Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, announced she will not seek a fifth term and is leaving the Senate when her term is up next year.

The news was first reported by the Chanhassen Villager.

Ortman, an attorney who is married and has four children, was chairmwoman of Senate Taxes Committee in 2011-12 when state government had a $5 billion deficit and closed it without raising taxes.

The graduate of the University of Pennslyvania Law School is one of the most outspoken members of the Senate Republican caucus during floor debates.

She said in a release that her most meaningful work was in the area of criminal and civil law, including treatment of mentally ill offenders; eminent domain changes to protect private property; protection of civil liberties including privacy; expungment of criminal records and early release of some low-level offenders.