Transcript Highlights:

• >> The hour is 1 o'clock, and I call the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee meeting to order
• agriculture.
• Modernizing agricultural bio security systems creating a unified data-driven radar for Minnesota's agriculture
• So we work with the Department of Agriculture.
• That is the future of Minnesota agriculture.

Bills: HF3692

Keywords: Farmer-Lender Mediation Act, mediation, agriculture finance, debt relief, civil law, 1183, house

Bills: HB 43, HB 3364, HB 3469, HB 3479

Keywords: agriculture, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, nuisance birds, local governance, regulation, outdoor activities, public safety, Rio Grande, vegetation management, border security, environmental regulation, Carrizo cane

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of 1 o'clock having arrived, the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy is called to order
• This bill is language given to us by the Department of Agriculture.
• of Agriculture it allows the MDA to of Agriculture it allows the MDA to accept<00:01:08.520><c> a</c>
• So agriculture is challenging this year.
• We make priorities that we've kind of gotten off the topic of helping agriculture.

Bills: HF1704, HF2052

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of one o'clock, having arrived, I call the meeting of the Agriculture, Finance, and Policy Committee
• The agricultural sector will become increasingly vulnerable to CWD-associated concerns.
• Actually, it really is an agricultural problem.
• Agriculture has a lot of relatively small direct appropriations. Appropriations.
• And Commissioner from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, coming in a little hot here.

Bills: HF2784, HF2785, HF2778, HF2281, HF2576, HF2280, HF2579

Keywords: beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of one o'clock having arrived, I call the meeting of the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee
• Without agricultural sector from CWD.
• Um, so we're we're less on agriculture.
• And agriculture has a lot of relatively small direct appropriations.
• And uh agriculture has a lot of House.

Bills: HF2784, HF2785, HF2778, HF2281, HF2576, HF2280, HF2579

Keywords: beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for a collection of increment financing for a collection of increment financing over<00:03:39.720
• </c><00:07:49.319><c> to</c> leverage ta tax increment financing to leverage ta tax increment financing
• Tax increment financing has been one of those tools that's worked for the city of Maplewood.
• </c><00:53:31.559><c> those</c> tax increments to finance those tax increments to finance those improvements
• I'm Matthew Hendrick, manager in the City of Minneapolis development finance division.

Bills: HF1746, HF2585, HF1159, HF2574, HF2839, HF157, HF158, HF160, HF338, HF512

Keywords: Oakdale, tax increment financing, local government, funding, urban development, tax increment, St. Paul, redevelopment, housing authority, housing trust fund, low-income housing, property taxation, Minnesota statutes, vacant property, housing, commercial to residential conversion, Minneapolis, urban redevelopment, public parks, tax capacity

Bills: HB358, SB92, SB194, SB230, HB358, SB92, SB194, SB230

Keywords: juvenile justice, detention, age of majority, jurisdiction, child welfare, K-12 education, wireless communication devices, digital safety, social media education, classroom distraction, agriculture authority, eminent domain, property rights, tax exemption, agriculture center, SNAP, nutrition assistance, benefits theft, state reimbursement, food security

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The hour of 1:00 having arrived, I’ll call this meeting of the House Agriculture Finance and
• will work for this of how the financing will work for this Factory<00:12:57.040><c> representative</
• production and agricultural pursuit.
• First, why agriculture?
• The horse industry's impact on agriculture and the products and services consumed is substantial.

Bills: HF1621, HF1701, HF1796, HF1676, HF40, HF1428, HF1540

Keywords: HF1621, CelluComp, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, appropriation, grant, commercialization, fiber-based barrier packaging, packaging materials, PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, plastic reduction, sustainable packaging, environmental health, materials innovation, bio-based packaging, food packaging, agriculture finance, one-time grant, state subsidy

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour of 1:00 having arrived, the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy is called to order today
• It incentivizes value-added agriculture, and it fully funds the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
• </c><00:01:51.600><c> here</c><00:01:51.719><c> in</c> kinds of of Agriculture here in kinds of of Agriculture
• </c> up the department of agriculture up the department of agriculture agriculture<00:11:14.360><c> you'll
• agricultural inspectors and Agriculture agricultural inspectors and the<00:18:18.600><c> eligibility

Bills: HF1704

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• The hour having arrived, I will call the meeting to order of the House Agriculture Finance and Policy
• First of all, this is my first opportunity to be on the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee, so
• My whole life is agriculture.
• for the finance bill.
• </c><00:59:14.359><c> bill</c> agriculture for our for our finance bill agriculture for our for our finance

Bills: HF2446, HF2878, HF2667, HF1795, HF2683, HF2916

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• I call the meeting of the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee to order.
• Bonjour, Co-Chairs Hansen and Anderson, and the members of the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee
• ,</c> the members of the House Agriculture, the members of the House Agriculture, Finance<00:07:47.599
• </c><00:36:38.560><c> fertility</c> and education on agriculture fertility and education on agriculture
• Um, we were able to Agriculture.

Bills: HF3898, HF3957, HF4372, HF4350, HF3692, HF4085

Keywords: pesticides, wild rice, environmental protection, agriculture, water quality, pollinators, training, management plan, fertilizer research, education grants, Minnesota Agricultural Council, technology transfer, agricultural productivity, HF4372, Minnesota agriculture, meat processing, meat processing training, retention incentive grants, grant extension, project deadline extension

Transcript Highlights:

• I call the meeting of the Agricultural Finance and Policy Committee to order. A quorum is present.
• And why is the Department of Agriculture involved?
• My biggest question is, why is this in our agricultural bill?
• Finance contains the Department of Agriculture, the Board of Animal Health, AURI, and the DEED Office
• Not in agriculture in particular, but I see it used.

Bills: HF2446

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] I call the meeting of the Agricultural Finance and Policy Committee to order.
• finance contains the Department of Agriculture, the Board of Animal Health, AURI, and the DEED Office
• </c> is is why is this in our agricultural is is why is this in our agricultural bill?
• </c> agricultural policy and finance contains agricultural policy and finance contains the<00:32:14.799
• Department of Agriculture. So, this is Department of Agriculture.

Bills: HF2446

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] I call the meeting of the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee to order.
• This is the budget bill for the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee.
• And if I could characterize the work on this agriculture finance bill, it would be it was much like a
• </c><00:05:24.080><c> It</c> agriculture which is line 34. It agriculture which is line 34.
• <00:23:37.280><c> agricultural</c><00:23:38.000><c> experiment</c> agricultural agricultural experiment

Bills: HF2446

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill fully funds the Department of Agriculture.
• </c> so the the overall impact uh Finance so the the overall impact uh Finance wise<00:02:59.840><c>
• </c><00:03:05.760><c> in</c> in agriculture in in agriculture in Minnesota<00:03:08.000><c> and</c><00
• </c> jurisdiction of the agriculture jurisdiction of the agriculture committee<00:14:40.639><c> for</
• </c> best for the entire state of agriculture best for the entire state of agriculture in<00:24:54.960

Bills: HF1704, HF1722

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> dwelling permitted in an agricultural dwelling permitted in an agricultural district<00:11:30.240
• ,</c> projects that are awarded financing, projects that are awarded financing, yes,<00:32:58.399><c>
• The financing for infrastructure outside financing has contracted because it's a high risk.
• for infrastructure outside the financing for infrastructure outside financing<01:29:14.080><c> has</
• </c> concerns from the public finance concerns from the public finance perspective.<01:31:08.159><c>

Bills: HB1719, HB1742, HB1737, HB2049, HB1725, HB1726, HB1738, HB1799, HB1700

Keywords: housing crisis, manufactured homes, factory-built housing, zoning, relocatable housing units, farm employee housing, agriculture, Hawaii Revised Statutes, agricultural districts, land use, regulation, renewable energy, community development, housing, affordable housing, real estate, state regulation, building codes, construction, permitting

Summary: The joint public hearing covered several housing-related bills and one building-code measure. HB 1719 would make manufactured homes a permitted use by right on residentially zoned lots in the urban district, HB 1742 would authorize self-contained relocatable housing units with restrictions, and HB 1737 would clarify that a farm dwelling in an agricultural district may include an accessory employee housing structure. Testimony on these bills was overwhelmingly supportive from groups including Hawaii Realtors, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Housing Hawaii’s Future, the Modular Building Institute, the Hawaii Farmers Union, and others, with a few agencies offering comments. No one testified in opposition on HB 1719 or HB 1742, while HB 1737 drew one opposition and one comment in addition to broad support. No votes were taken during the hearing segment provided. A major portion of the hearing focused on HB 2049, which restructures the conveyance tax into a marginal-rate system and changes how the revenue is allocated, including funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the rental housing revolving fund, while also affecting the legacy land conservation fund. Supporters, including DHHL, Hawaii Appleseed, Aahu Youth Action Board, Hawaii YIMBY, and others, argued the bill would help Native Hawaiian housing and, for most transactions, function as a tax cut. Opponents, including NAP Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Hawaii Land Trust, Mhai Land Trust, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, objected to using conveyance tax as a revenue-generating tool and raised concerns about higher upfront costs and reduced funding for other housing uses. Committee members and staff discussed the bill’s revenue estimates, the reduced percentage but higher cap for the land conservation fund, the effect on rental housing funding, and the bill’s cost-of-living adjustment language; staff said a line-by-line comparison of the current and proposed tax structure would be provided before decision-making. The hearing also took up HB 1725, which would extend the state building code adoption cycle from two years to six years, apply the IRC to triplexes and fourplexes, allow counties to adopt more or less stringent amendments, and appropriate funds for code adoption work. Most testimony supported the bill, with advocates saying the current process is unmanageable, too resource-intensive, and creates confusion because state and county codes can diverge; supporters said a longer cycle would improve clarity and allow more focused review. The International Code Council and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers opposed the measure, warning that delaying adoption could have negative consequences and urging the committee to let an existing statewide code-adoption strategy proceed first. Members asked about sequencing, county implementation, and whether the longer cycle would create catch-up problems, but no action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The hour of 1:00 having arrived, I'll call this meeting of the House Agriculture Finance and
• I'm the Ag Finance supervisor for the Rural Finance Authority and the Agricultural Best Management program
• Agriculture improvement loan—that's used to finance improvements of the farm, any ag-related purchase
• Agriculture improvement loan—that's used to finance improvements of the farm, any ag-related purchase
• Agriculture improvement loan—that's used to finance improvements of the farm, any ag-related purchase

Bills: HF770, HF857, HF38, HF1500, HF43

Keywords: HF770, Rural Finance Authority, RFA, capital investment, state bonds, general obligation bonds, bonding bill, agricultural loans, farm loans, beginning farmer, new farmer, seller-sponsored loans, loan restructuring, agricultural improvement loans, livestock expansion, modernization loans, rural development, Minnesota agriculture, farm credit, chapter 41B

Transcript Highlights:

• We can achieve this by making some much-needed changes to the Texas Agriculture Finance Authority.
• To give you some background, the Texas Agriculture Finance Authority was created in 1987 with the Texas
• agriculture and agricultural products.
• Of the programs that the Agriculture Finance Authority currently oversees... seeds, we've identified
• To the crucial amendments to these programs under the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority.

Bills: HB 43, HB 3364, HB 3469, HB 3479, HB 43, HB 3364, HB 3469, HB 3479

Keywords: agriculture, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, veterinarian, veterinary medicine, veterinary telemedicine, telehealth, telemedicine, veterinarian-client-patient relationship, VCPR, animal health, livestock, pets, remote care, electronic means, telephone consultation, controlled substances, prescription drugs

Summary: The second bill, House Bill 3469, was introduced to address pest control regulations concerning nuisance birds. Representative Campos explained how the bill proposes non-lethal methods to deter these birds, such as the use of laser lights and sounds, which avoids conflict with both state and federal regulations. The committee heard impassioned testimonies from members of the public who shared firsthand experiences regarding the adverse effects of these birds on property and public health. The meeting concluded with both bills being left pending, reflecting a desire for further deliberation among the committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why aren't we going through the New Mexico Department of Agriculture as the lead on this?
• In my opinion, it should be the Department of Agriculture, who is well versed in that.
• And the funding of the... ...to DFA for New Mexico Finance Authority's Water Project Fund.
• I'm the deputy director of the New Mexico Finance Authority.
• I'm the Deputy Director of the New Mexico Finance Authority. Thank you, Mr. Martinez.

Bills: SB154, SB187, SB193, SM3

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs will come to order.
• Department of Agriculture to conduct a buyout.
• The Texas Agricultural Finance Authority was created within the Texas Department of Agriculture to provide
• financial assistance for the expansion and development of Texas agriculture and agricultural products
• House Bill 43 updates the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority through restructuring of the board to

Bills: HB43, HB519, HB 1275, HB1592, HB2842, HB3088, HB3479, HB4163, SB823, HB609

Keywords: agriculture, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, honey production, beekeeping, food safety, local regulation, bovine producers, dairy farms, permits, bovine tuberculosis, public health, wildlife management, disease prevention, alert system, Texas A&M, white-tailed deer, public safety

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met with only four members initially present, so quorum was not established until later in the hearing. The committee heard several agriculture-, wildlife-, and food-labeling-related bills, including HB 3479 on expanding the Rio Grande vegetative management program beyond carrizo cane to other noxious vegetation, SB 823 on shrimp origin labeling and restrictions on misrepresenting imported shrimp as Texas or Gulf shrimp, HB 3088 on giving Texas Parks and Wildlife more flexibility to procure resale goods for park gift shops, HB 1275 on permits for non-bovine dairy farms in certain TB-affected areas, HB 519 on honey production and packaging rules, HB 609 on cleaning oyster cages in-bay with bay water only, HB 1592 on a voluntary AgriLife pest and disease alert system, HB 2842 on targeted urban deer depredation permits, and HB 4163 on limiting city requirements that agricultural operators maintain roadside rights-of-way. Testimony generally came from industry groups, agency resource witnesses, and affected producers, with most witnesses supporting the bills and several bills drawing questions about enforcement, labeling responsibility, and the scope of local authority. The most extensive discussion centered on SB 823, where Vice Chair Hancock and others questioned why wholesalers would be covered if they cannot relabel products. The bill author and restaurant association witness said the measure was intended to improve transparency and allow enforcement against intentional mislabeling, while preserving a good-faith defense and clarifying that the bill does not create a private cause of action. HB 519 also drew supportive testimony from beekeepers and a family farm, who argued that current rules treat honey extraction and bottling too much like food manufacturing and burden small operations. HB 609 was presented as a way to save time and resources for cultivated oyster mariculture by allowing cage cleaning in the bay without soaps or chemicals, and HB 1592 was described as a voluntary opt-in alert system for pests and diseases coordinated through AgriLife and other state agencies. HB 43 generated the most detailed policy debate. The bill would restructure and expand the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority, update grant and loan programs, and create a pest and disease control depredation program. The committee substitute reduced some funding caps, changed references from predators to depredating animals, and made the financial provisions contingent on appropriations. Supporters from Texas Farm Bureau, cotton growers, grain and feed interests, and young farmers described severe drought, inflation, land loss, rising input costs, and shrinking infrastructure as major threats to agriculture, while one witness urged preserving priority for young farmers. After testimony, the committee adopted the committee substitute and reported HB 43 favorably. The committee also voted HB 519, HB 609, HB 1275, HB 1592, HB 3088, HB 3479, HB 2842, and HB 4163 favorably, with several recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 823 was reported from committee on a 6-2 vote after adoption of the committee substitute. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would tentatively reconvene Friday morning and then recessed subject to the chair's call.