STATE OF MINNESOTA NINETEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
AGRICULTURE FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES
Representative Rick Hansen, Co-Chair of the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy, called the meeting to order at 1:35 P.M., on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, in Room G3 of the Minnesota State Capitol Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members Present:
HANSEN, Rick (DFL Co-Chair)
ANDERSON, Paul (GOP Co-Chair)
SMITH, Andy (DFL Co-Vice Chair)
HARDER, Bobbie (GOP Co-Vice Chair)
AGBAJE, Esther
BURKEL, John
FREDERICK, Luke
GANDER, Steve
GOTTFRIED, David
JACOB, Steve
LAWRENCE, Bryan
LEE, Fue
NELSON, Nathan
VANG, Samantha
A quorum was present.
Representative Lee moved to approve the minutes from April 9, 2025. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Andrea Vaubel, Deputy Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture provided additional testimony on HF 3548.
Co-Vice Chair Smith assumed the gavel at 1:39 P.M.
HF 3474 (Hansen, R.); Agricultural Utilization Research Institute grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
Co-Chair Hansen moved that HF 3474 be laid over for possible inclusion.
Co-Chair Hansen moved the A2 Amendment.
Co-Chair Hansen offered an oral amendment to the A2 Amendment as follows:
Page 1, line 7, delete “$50,000” and insert “$78,000”.
Co-Chair Hansen renewed the motion to orally amend the A2 Amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE ORAL AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT WAS INCORPORATED.
Co-Chair Hansen renewed the motion to adopt the A2 Amendment, as amended. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT AS AMENDED WAS ADOPTED.
Co-Chair Hansen presented HF 3474, as amended.
Testifying:
• Shannon Schlecht, Executive Director of AURI
• Hunter Pederson, Minnesota Farm Bureau
Chair Hansen renewed the motion that HF 3474, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion. The bill was laid over.
Co-Chair Hansen assumed the gavel at 1:52 P.M.
HF 3508 (Nelson); Eligibility for the Dairy Assistance, Investment, Relief Initiative (DAIRI) program modified.
Representative Nelson moved that HF 3508 be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Representative Nelson presented HF 3508.
Testifying:
• Garrett Luthens, President, Minnesota Milk
• Lucas Sjostrom, Executive Director, Minnesota Milk
• Emily Mollenhauer, Minnesota Dairy Initiative
• Hunter Pederson, Minnesota Farm Bureau
• Mackenzie Mealey, Student, Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA
• Rachelle, Krinke, Owner, Prairie Dairy
• Thom Petersen, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Paul Hugunin, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Representative Smith moved the A1 Amendment.
Representative Smith presented the A1 Amendment.
Representative Smith requested a roll call on the A1 Amendment.
The clerk took the roll on the A1 Amendment:
AYES
Hansen
Smith
Agbaje
Frederick
Gottfried
Lee
Vang
NAYS
Anderson
Harder
Burkel
Gander
Jacob
Lawrence
Nelson
There being 7 ayes and 7 nays, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Nelson renewed the motion to re-refer HF 3508 to the Committee on Ways and Means. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Co-Vice Chair Smith assumed the gavel at 2:25pm.
HF 3475 (Hansen, R.); Per diem compensation for Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council officers and Agricultural Utilization Research Institute board of directors modified.
Co-Chair Hansen moved that HF 3475 be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Co-Chair Hansen offered an oral amendment to HF 3475 as follows:
Page 1, line 13, after the third “of” insert “up to”
Page 2, line 2, before “$125” insert “up to”
Co-Chair Hansen renewed the motion to orally amend HF 3475. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS INCORPORATED.
Co-Chair Hansen presented HF 3475, as amended.
Testifiers:
• Shannon Schlecht, Executive Director, AURI
• Sarah Dornink, Executive Director, MAELC
Co-Chair Hansen renewed the motion to re-refer HF 3475, as amended, to the Committee on Ways and Means. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Co-Chair Hansen assumed the gavel at 2:39 P.M.
Presentation from Minnesota Milk.
Presenting:
• Lucas Sjostrom, Executive Director, Minnesota Milk
• Ann Buck, Minnesota Milk Producer of the Year
• Dave Buck, Minnesota Milk Producer of the Year
The meeting was adjourned at 2:50 P.M.
Representative Rick Hansen, Co-Chair
Grace Johnson, Committee Legislative Assistant