State Sen. Linda Higgins is retiring from the Minnesota Legislature.

The Minneapolis DFLer announced Monday she will not seek re-election in 2012, but will serve out the remainder of her term, which ends January of 2013.

"I've been honored to serve the residents of north and downtown Minneapolis for 15 years. I'm proud of what we have accomplished, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to serve our community," she said in a statement.

Higgins is the third long-serving Democrat – and the third from the Minneapolis -- to resign or retire from the Senate since Republicans took control of the chamber in January. She follows Sen. Linda Berglin and Sen. Larry Pogemiller. Berglin is now health policy manager for Hennepin County and Pogemiller became the state's new director of higher education.

Higgins became an advocate for environmental and consumer protection issues, sponsoring legislation targeting predatory lenders and foreclosure prevention. She also sponsored legislation to make it easier to recycle old televisions and computers. She was one of the Senate negotiators for the new Minnesota Twins stadium.

"Linda has been one of the strongest and most effective legislators in recent memory," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook. "She tackles difficult issues, but works across party lines to build consensus, remove barriers and deliver results for her constituents and our state."