The DFL-controlled Senate’s bill faced unanimous Republican opposition as well as three DFL defectors, but prevailed in a 35-28 vote.

As the first committee deadlines of 2013 loom, Minnesota legislators have spent the week holding hearings on high-profile legislation ranging from the legalization of same-sex marriage to state funding for a Mayo Clinic-driven “destination medical center” development push in Rochester.

Election officials finished re-tallying votes in the House District 8B race on Thursday, finding one additional vote for Rep. Mary Franson in the process and widening her lead over Democratic candidate Bob Cunniff to 12 votes. Cunniff conceded the race to Franson late Thursday afternoon. The State Canvasing Board will meet on Dec. 4 to certify the results.

The State Canvassing Board on Tuesday met and unanimously approved the Nov. 6 election results, with the exception of the House District 8B race and the Senate District 20 race. The margin between candidates in both races was less than one half of 1 percent, the margin needed to trigger an automatic recount. Both recounts are expected to be completed by Friday.

Of the 38 seats won by DFLers in reclaiming control of the Minnesota Senate on Nov. 6, no fewer than 14 will be filled by members who were not part of the caucus in 2011-12. But in several cases, the newcomers will hardly be strangers.

At least two close races for the Minnesota Legislature -- Senate District 20 and House District 8B -- appear to fall within the half percent margin required to trigger an automatic recount.

A national organization that focuses on electing Democrats to state legislatures has put four Minnesota candidates on its list of 60 races to watch.

The campaign finance reports released last week show that political action committees large and small have been funneling lots of money into legislative races.

House and Senate races across the state are rapidly shaking out following the release of new legislative maps.

A slew of former DFL and GOP legislators announced campaigns for House and Senate districts this week, including Carrie Ruud, a former Republican senator from Breezy Point, former DFL Rep. David Bly of Northfield, former DFL Sen. Kevin Dahle and former DFL Rep. Paul Rosenthal.