FORTY-FOURTH MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTY-FOURTH 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 8:16 A.M. on, Thursday, March 26, 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
HUSSEIN, Samakab
JOHNSON, Pete
JOHNSON, Wayne
MUELLER, Patricia
SCHULTZ, Isaac
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie

Members Excused:
KOZLOWSKI, Liish

A quorum was present.

Chair Baker moved that the minutes of March 25, 2026, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Presentation from the Department of Employment and Economic Development on the Report of the Review of Competitive Grant Processes

Presenting:
• Matt Varilek, Commissioner, Department of Employment and Economic Development
• Mike Lang, Director of Workforce Strategy and Innovation, Department of Employment and Economic Development
• Deven Bowdry, Department of Employment and Economic Development

HF 4072 (Greene) Local new talent pipeline program grant funding provided, and money appropriated.

Representative Wayne Johnson moved HF 4072 before the committee.

Representative Wayne Johnson moved the H4072A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Wayne Johnson presented HF 4072 as amended.

Testifying on HF 4072 as amended:
• Tara Brandle, Above the Fold Publishing
• Wendy Paulson, MN Broadcasters Association
• Lisa Hills, Minnesota Newspaper Association

Chair Pinto laid over HF 4072, as amended, for possible inclusion in a Budget Bill.

HF 3691 (Virnig) Emergency managers established as essential employees.

Chair Baker moved HF 3691 before the committee.

Representative Virnig presented HF 3691.

Testifying on HF 3691
• Erin Hughes, Emergency Management Director, Stearns County, MN
• Seth Hansen, Emergency Management Director, Wright County, MN

Chair Baker moved that HF 3691 to be re-referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Pinto rRecessed the meeting at 9:31 A.M.

The Chair Pinto reconvened the mMeeting Reconvened at 9:33 A.M.

HF 4613 (Greenman) Funding provided to Explore Minnesota for a grant to Twin Cities in Motion, and money appropriated.

Vice Chair Greenman moved HF 4613 before the committee.

Vice Chair Greenman moved the H4613DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Vice Chair Greenman presented HF 4613 as amended.

Testifying on HF 4613 as amended:
• Dean Orton, President, Twin Cities in Motion

Chair Pinto laid over HF 4613 as amended for possible inclusion in a Budget Bill.

The meeting adjourned at 9:53 A.M.





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Representative Dave Pinto, Chair




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Aishat Tiamiyu, Committee Legislative Assistant