Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard Senate File 585, as amended, which would provide an $8 million fiscal year 2023 supplemental appropriation to DEED’s redevelopment grant program. Senator Dornink and supporters from the Economic Development Association of Minnesota, Rosemount, Pipestone, and Inland Development Partners argued the program fills financing gaps for difficult redevelopment projects and has a strong return on investment, citing roughly $75 million in state funding leveraged into more than $3 billion in private investment and over 30,000 jobs since the program began in 1998. Testifiers described specific local projects in Rosemount and Pipestone that used redevelopment grants to remove blight, remediate asbestos, add infrastructure, and support new housing, retail, and jobs. Committee members asked how the program’s funding works and how the state dollars leverage private investment. DEED’s Community Finance Office director explained the program’s history and that the state money helps make otherwise difficult sites viable by supporting cleanup and early project costs, which then attracts private developers and leads to construction and permanent jobs. Senator Dornink closed by emphasizing the program’s return on investment. The committee took no final vote on the bill and laid it over for possible inclusion. The committee then heard Senate File 84, which would forgive loans made under the Lake Max economic relief loan program created in 2016 for businesses affected by DNR restrictions on walleye fishing and later by the pandemic. Senator Matthews and Max County Economic Development Manager Mike Whmer said the program helped 37 businesses across three counties, that hospitality businesses remain under strain, and that forgiveness would give businesses more time to benefit from diversification efforts. Members questioned whether the bill would affect only this one session-law program, how much money remained, and whether the loans were intended to be repaid. DEED staff said the bill would only affect this specific session-law program, that about $41,000 in estimated repayments remained as of the prior year, and that the fiscal note was incomplete. The discussion also clarified that the original appropriation was $3.651 million and that the bill would effectively convert the remaining outstanding amount into a grant-type forgiveness. The transcript ends before any final action on Senate File 84.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate File 2952, a bill related to defining and reporting teacher shortages. Senator Duckworth offered the A3 amendment, which was described as a compromise worked out with stakeholders, including Education Minnesota and Ed Allies. Testimony explained that the amendment would define shortages using a combination of unfilled positions, out-of-field permissions, and Tier 1 teachers in board-approved preparation programs, with reporting tied to PELSB and existing shortage-area categories. Some members questioned the usefulness and cost of the data collection, while others said it would provide a more accurate picture of true vacancies. The committee adopted the A3 amendment and then recommended SF 2952, as amended, to pass and sent it to finance. The committee then heard Senate File 1417 from Senator Chamberlain, described as a vehicle bill that removes obsolete language. There was no amendment, no substantive debate, and the committee passed the bill and sent it to general orders. Next, Senate File 1416 was taken up with an A1 amendment that simply rearranged sections of the bill without changing the substance. The amendment was adopted, and the bill was then passed and sent to finance. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 3734 from Senator Liebling, which would give Grand Rapids School District 318 flexibility to reduce facility lease costs and repurpose vacant school space. The bill, as amended, would allow the Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority to issue bonds, have the district enter into a lease arrangement, and require commissioner approval and periodic reporting. Superintendent Matt Gross testified that the district wants to consolidate programs, reduce surplus space and operating costs, and better serve students and staff. The transcript ends during this discussion, before a final committee action on SF 3734 is shown.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met remotely on March 21 and first approved the March 16 minutes. Members then received an update from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on how Agriculture Growth, Research, and Innovation (Agri) funds were spent in fiscal year 2021 and how fiscal year 2022 grantmaking was progressing. Department staff described the annual legislative report, a third-party evaluation, and current grant rounds, including livestock processing grants, biofuels infrastructure, livestock investment grants, incentive payments, Farm to School, Urban Agriculture, and Good Food Access. They reported strong demand for several programs, including 67 applications for livestock processing grants requesting $3.2 million, with about $709,000 awarded to roughly 15 grantees, and 68 Farm to School applications requesting nearly $1.3 million, with just over $741,000 awarded to 46 schools and districts. The Urban Agriculture program was also highlighted, along with examples of projects in Minneapolis and other communities. Department officials said the outside evaluation found positive impacts from Agri grants, including reported increases in gross revenue and employment among participants, and emphasized that staff help applicants navigate a complex grant process. Committee members praised the evaluation and asked about specific projects, including whether a meat market grant supported halal processing and Somali communities. Department staff said they would follow up on details and noted that some unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply or are considered for other grant programs. The committee then heard House File 4120, which would increase Minnesota Department of Agriculture Farm to School grant funding from $800,000 to $1.6 million and expand eligibility to early care providers. Testifiers from Tri-Valley Head Start, Ferndale Market, Mesabi East Schools, and a vegetable farm described how the grants support local food purchasing, nutrition education, and farm income. They said the funding helps schools and early care programs buy more Minnesota-grown foods, supports local farmers and processors, and improves access to fresh food for children. The bill was moved for referral to the Committee on Early Childhood Finance and Policy, and testimony concluded with committee questions about tracking the types of farmers receiving grant support.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 2586, sponsored by Representative Richardson, was heard in the Health Finance and Policy Committee and then laid over for possible inclusion in the health finance bill. The committee first adopted the DE2 author’s amendment, which Richardson said put the bill in the proper form. The bill would create the Emmett Lewis Till Victims Recovery Program at the Department of Health and provide a one-time $500,000 appropriation in fiscal year 2023, available through fiscal year 2024, to support culturally informed grants, health and wellness services, remembrance activities, and a required report back to the legislature. Richardson described the bill as a response to unresolved trauma from government-sponsored violence and said the program would help families access healing supports. Testifiers strongly supported the measure. Resma Manakam, a clinical social worker, said long-term, intergenerational trauma from racialized violence is often under-addressed and that the bill could provide a foundation for addressing harm across generations. Deborah Watts, co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation and a relative of Emmett Till, connected the bill to the legacy of lynching and ongoing racial injustice, and said Minnesota could lead by helping families recover from such losses. Additional testimony came from family members affected by police killings, including Amity Dimmick, mother of Kobe Heisler, and Karen Wells and Linda K. Tyler, relatives of Amir Locke. They described lasting grief, fear, and complex trauma, and said the bill could provide needed support and help prevent similar harm to other families. Members from both parties expressed sympathy and emphasized the distinction between grief and trauma. Representative Ackland asked about eligibility and the number of people who might be served; Richardson said the DE2 removed the equal-protection language, no specific number was available, and the goal was to support impacted communities and report outcomes back to the legislature.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met in a hybrid format and approved the March 16, 2022 minutes. It then heard House File 3733, a proposal to create a community wealth building grant program at DEED to support shared ownership models such as employee ownership, cooperatives, and commercial land trusts. The author and testifiers from MCCD, Rondo Community Land Trust, and the Hub Bike Co-op said the bill would help businesses access financing and technical assistance, preserve local ownership, and address racial wealth gaps. A member asked about the funding structure, and staff explained that the bill would allow loan origination fees, cover servicing and technical assistance costs, use 50% repayment to create a revolving loan fund, and include a $2 million biennial base appropriation. The committee renewed and approved a motion to lay the bill over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. The committee then took up House File 4244 in an informational hearing. Testimony from the Irreducible Grace Foundation described a proposed site in Saint Paul that would combine employment, housing, mental health support, mentorship, and healing arts programming for youth of color, with an emphasis on Black youth. Members asked about unusual “abandoned” language in the bill, and staff said it was standard capital-project language. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. Finally, the committee heard House File 4098, a proposal focused on economic development and wealth building for Black women and their families through the Black Women’s Wealth Alliance. Testifiers described free statewide services, business coaching, grants, and an incubator space in North Minneapolis, along with personal stories of how the organization helped them start or grow businesses. The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota also testified, citing wage and ownership disparities and supporting investment in women entrepreneurs. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the previous day’s journal and adopted committee reports without objection. Members introduced a large slate of new House files and received a Senate message returning House File 2875, an energy bill. The chamber then took up several bills on the calendar for third reading and final passage. House File 3254, relating to commerce and sales representative contracts, was presented as closing a venue loophole so disputes must be heard in Minnesota; members raised concerns about effects on small businesses and out-of-state litigation, but the bill passed 133-0. House File 2919, concerning certified public accountants, would repeal automatic revocation of licenses expired for two years and shift the process to administrative action with due process protections; it passed 134-0. House File 3682, relating to local government public notices, would allow digital publication as a valid form of notice and update an outdated statute; after debate about transparency, newspaper subsidies, and broadband access, it passed 116-18. House File 3379, on military affairs, would allow the Department of Military Affairs to offer enlistment incentives to service members with more than 12 years of service; supporters said the old pension-based assumption no longer applies, while one member questioned whether bonuses were necessary and whether the change was permissive, and the bill passed 132-1. House File 3001, also on local government, would expand county recording requirements so veterans of all branches can file discharge papers without a fee; supporters cited the importance of preserving DD214 records and avoiding loss of benefits, and the bill passed 132-0. The House also adopted a motion by Rep. Mariani to recall House File 1369 from Ways and Means and re-refer it to Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy. The session ended with a recognition of Dasia Hinckhouse for her 16 years of service in the chief clerk’s office and a farewell announcement as she prepares to take a new position.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate File 2145, authored by Senator Bach, which would ease state hot tub requirements for small resorts and similar lodging businesses, especially in tourism areas like Cook County. Senator Bach and Gunflint Lodge owner Mindy Fredrickson argued that current commercial hot tub rules are too costly and burdensome for individual cabin units, and that resorts are competing with short-term rentals that often advertise hot tubs without facing the same practical constraints. Fredrickson said adding hot tubs could improve occupancy and competitiveness, and that the current commercial-pool standards can add more than $60,000 in costs for a single cabin unit. Some members supported the bill as a way to help small resorts compete, but Senator Eaton raised public health concerns, citing pseudomonas folliculitis and the risk of bacteria in shared hot tubs. Senator Wicklund asked about differences in inspection and licensing standards for resorts, hotels, and short-term rentals. Department of Health representative Steven Diaz said licensed hotels, motels, resorts, and certain VRBOs are generally held to the same baseline pool and hot tub standards, though VRBO licensing depends on rental duration and many properties may not be known to the department. He also said the department has seen communicable disease outbreaks, including Legionella, at both licensed and unlicensed VRBO-like facilities, and collects data on pool-related injuries and deaths. After discussion, Senator Bach renewed the motion to pass Senate File 2145 and send it to general orders. The committee approved the motion on a voice vote. The committee then took up Senate File 3258 from Senator Draheim, adopted an A1 author’s amendment, and heard that the bill makes mostly technical changes to the Medical Practice Act, including cleanup of osteopathic language, an added COMVEX examination for out-of-state applicants, removal of notarization requirements in the acupuncture practice act, and repeal of a superseded rule section. The Board of Medical Practice supported the bill, and the discussion ended with the bill moving forward after the amendment was adopted.

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Property Tax Division met with a quorum, approved the March 16, 2022 minutes, and received a February 2022 budget forecast update from House Fiscal Staff. The forecast showed total property tax aids and credits spending of $4.54 billion for fiscal years 2022-23, about $15 million below the November forecast, mainly due to lower property tax refund activity and a smaller reduction in school building bond aid credit. For fiscal years 2024-25, projected spending was $4.38 billion, about $24 million below November, with lower school building aid credit and homestead PTR offset in part by increases in PILT payments and fire insurance aid. Members asked a question about PILT, and staff clarified that the forecast reflected an increase tied to higher land values. The committee then heard House File 3719, which would create a permanent soil and water conservation district aid program funded at $22 million per year through a standing statutory appropriation. Representative Ryer and testifiers from the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and a local SWCD described the need for stable, ongoing funding to support conservation work, staffing, landowner outreach, and leveraging federal dollars. Several members voiced support, emphasizing the importance of predictable funding and the statewide value of water and conservation work. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the Property Tax Division report. Next, the committee heard House File 3586, a local aid bill for the city of Morton related to a missed LGA paperwork deadline, with Representative Torkelson explaining there was no general fund cost because the aid would otherwise lapse after June 30. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the division report. The committee then began House File 4064, a proposal to update the local government aid formula; the author explained the formula had not been adjusted since 2013 and said the bill would use updated need measures and a 5 percent increase in current aid, with fiscal runs showing an estimated cost of about $27.34 million per year. The presentation was underway when the transcript ended.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee met remotely, approved the March 16, 2022 minutes, and then took up House File 951, which was moved to the Education Finance Committee after an A1 amendment was adopted. The bill, as described by Chair Richardson, would prohibit dismissal of students in grades K-3 unless non-exclusionary interventions have been exhausted and there is an ongoing serious safety threat, while also allowing classroom removal under existing statute and adding an appropriation for grants to train school staff in non-exclusionary discipline practices. Richardson and other supporters framed the bill as a response to severe racial and disability disparities in school discipline, citing data showing Black, Indigenous, and students with disabilities are suspended or expelled at much higher rates than white peers and arguing that exclusionary discipline worsens academic and life outcomes. Testimony in support came from educators, advocates, parents, and state education officials. Dr. Bernadeta Johnson, Josh Crossin of EdAllies, Miriam Adam, A. Doshuni of the Department of Education, Julia Pringle, Tonya John, Jennifer Davis, and Kevian Ellis all backed the bill, emphasizing that young children’s behavior often reflects unmet needs, that suspensions do not improve outcomes, and that culturally responsive, restorative, trauma-informed, and family-engagement approaches are preferable. Several testifiers shared personal stories of children disciplined for minor or misunderstood behaviors and argued that exclusion can damage belonging, learning, and long-term outcomes. Education Minnesota supported the amended bill and the $5 million training appropriation, saying the safety-threat language helps protect staff in severe situations. Nancy Antoine, a principal, offered a more cautious view: she said suspensions should be rare but described a severe first-grade incident involving violence and unsafe behavior as an example where suspension can be necessary to create a break and plan for reentry. After testimony, the committee moved into member questions. Representative Erickson had technical difficulty with audio, and Representative Erdahl said he supported limiting suspensions and expulsions but raised a concern about violent incidents against teachers, asking what should happen in such cases. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided, but the A1 amendment was adopted and the bill was referred onward to the Education Finance Committee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senator Bobby Joe Champion discussed the CROWN Act, a bill to add hair texture and hairstyle to the Minnesota Human Rights Act’s protections against race discrimination. He said the measure is intended to address discrimination against people wearing natural hair or cultural styles in schools and workplaces, and to give employers and educators clearer guidance. Champion argued the bill is about inclusion and education rather than punishment, and said it would help people feel valued while also helping businesses attract and retain talent. Champion cited examples of alleged hair discrimination, including a 2018 wrestling incident in which a student was told to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit, and another case involving braids. He said the bill is limited to natural and cultural hair, not all hairstyle choices such as dyed hair, and said neutral safety rules would still be allowed if applied equally. He also noted that the House passed the bill 104-25 with bipartisan support and said he was working to secure a Senate hearing, including discussions with the Civil Law chair and Senate leadership. In the same interview, Champion briefly described the African American Family Preservation Act, which he said aims to reduce bias in child protection and child welfare decisions that disproportionately remove Black children from their homes and limit kinship placement. He said the goal is to keep families together, improve outcomes for children, and remove barriers he described as empirically problematic.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 3845, sponsored by Representative Hanson, which would create an Office of a Youth Foster Ombudsperson. Hanson said the office would provide independent oversight, track complaints and systemic problems in foster care, and give foster youth a direct advocate and point of contact. She framed the bill as a response to bias, lack of data, and gaps in the current child welfare system, especially for children who face abuse, neglect, instability, and poor outcomes while in state care. Several young people with foster care experience testified in strong support of the bill, describing trauma, frequent placement changes, separation from siblings, unsafe living conditions, lack of support, and difficulty getting help from existing systems. They said an ombudsperson could provide a lifeline, improve accountability, and ensure foster youth have someone to call when the state itself is causing harm. Hwang Murphy of Foster Advocates also supported the bill, arguing that the state is not succeeding in helping youth transition out of care and that an advisory board would help center lived experience and improve oversight. Members of the committee expressed sympathy and support, with Representative Claiborne and Representative Greenman emphasizing the need to hear youth voices and acknowledging systemic failures and underfunding. Representative Quam asked how the new office would interact with existing ombuds services, and Hanson and Murphy explained that this office would serve all foster youth statewide and fill a gap not covered by the current racially specific ombuds programs. Representative Mason asked whether the office would duplicate existing social workers and guardians ad litem; Hanson responded that it would be an additional advocate and data-tracking point, not a replacement. The committee then voted to refer the bill to the Committee on Human Services by a roll call of 11 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 excused.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Senator Steve Swedzinski discussed three education-related bills: one to require schools to provide menstrual hygiene products for free, one to make civics a graduation requirement for 11th and 12th graders, and one to require a personal finance course for high school graduation. On the menstrual products bill, he said the idea came from students and women in his district, along with school nurses and teachers, and that their stories convinced him the need was real. He framed the proposal as both a practical and equity issue, citing students missing school, embarrassment, and the fact that SNAP benefits cannot be used for period products. Swedzinski said the civics requirement should be in 11th or 12th grade because students are then dealing with taxes, selective service, and other adult responsibilities. He noted that Minnesota does not currently require a standalone civics or government class to graduate, though some districts do, and he acknowledged opposition that views a statewide requirement as an unfunded mandate. He also said the personal finance bill came from a constituent concerned about student debt and argued that students need instruction before graduation because modern finances are more complex and less visible to young people than in the past. No formal committee vote or action was taken in the interview itself; the discussion was a presentation and explanation of the bills and their rationale.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House approved House File 2819, a bill increasing civil penalties for trespassing while operating a snowmobile or off-highway vehicle. Supporters said the higher fines are meant to protect voluntary snowmobile trail access by discouraging riders from leaving approved trails and causing damage to private land. The bill passed 122-10 and was sent to the Senate. The House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee approved Senate File 3372, which would appropriate $20 million for ALS research and efforts to find a cure. The measure was presented as both a response to the disease and a show of support for Senator David Tomassoni, who has ALS. Former Minnesota Twins player Kent Hrbek testified about how ALS affected his family and urged action. The committee passed the bill 16-0 and sent it to the House Ways and Means Committee. The House also passed Senate File 2876, which would let the Department of Human Services temporarily reinstate certain waivers and modifications to human services programs and create a temporary staffing pool for eligible facilities facing staffing shortages. The bill includes flexibility such as allowing oral and written signatures for some public assistance applications and would allow temporary staff to be deployed to nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, group homes, ICFs, and other congregate care settings. It passed 87-46 and returned to the Senate, where it had previously passed 46-21.