [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Patty Acomb*, section *Early life, education, and career* (retrieved 2026-10-26) — birthplace, schooling, prior employment, Minnetonka park board and council service, advisory bodies, and the 2015–2018 gubernatorial appointment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Acomb [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Patty Acomb*, section *Minnesota House of Representatives* (retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2018 election and reelections, succession from Jon Applebaum, committee assignments, 2019 caucus founding, and 2021–2022 vice chairmanship. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Acomb [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Patty Acomb*, subsection *Climate and energy* (retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2050 emissions goal, weatherization, the quoted remark, school solar and energy-education legislation, the natural gas subsidy amendment, and 2021 COP26 attendance; gives no bill numbers or outcomes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Acomb [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Patty Acomb*, section *Personal life* (retrieved 2026-10-26) — spouse, children and residence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Acomb