STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTY-FIFTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
WORKFORCE, LABOR, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Representative Dave Pinto, Chair of the Committee on Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy, called the meeting to order at 8:15 A.M. on, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Room G3 of the State Capitol Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members Present:
BAKER, Dave (GOP Chair)
PINTO, Dave (DFL Chair)
GREENMAN, Emma (DFL Vice Chair)
MEKELAND, Shane (GOP Vice Chair)
BAKEBERG, Ben
BERG, Kaela
FRAZIER, Cedrick
JOHNSON, Pete
JOHNSON, Wayne
KOZLOWSKI, Liish
MUELLER, Patricia
SCHULTZ, Isaac
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie
Members Excused:
HUSSEIN, Samakab
A quorum was present.
Chair Baker moved that the minutes of March 26, 2026, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4477 (Frazier) Minnesota business recovery loan program established, report required, and money appropriated
Representative Frazier moved HF 4477 before the committee
Representative Frazier moved the H4477DE2 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Frazier and Representative Xiong presented HF 4477 as amended.
Testifying on HF 4477 as amended:
• Aaron Rosenthal, North Star Policy Action
• Julie Deshler, Mayor, City of Crystal
• Kaohly Her, Mayor, City of St. Paul
• Jacob Frey, Mayor, City of Minneapolis
• Chanda Smith Baker, CEO, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
• Jo-Anne Stately, Senior Vice President of Impact, Minneapolis Foundation
• Kenneth Eban, Policy Consultant, Minneapolis Foundation
• Scott Marquardt, President, Southwest Initiative Foundation
• Carl Swanson, Coalition Strategist, Minnesota CDFI Coalition
• Stephanie Lopez, SPURS Bar and Grill, Willmar
• John Salgado Maldonado
• Crystal Torres Scherurer, Con Madres Market, North Mankato
• Maysy Her, Owner, Xieng Khouang Restaurant and Banquet Hall
• Esther Obaigwa, CEO, Kare Health Care, LLC
• Juan Lopez, Owner, The Perfect Coffee & Tromperia El zac
• Yeferson Delgado, Owner, Sabores Fresh Market
• Pauline Delgado, Sabores Fresh Market
• Israel Moreno, Malts and Burgers
• ThaoMee Xiong, Executive & Network Director, Coalition of Asian American Leaders
• Katie Messerli, Director of Child Care Programs, WomenVenture
• Linda Sloan, Executive Director, Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage
• Mike Hang, Minnesota Hmong Chamber
• Ianni Houmas, Executive Director, Southeast Community Organization
• Andres Salinas, Lending Program Director, Latino Economic Development Center
• Aaron Sepúlveda, Legislative and Policy Director, MN Council on Latino Affairs
Chair Pinto laid over HF 4477 as amended for possible inclusion in a Budget Bill.
The meeting adjourned at 10:05 A.M.
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Representative Dave Pinto, Chair
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Aishat Tiamiyu, Committee Legislative Assistant