FIFTEENTH MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE FIFTEENTH MEETING
NINETY-THIRD SESSION



AGRICULTURE FINANCE & POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES

Representative Samantha Vang, Chair of the Committee on Agricultural Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:01 PM on March 2, 2023 in Room 120 of the State Capitol Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members Present:
VANG, Samantha, Chair
PURSELL, Kristi, Vice Chair
ANDERSON, Paul, Republican Lead
BURKEL, John
CHA, Ethan
FREDERICK, Luke
HANSEN, Rick
HARDER, Bobbie
JACOB, Steven
NELSON, Nathan
REHM, Lucy
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
TABKE, Brad

A quorum was present.

HF 1302 (Nelson); Funding provided to establish a meat and poultry processing certification navigator, and money appropriated.

Representative Nelson moved that HF 1302 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill.

Representative Nelson moved the DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Nelson presented HF 1302, as amended.

The following testified on HF 1302, as amended:
• Greg Wierschke, Farmer, Clean Chickens & Company
• Liese Walker, Owner, Walker Farms
• Paul Sobocinski, Farmer, Minnesota Farmers Union
• Sarah Goldman, Organizer, Land Stewardship Project
• Andrea Vaubel, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Representative Nelson renewed the motion that HF 1302, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill. The bill was laid over.

HF 23 (Wolgamott); Safe workplaces for meat and poultry processing workers provided, report required, and money appropriated.

Representative Vang moved that HF 23 be referred to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law committee.

Representative Vang moved the A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Wolgamott presented HF 23, as amended.

The following testified on HF 23, as amended:
• Micheal LaCoste, Organizing Director, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 663
• Greg Endres, Owner, Greg’s Meat Processing
• Jordan McCallum, Executive Director, Minnesota Association of Meat Processors
• Travis McDonald, Owner, McDonald’s Meats
• Cory Bennett, Lobbyist, Agrigrowth
• Sarah Lopez, Policy Director, Undios Minnesota

Representative Anderson moved to table HF 23, as amended.

Representative Anderson requested a roll-call vote.

The clerk took the roll on the motion to table HF 23, as amended:

AYES
Anderson
Burkel
Harder
Jacob
Nelson

NAYS
Vang
Pursell
Cha
Frederick
Hansen
Rehm
Sencer-Mura
Tabke

There being 5 ayes and 8 nays. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.

Representative Vang renewed the motion that HF 23, as amended, be rereferred to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 1473 (Frederick); Agricultural Utilization Research Institute funding provided, and money appropriated.

Representative Frederick moved that HF 1473 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill.

Representative Frederick presented HF 1473.

The following testified on HF 1473:
• Shannon Schlecht, Executive Director, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)

Representative Frederick renewed the motion that HF 1473 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill. The bill was laid over.

HF 1475 (Frederick); Data practices changes made, Office of Collaboration and Dispute Resolution established, Office of Enterprise Sustainability established, expired report on state government use of eligible contractors removed, and historic properties and fair campaign practice provisions modified.

Representative Frederick moved that HF 1475 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill.

Representative Frederick presented HF 1475.

The following testified on HF 1475:
• Shannon Schlecht, Executive Director, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)

Representative Frederick renewed the motion that HF 1475 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill. The bill was laid over.

HF 1303 (Nelson); Meat and poultry processor training funding provided, and money appropriated.

Representative Nelson moved that HF 1303 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill.

Representative Nelson presented HF 1303.

The following testified on HF 1303:
• Greg Wierschke, Farmer, Clean Chickens & Company
• Paul Sobocinski, Farmer, Minnesota Farmers Union

Representative Nelson renewed the motion that HF 1303 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee omnibus bill. The bill was laid over.

The meeting adjourned at 2:28 P.M.

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Representative Samantha Vang, Chair


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