STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTIETH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FINANCE POLICY MEETING MINUTES
Representative West and Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn, Co-Chairs of the Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 3:02 PM on February 18, 2026 in Room 123 of the Capitol Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Co-Chair
WEST, Nolan, Co-Chair
HANSON, Jessica, Co-Vice Chair
NELSON, Nathan, Co-Vice Chair
ALTENDORF, Pam
COULTER, Nathan
HICKS, Kim
Lee, XP
MCDONALD, Joe
NADEAU, Danny
OLSON, Bjorn
PÉREZ-VEGA, María Isa
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie
Members absent:
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
A quorum was present.
Representative Nelson moved the minutes of April 10, 2025. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Presentation titled “Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) Implementation Updates”.
Presenting:
Jennifer Sommerfeld, Government Relations Director, DCYF
Randall Keys, Inspector General, DCYF
Presentation titled “Child Care Regulation Modernization”.
Presenting:
Randall Keys, Inspector General, DCYF
Testifying:
Alexandra Keys, Family Child Care Unit Manager, DCYF
Cyndi Cunningham, Public Policy Board Member, Lead and Care Minnesota
Clare Sanford, Government Relations Chair, Minnesota Child Care Association
The meeting was adjourned at 4:46 PM.
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Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn, Co-Chair
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Representative West, Co-Chair
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Caleb Rohrer, Committee Legislative Assistant
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Elizabeth Laukka, Committee Legislative Assistant