STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY FIRST MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Commerce Finance and Policy Committee
MINUTES
Representative O’Driscoll, Chair of the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 8:14AM, on April 2, 2025, in Room 120 of the Capitol Building. A quorum was present.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
O’DRISCOLL, Tim, Chair
HER, Kaohly Vang, Chair
PERRYMAN, Bernie, Vice Chair
ELKINS, Steve, Vice Chair
ALLEN, Keith
CHA, Ethan
DAVIDS, Greg
DOTSETH, Jeff
FALCONER, Alex
FINKE, Leigh
HEINTZEMAN, Josh
HUOT, John
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie
KRESHA, Ron
REYER, Liz
RYMER, Max
SMITH, Andy
STEPHENSON, Zack
VAN BINSBERGEN, Scott
WEST, Nolan
Representative Van Binsbergen moved the minutes of April 1, 2025 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED
Vice-Chair Perryman assumed the gavel 8:19AM
HF 1545 (O’Driscoll) Persons 17 years of age permitted to serve alcoholic beverages.
Chair O’Driscoll moved HF 1545 before the committee to be re-referred to the Labor and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committee.
Chair O’ Driscoll moved to adopt the H1545DE1 amendment to HF 1545. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair O’Driscoll renewed the motion that HF 1545, as amended, be re-referred to the Labor and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 2403 (O’Driscoll) Omnibus Commerce Policy Bill
Larie Pampuch, Legislative Analyst, Minnesota House Research Department, gave a walkthrough of HF 2403DE1 amendment.
Testifiers:
Sam Smith, Government Affairs Director, Minnesota Department of Commerce
Chair O’Driscoll resumed the gavel at 8:34AM
HF 1615 (Stephenson) Omnibus Cannabis Policy Bill.
Ben Johnson, Legislative Analyst, Minnesota House Research Department, gave a walkthrough of HF 1615DE1 amendment.
Testifiers:
Eric Taubel, Interim Director, Office of Cannabis Management
Glenn McElfresh, Co-Founder and COO, Plift Beverages
Leili Fatehi, Blunt Strategies
Jeff Taylor, Beezwax
Patty Gilk, Owner, Jes Naturals
Ben Lipkin, Carpe Diem CBD, North Star Hemp
HF 2426 (West) Plant canopy that medical cannabis combination business may use to cultivate cannabis that will be sold as medical cannabis flower or medical cannabinoid products increased.
Representative West moved HF2426 before the committee.
Chair O’Driscoll moved to adopt the H2426A1 amendment to HF 2426. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifiers:
Kim Kelsey, Mother of Medical patient
Patrick McClellan, Citizen
Tiffany Newbern-Johnson, Government Affairs Director, GreenThumb Industries
Amber Shimpa, CEO Vireo Health
Diana Tastad-Damer, Secretary-Treasurer, UFCW 1189
Angela Dawson
Josh Wilken-Simon, Legacy Glassworks
Clemon Dabney, PHD, Doctor Dabs
Ben Lipkin, Carpe Diem CBD, North Star Hemp
Brock Friesen, Carpe Diem, Director of Sales and Education
Marcus Harcus, HPC
Shaun Tetreault, Kind Bud Supply Company
Richard Brama
Chris Wenzel, BKR Brands
Cat Franklin, Sugar Canna Company, GG Genetics
Nathan Young, MN Black Chamber, Vice Chair Policy
Emmett Dysart, CAEC, Cannabis Awareness Education Council
Jeff Brinkman, Superior Cannabis
Bob Yarn
Chair O’Driscoll laid over HF 2426, as amended. THE BILL WAS LAID OVER.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:01AM
Representative Tim O’Driscoll, Chair
Karen Hartwig, Committee Legislative Assistant