STATE OF MINNESOTA SIXTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD SESSION
ELECTIONS FINANCE AND POLICY MEETING MINUTES
Representative Mike Freiberg, Chair of the Committee on Elections Finance and Policy, called the meeting to order at 8:30am on February 8th, 2023, in Room 120 of the Capitol Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members Present:
FREIBERG, Mike, Chair
GREENMAN, Emma, Vice Chair
TORKELSON, Paul, Republican Lead
AGBAJE, Esther
ALTENDORF, Pam
BAHNER, Kristin
BLISS, Matt
COULTER, Nathan
DAVIS, Ben
FREDERICK, Luke
PURSELL, Kristi
QUAM, Duane
STEPHENSON, Zack
A quorum was present.
Representative Coulter moved that the minutes from February 1st, 2023, be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3 (Greenman); A bill for an act relating to elections; modifying provisions related to voter registration; absentee voting; requiring voting instructions, sample ballots, and election judges to be multilingual in certain situations; regulating intimidation, deceptive practices, and interference with voter registration and voting; campaign finance; establishing a Democracy Dollar coupon program; repealing the political contribution refund program; expanding the definition of express advocacy; providing penalties; requiring reports; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 10A.01, subdivisions 11, 16a; 10A.02, subdivision 13; 10A.15, subdivision 1; 10A.20, subdivision 3; 10A.27, subdivision 11; 10A.34, subdivision 4; 13.607, by adding a subdivision; 201.014, by adding a subdivision; 201.054, subdivisions 1, 2; 201.061, by adding a subdivision; 201.071, subdivision 1; 201.091, subdivision 4; 201.161; 201.162; 203B.04, subdivision 5; 203B.06, subdivisions 1, 3; 203B.121, subdivision 2; 204C.10; 211B.15, subdivisions 1, 7, 7b, by adding subdivisions; 211B.32, subdivision 1; 289A.37, subdivision 2; 289A.50, subdivision 1; 290.01, subdivision 6; 609.165, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 201; 204B; 211B; 243; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 10B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 13.4967, subdivision 2; 290.06, subdivision 23.
Representative Greenman moved that HF 3 be re-referred to the committee on Transportation Finance and Policy
Representative Greenman moved the HF0003DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Torkelson moved the HF0003A5 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Greenman presented HF 3, as amended.
Testifying on HF 3:
• Steve Simon, Secretary of State, Minnesota
• Jeff Sigurdson, Campaign Finance Board
• Arlene Datu, Member, ISAIAH
• Sharon Tornes, Member of Policy Committee, Clean Elections Minnesota
• Paul Huffman, Member of Board of Directors, League of Women Voters
• Orion Danjuma, Council, Protect Democracy
• Abdikareem Mahumad, Student, Metro State University
• Scott Drexel, National Vote at Home Coalition
• Eric Wang, Political Attorney
• Cathy Blaeser, Executive Committee Member, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life
• Nicole Freeman, Government Relations Director, Minnesota Secretary of State
Representative Bliss moved the HF003A4 amendment.
Representative Bliss requested a roll call on the HF003A4 amendment.
AYES:
Torkelson
Altendorf
Bliss
Davis
Quam
NAYS:
Freiberg
Greenman
Agbaje
Bahner
Coulter
Frederick
Pursell
EXCUSED:
Stephenson
There being 5 Ayes, 7 Nayes, and 1 Excused, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Quam moved the HF0003A6 amendment.
Representative Quam requested a roll call on the HF0003A6 amendment.
AYES:
Torkelson
Altendorf
Bliss
Davis
Quam
NAYS:
Freiberg
Greenman
Agbaje
Bahner
Coulter
Frederick
Pursell
EXCUSED:
Stephenson
There being 5 Ayes, 7 Nayes, and 1 Excused, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Torkelson made a motion to table HF 3.
Representative Torkelson requested a roll call on the motion to table HF 3.
AYES:
Torkelson
Altendorf
Bliss
Davis
Quam
NAYS:
Freiberg
Greenman
Agbaje
Bahner
Coulter
Frederick
Pursell
Stephenson
There being 5 Ayes and 8 Nayes, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Representative Greenman renewed her motion that HF 3 be re-referred to the committee on Transportation Finance and Policy.
Representative Freiberg requested a roll call on the motion to re-refer HF 3 to the committee on Transportation Finance and Policy,
AYES:
Freiberg
Greenman
Agbaje
Bahner
Coulter
Frederick
Pursell
Stephenson
NAYS:
Torkelson
Altendorf
Bliss
Davis
Quam
There being 8 Ayes and 5 Nays, THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 AM.
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Representative Mike Freiberg, Chair
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Mike Hermanson, Committee Legislative Assistant