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Minnesota House of Representatives

Children and Families Finance and Policy

TWENTY-SEVENTH MEETING

2025-2026 Regular Session - Tuesday, March 17, 2026

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-SEVENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION


CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FINANCE POLICY MEETING MINUTES

Representative Nolan West, Co-Chair of the Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 3:02 PM on March 17, 2026, in Room 123 of the State Capitol Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Co-Chair
WEST, Nolan, Co-Chair
HANSON, Jessica, Co-Vice Chairn
NELSON, Nathan, Co-Vice Chair
ALTENDORF, Pam
COULTER, Nathan
HICKS, Kim (ABSENCE EXCUSED)
LEE, Xp
MCDONALD, Joe
NADEAU, Danny
OLSON, Bjorn
PÉREZ-VEGA, María Isa
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie

A quorum was present.

Vice-Chair Nelson moved that the minutes of March 11, 2026, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF3489 (Bennett) Field trip policy established.

Representative Bennett moved HF3489 before the Committee.

Representative Bennett moved the HF3489 A5 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Bennett moved that HF3489 as amended be re-referred to the Education Finance Committee.

Testifiers:
Hanna LoPresto, Victim-Survivor
Detective Chad Clausen, Eagan Police Department

Representative Bennett renewed the motion that HF3489 as amended be re-referred to the Education Finance Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED.

Maggie Carney, Safe Passage Presentation “Child Fatalities in Minnesota”

HF3819 (West) Licensing inspection requirements for childcare providers modified.

Co-Chair West moved HF3819 as amended before the committee.

Co-Chair West moved that HF3819 as amended be re-referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Testifying:
Shana Morse, Legislative Director, DCYF

Co-Chair West requested a roll call on HF3819.

The clerk took the roll call on H3819:

AYES:
WEST, Nolan
NELSON, Nathan
ALTENDORF, Pam
MCDONALD, Joe
NADEAU, Danny
OLSON, Bjorn
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie

NAYS:
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie
HANSON, Jessica (ABSENT)
COULTER, Nathan
HICKS, Kim (ABSENCE EXCUSED)
LEE, Xp
PÉREZ-VEGA, Maria Isa
SENCER-MURA, Samantha

With 7 ayes and 5 nays, THE MOTION DOES NOT PREVAIL AND HF3819 IS LAID OVER.

HF3901 (Johnson W.) Investigative powers added to the Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson.

Co-Chair West moved HF3901 before the committee.

Co-Chair West moved the HF3901 A26 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Johnson moved that HF3901 as amended be re-referred to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee.

Testifying:
Misty Coonce, MSW, LISW, Ombudsperson for Foster Youth, Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson

Rebecca St. George, DCYF Assistant Commissioner

Representative Johnson renewed the motion that HF 3901 as amended be re-referred to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

HF4408 (Nelson) Public disclosure of information related to child fatalities.

Co-Chair West moved HF4408 be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee.

Co-Chair West moved the HF4408 A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifiers:
Misty Coonce, MSW, LISA, Ombudsperson for Foster Youth, Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson

Richard Gehrman, Founder of Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota

Marie Cohen, Child Welfare Monitor (ZOOM)

Vice Chair Nelson moved HF4408 as amended be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE MOTION WAS ADOPTED.

HF4316 (Olson) Requiring notification of maltreatment in childcare centers.

Co-Chair West moved that HF4316 be re-referred to the Ways and Means committee.

Representative Olson moved the HF4316 A1 amendment before the committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Olson presented HF4316 as amended.

Testifying:
• Dr. Nancy Harper, Child Abuse Pediatrician at University of Minnesota
• Hannah Winkler, Safe Passage for Children coalition member and MHP
• Crystal McNally, Founder – Never Shake MN & Mother of SBS/AHT survivor
• Darielle Dannen, MN Childcare Association

Co-Chair West moved HF4316 be laid over.

HF4277 (West) Requirements for childcare centers to use video security cameras modified.

Co-Chair West moved that HF4277 be re-referred to Judiciary and Civil Law committee.

Vice Chair Hanson moved the HF4277 A2 amendment before the committee. THE MOTION DOES NOT PREVAIL. THE MOTION IS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Coulter moved the HF4277 A6 amendment before the committee.

Representative Coulter requested a roll call on the HF4277 A6 amendment.

The clerk took the roll call on HF4277 A6 amendment:

AYES:
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie
HANSON, Jessica
COULTER, Nathan
HICKS, Kim (ABSENCE EXCUSED)
LEE, Xp
PÉREZ-VEGA, Maria Isa
SENCER-MURA, Samantha

NAYS:
WEST, Nolan
NELSON, Nathan
ALTENDORF, Pam
MCDONALD, Joe
NADEAU, Danny
OLSON, Bjorn
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie

With six ayes and seven nays, the MOTION DOES NOT PREVAIL, THE HF4277 A6 AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Coulter moved the HF 4277 A3 amendment before the committee. THE MOTION PREVAILS. THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.

Representative Lee moved the HF4277 A8 amendment before the committee. THE MOTION PREVAILS. THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.

Representative Sencer-Mura withdrew the A2 Amendment.

Representative Sencer-Mura moved the HF4277 A7 before the committee.
Co-Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn requested a roll call for HF4277 A7.

The clerk took the roll on HF4277 A7:

AYES:
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie
HANSON, Jessica
COULTER, Nathan
HICKS, Kim (ABSENCE EXCUSED)
LEE, Xp
PÉREZ-VEG, Maria Isa
SENCER-MURA, Samantha

NAYS:
WEST, Nolan
NELSON, Nathan
ALTENDORF, Pam
MCDONALD, Joe
NADEAU, Danny
OLSON, Bjorn
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie

With six ayes and seven nays, THE MOTION DOES NOT PREVAIL. THE HF4277 A7 AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED.

Co-Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved the HF4299 A9 before the committee.

Co-Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn requested a roll call for HF4277 A9.

The clerk took the roll on HF4277 A9.

AYES:
WEST, Nolan
NELSON, Nathan
ALTENDORF, Pam
MCDONALD, Joe
NADEAU, Danny
OLSON, Bjorn
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie

NAYS:
KOYYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie
HANSON, Jessica
COULTER, Nathan
HICKS, Kim (ABSENCE EXCUSED)
LEE, Xp
PÉREZ-VEGA, Maria Isa
SENCER-MURA, Samantha

With seven ayes and six nays, the HF4277 A9 AMENDMENT DOES NOT PREVAIL AND IS NOT ADOPTED.

Co-Chair West renewed the motion that HF4277 as amended the be re-referred to the Judiciary and Civil Law committee.

Co-Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn requested a roll call for HF4277 as amended.

The clerk took the roll on HF4277.

AYES:
WEST, Nolan
NELSON, Nathan
ALTENDORF, Pam
MCDONALD, Joe
NADEAU, Danny
OLSON, Bjorn
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie

NAYS:
KOTYZ-WITTHUHN, Carlie
HANSON, Jessica
COULTER, Nathan
HICKS, Kim (ABSENCE EXCUSED)
LEE, Xp
PÉREZ-VEGA, Maria Isa
SENCER-MURA, Samantha

With six nays and seven ayes, THE MOTION DOES NOT PREVAIL. HF4277 AS AMENDED WAS LAID OVER.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:02 PM.


_________________________________________
Co-Chair Nolan West, Co-Chair


_________________________________________
Elizabeth Laukka, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF3489 (Bennett) - Field trip policy established, reporting to licensing boards required, and criminal offense of grooming established.
  • HF3901 (Johnson) - Investigative powers added to the Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson.
  • HF4277 (West) - Child care centers video security cameras use requirements modified.
  • HF4408 (Nelson) - Child fatalities and near fatalities public disclosure required, and child mortality review panel investigations and annual report requirements modified.
  • HF4316 (Olson) - Child care background study notification requirements modified, child care leadership made responsible for maltreatment at centers, and maltreatment notification requirements modified.
  • HF3819 (West) - Licensing inspection requirements for child care providers modified, program integrity requirements for child care assistance program established, and report required.
Documents:
Audio:
Listen Now
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:13 - HF3489 (Bennett) Field trip policy established, reporting to licensing boards required, and criminal offense of grooming established.
10:22 - Safe Passage presentation: Child Fatalities in Minnesota.
25:13 - HF3819 (West) Licensing inspection requirements for child care providers modified, program integrity requirements for child care assistance program established, and report required.
37:06 - HF3901 (Johnson, W.) Investigative powers added to the Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson.
54:57 - HF4408 (Nelson) Public disclosure of information related to child fatalities and near fatalities required, and child mortality review panel annual report requirements modified.
1:14:33 - HF4316 (Olson) Child care background study notification requirements modified, child care leadership made responsible for maltreatment at centers, and maltreatment notification requirements modified.
1:30:04 - HF4277 (West) Requirements for child care centers to use video security cameras modified.
Runs 2 hours, 7 minutes.

HF 4277 (West) Requirements for child care centers to use video security cameras modified. [Testimony on this bill was received on March 10th; the committee will not be hearing testimony on this day]

HF 3819 (West) Licensing inspection requirements for child care providers modified, program integrity requirements for child care assistance program established, and report required. [Testimony on this bill was received on March 3rd; the committee will not be hearing testimony on this day]

HF 3489 (Bennett) Field trip policy established, reporting to licensing boards required, and criminal offense of grooming established.

Presentation by Safe Passage on Child Fatalities in Minnesota

HF 4408 (Nelson) Requiring Transparency in Child Fatality reports.

HF 3901 (Johnson, W) Investigative powers added to the Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson.

HF 4316 (Olson) Requiring notification of maltreatment in child care centers.

All agenda items subject to change at the discretion of the Chair.

AMENDMENTS: All substantive amendments must be emailed to the committee administrators by 8:00 AM the day of the committee hearing. Ryann Woods, GOP Committee Administrator, ryann.woods@house.mn.gov; Colie Colburn, DFL Committee Administrator, colie.colburn@house.mn.gov.

TESTIMONY AND MATERIALS SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Individuals wishing to testify or submit written testimony for the hearing must email the committee administrator by 8:00 AM on the day of the hearing. Handouts must be in PDF format with OCR capability. In-person testimony may be limited due to committee time constraints.