STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-EIGHTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FINANCE POLICY MEETING MINUTES
Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn, Co-Chair of the Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 3:01 PM on March 18, 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 Chair
NELSON, Nathan, Co-Vice Chair
ALTENDORF, Pam
COULTER, Nathan
HICKS, Kim
LEE, Xp
MCDONALD, Joe
NADEAU, Danny
OLSON, Bjorn
PÉREZ-VEGA, María Isa
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie
Members absent:
A quorum was present.
Representative Lee, X moved that the minutes of March 10, 2025 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF3665 (Pinto) Out-of-home placement plan requirements modified to include early childhood education and child care programs, and agencies and guardians ad litem required to provide information on early childhood education and child care programs for children in foster care.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved HF3665 before the committee.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved the HF3665A1 amendment.
Nonpartisan staff walked through the A1 amendment.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved to amend the HF3665A1 amendment as follows:
Page 1, line 3, delete “260C.515” and insert “260C.215”
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved the HF3665A1 amendment as amended, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Pinto presented HF3665 as amended.
Testifying:
• Danielle Thomas, MPA Student, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn laid over HF3665 as amended.
HF3002 (Hicks) Eligibility requirements for foster care benefits after age 18 modified to include children for whom permanent legal and physical custody is transferred to a relative after age ten.
Representative Hicks moved HF3002 before the committee.
Representative Hicks moved the HF3002DE2 Amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Hicks presented HF3002 as amended.
Testifying:
• Qua’Maine Verser
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn laid over HF3002 as amended.
HF4125 (Agbaje) Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act modified, and money appropriated.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved that HF4125 be re-referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Civil Law.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved the HF4125A4 amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Agbaje presented HF4125A4 as amended.
Testifying:
• Commissioner Rena Moran, Ramsey County District 4, Vice Chair of the Legislative Committee of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners
• Kelis Houston, Founder, Village Arms
• Joanna Woolman, Executive Director, Keeping Families Connected Minnesota
• Commissioner Irene Fernando, Hennepin County District 2
• Tina Shenk, Health and Human Services Director, Meeker County
• Kirsten Langerman, Human Services Manager, Meeker County
• Chad and Katia Thompson, Foster Parents
• DeClara Tripp
• Stacy Hennen, Executive Director, Western Prairie Human Services and Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators (MACSSA)
• Commissioner Karla Bigham – Washington County, representing the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC)
• Rebecca St. George, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF)
Representative Nelson moved the HF4125DE2 amendment, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Representative Agbaje HF4125 as amended.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn renewed her motion to re-refer HF4125 as amended to the Committee on Judiciary and Civil Law, THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Olson requested a division.
The clerk took the hand count.
There being 7 AYES and 6 NAYES and 1 EXCUSED ABSENCE, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:56PM
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Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn, Co-Chair
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Caleb Rohrer, Committee Legislative Assistant