STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTIETH 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 3:03 PM on March 25, 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
A quorum was present.
Representative Coulter moved that the minutes of March 18, 2025 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative West moved that the minutes of March 24, 2025 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF2136 (Johnson) Grant funding provided for forensic interview training scholarships,
and money appropriated.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved to re-refer HF2136 to the committee on Ways and Means.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved the HF2136A3 amendment.
Nonpartisan staff walked through the A3 amendment.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved to amend the HF2136A3 amendment as follows:
“Page 1, line 3, before “provide” insert “nongovernmental organizations to”, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved the HF2136A3 amendment as amended, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Johnson presented HF2136 as amended.
Testifying:
• Marcia Milliken, Executive Director, Minnesota Children’s Alliance
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn renewed the motion to re-refer HF2136 as amended to the committee on Ways and Means, THE MOTION PREVAILED
HF4195 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) Youth intervention program grants modified.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved to re-refer HF4195 to the committee on Ways and Means.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved the HF4195A1 amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn presented HF4195 as amended.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn renewed the motion to re-refer HF4195 as amended to the committee on Ways and Means, THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF4548 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) Department of Human Services and Department of Children, Youth, and Families forecasted program adjustments made.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved to re-refer HF4548 to the committee on Ways and Means.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn presented HF4548.
Testifying:
• Doug Berg, Fiscal Analyst, House Fiscal Analysis Department
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn renewed the motion to re-refer HF4548 to the committee on Ways and Means, THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF4432 (Pérez-Vega) Child care assistance program absent days limit exemption established, and technical changes made.
Representative Pérez-Vega moved that HF4432 be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Pérez-Vega moved the HF4432A1 amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Pérez-Vega presented HF4432 as amended.
Testifying:
• Kylie Cooper, Executive Director, Rise Early Learning Center
• John Fanning, Director, Education Partnerships Coalition
• Clare Sanford, Minnesota Child Care Association
• Shana Morse, Legislative Directory, Early Childhood, Department of Children Youth and Families
Chair West moved the HF4432A2 amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn laid over HF4432 as amended.
HF3024 (Hanson) Foster Youth Bill of Rights.
Representative Hanson moved that HF3024 be re-referred to the General Register.
Representative Hanson moved the HF3024DE3 amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Hanson renewed the motion to re-refer HF3024 as amended to the General Register, THE MOTION PREVAILED
HF4432 (Pérez-Vega) Child care assistance program absent days limit exemption established, and technical changes made.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn picked up HF4432 as amended.
Representative Nadeau moved the HF4432A3 amendment.
Chair West moved to amend the HF4432A3 amendment as follows:
“Page 1, delete lines 2-5”, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Nadeau renewed his motion to adopt the HF4432A3 amendment as amended, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn laid over HF4432 as amended.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn recessed the committee at 4:28pm.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn called the committee to order at 4:31pm
HF4174 (Hanson) Parent support outreach program funding provided, and money
appropriated.
Representative Hanson moved HF4174 before the committee.
Representative Hanson presented HF4174.
Testifying:
• Suzanne Arnston, Director, Scott County’s Deputy Health and Human Services.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn laid over HF4174.
HF4389 (Lee, X) Nonprofit limited liability companies allowed to apply for a license to
be a child-placing agency; child care background study timing modified; and foster
care, child placement, and child maltreatment provisions modified.
Representative Lee, X moved that HF4389 be re-referred to the General Register.
Representative Lee, X moved the HF4389A1 amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Lee, X presented HF4389 as amended.
Testifying:
• Shana Morse, Legislative Director, Early Childhood, Department of
Children, Youth, and Families
• Ami Wazlawik, Director of Legislation and External Affairs, Child Safety and Permanency and Youth Services, Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Representative Lee, X renewed the motion to re-refer HF4389 as amended to the General Register, THE MOTION PREVAILED
HF3773 (Lee, X) Minnesota supplemental nutrition assistance program established, and
money appropriated.
Representative Lee, X moved that HF3773 be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
Representative Coulter requested a roll call.
AYES
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN
HANSON
COULTER
HICKS
LEE
NAYES
WEST
NELSON
ALTENDORF
MCDONALD
NADEAU
OLSON
ZELEZNIKAR
EXCUSED
PÉREZ-VEGA
SENCER-MURA
There being 5 AYES and 7 NAYES and 2 EXCUSED ABSENCES, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn adjourned at 5:00PM
_________________________________________
Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn, Co-Chair
_________________________________________
Caleb Rohrer, Committee Legislative Assistant