STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-SIXTH 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 1:00 P.M., on Wednesday, March 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 Frederick moved to approve the minutes from March 23, 2026. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3898 (Falconer); Pesticide provisions modified to protect wild-rice water.
Co-Chair Hansen moved that HF 3898 be laid over for possible inclusion.
Co-Chair Hansen moved the A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Co-Chair Hansen moved the A2 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Falconer presented HF 3898 as amended.
Testifying:
• Steve White, District 2 Representative, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
• Leanna Goose, Rise and Repair
• Gina Peltier, Rise and Repair
Co-Chair Hansen renewed the motion that HF 3898, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion. The bill was laid over.
HF 3957 (Vang); Minnesota Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council and the Agriculture Research, Education, Extension, and Technology Transfer grant program authority modified.
Representative Vang moved that HF 3957 be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
Representative Vang moved the A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Vang presented HF 3957 as amended.
Testifying:
• Thom Petersen, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Jeff Pagel, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation
Representative Vang renewed the motion that HF 3957, as amended, be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
Co-Chair Anderson requested a roll call on HF 3957 as amended.
The clerk took the roll on HF 3957 as amended:
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.
HF 4372 (Vang); Meat processing training and retention incentive grantees allowed more time to complete projects.
Representative Vang moved that HF 4372 be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
Representative Vang presented HF 4372.
Testifying:
• Stu Lourey, Minnesota Farmers Union
• Ashley Bress, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Representative Vang renewed the motion that HF 4372 be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Co-Vice Chair Smith assumed the gavel at 2:09 P.M.
HF 4350 (Hansen, R.); Agriculture policy provisions modified.
Co-Chair Hansen moved that HF 4350, as amended, be placed on the General Register.
Co-Chair Hansen presented HF 4350 as amended.
Testifying:
• Thom Petersen, Commissioner, Minesota Department of Agriculture
• Anthony Cortilet, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Raj Mann, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Co-Chair Hansen renewed the motion that HF 4350, as amended, be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Co-Chair Hansen assumed the gavel at 2:22 P.M.
HF 3692 (Smith); Farmer-Lender Mediation Act extended.
Co-Vice Chair Smith moved that HF 3692 be re-referred to the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee.
Co-Vice Chair Smith presented HF 3692.
Co-Vice Chair Smith renewed the motion that HF 3692 be re-referred to the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4085 (Anderson, P.H.); Biofuel sales volume incentive program established, rulemaking authorized, and money appropriated.
Co-Chair Anderson moved that HF 4085 be laid over for possible inclusion.
Co-Chair Anderson presented HF 4085.
Testifying:
• Brian Werner, Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association
• Michael Walz, POET
• Wes Beck, Minnesota Corn Growers Association
Co-Chair Anderson renewed the motion that HF 4085 be laid over for possible inclusion. The bill is laid over.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 P.M.
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Representative Rick Hansen, Co-Chair
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Grace Johnson, Committee Legislative Assistant