Scott Dibble

David Scott Dibble (born August 27, 1965) is an American politician serving as a member of the Minnesota Senate since 2003. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Dibble represents District 61, which includes parts of Minneapolis in Hennepin County. From 2001 to 2003, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Dibble was the first openly gay man to run for and be elected to the Minnesota Legislature without previously having held a seat in it. This led to organizing on issues of social and economic justice, especially in the areas of neighborhood livability, transportation, housing, energy and the environment.

Dibble worked in information technology support for Investors Diversified Services (now Ameriprise Financial) and later as a community organizer. He was an aide to Minneapolis City Council Member Doré Mead from 1994 to 2000.

Dibble has served as chair of the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee since 2023. He also sits on the Capital Investment, the Energy, Utilities, and Climate, and the Taxes Committees.

The environment Dibble has served as chief author or as a lead negotiator on energy efficiency standards, implementing a renewable energy standard, establishing a carbon dioxide reduction mandate, instituting the nation's most stringent mercury emission reduction requirements for coal-fired energy, the first legislation in the country on hybrid plug in electric cars, and programs to aid the construction of green buildings and assist local governments in building more energy-efficient facilities. He helped author and served on the Green Jobs Task Force charged with developing a comprehensive economic development policy to shape Minnesota's participation in the green economy.

Medical cannabis In 2014, Dibble was the chief author of a bill that allowed limited use of medical cannabis for patients who have debilitating or terminal illnesses. He has also worked to legalize cannabis for recreational use.

Transportation Dibble continues to be the DFL leader in the Minnesota Senate on legislation relating to transportation and transit, energy efficiency, the environment, housing and economic development.

Personal life Dibble is openly gay. He married his husband, Richard Leyva, in California before the passage of Proposition 8. In November 2019, Dibble announced that a man whom Dibble had had an extramarital relationship with had allegedly attempted to blackmail him through revenge porn.

Dibble is a runner and has completed several marathons.