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Minnesota House of Representatives

Ways and Means

FORTY-FIRST MEETING

2025-2026 Regular Session - Friday, May 15, 2026

STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTY-FIRST MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION


Ways and Means Committee

MINUTES

Representative Torkelson, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, began the meeting at 11:06AM on May 15th, 2026, in Room 120 of the Capitol. A quorum present.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:

TORKELSON, Paul, GOP Chair
FRAZIER, Cedrick, DFL Chair
SCOTT, Peggy, GOP Vice Chair
AGBAJE, Esther, DFL Vice Chair
ACOMB, Patty
BACKER, Jeff
BAKER, Dave
BIERMAN, Robert
GOMEZ, Aisha
HEINTZEMAN, Josh
IGO, Spencer
KLEVORN, Ginny
KOEGEL, Erin
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie
KOZNICK, Jon
KRESHA, Ron
LILLIE, Leon
MOLLER, Kelly
NASH, Jim
NOOR, Mohamud
NOVOTNY, Paul
OLSON, Bjorn
PINTO, Dave
SCHOMACKER, Joe
SWEDZINSKI, Chris
VANG, Samantha
WEST, Nolan
YOUAKIM, Cheryl

Vice-Chair Agbaje moved the minutes of May 14th, 2026, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

SF334 (Torkelson)– Information technology modernization account established, general fund surplus dollars allocated to account, report required, and money transferred.

Chair Torkelson moved that SF334 be placed on the General Register.

Chair Torkelson moved the SF334DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Torkelson renewed the motion that SF334, as amended, be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF2484 (Lee, F.) – Library construction grant program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

Chair Torkelson moved that HF2484 be placed on the General Register.

Representative Koznick moved the HF2484DE1 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Chair Torkelson renewed the motion that HF2484, as amended, be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF719 (Franson) – Safe routes to school grant program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

Chair Torkelson moved that HF719 be placed on the General Register.

Representative Koznick moved the HF719A1 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Chair Torkelson renewed the motion that HF719, as amended, be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF2486 (Franson) – Early childhood learning and child protection facilities funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

Chair Torkelson moved that HF2486 be placed on the General Register.

Representative Koznick moved the HF2486A1 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Chair Torkelson renewed the motion that HF2486, as amended, be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The committee recessed at 11:17AM.

The committee reconvened at 6:00PM.

SF1943 (Norris) – Pet shops prohibited from selling cats and dogs.

Chair Torkelson moved that SF1943 be placed on the General Register.

Representative Vang moved the SF1943DE1 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Chair Torkelson renewed the motion that SF1943, as amended, be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

SF4401 (Hanson, J.) – Cannabis; studies and market analysis conducted by the Office of Cannabis Management modified, and reports required.

Chair Torkelson moved that SF4401be placed on the General Register.

Chair Torkelson moved the SF4401DE1 amendment before committee.

Testifiers:
Eric Taubel, Director of Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management
Amber Shimpa, President of Vireo Growth and CEO of Minnesota, Maryland and New York

Representative West moved the SF4401A1 amendment to the SF4401DE1 amendment and requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:

AYES:
TORKELSON, Paul, GOP Chair
SCOTT, Peggy, GOP Vice Chair
BACKER, Jeff
BAKER, Dave
HEINTZEMAN, Josh
IGO, Spencer
KOZNICK, Jon
KRESHA, Ron
NASH, Jim
NOVOTNY, Paul
OLSON, Bjorn
SCHOMACKER, Joe
SWEDZINSKI, Chris
WEST, Nolan

NAYS:
FRAZIER, Cedrick, DFL Chair
AGBAJE, Esther, DFL Vice Chair
ACOMB, Patty
BIERMAN, Robert
GOMEZ, Aisha
KLEVORN, Ginny
KOEGEL, Erin
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie
LILLIE, Leon
MOLLER, Kelly
NOOR, Mohamud
PINTO, Dave
VANG, Samantha
YOUAKIM, Cheryl

On a vote of 14 AYES and 14 NAYS, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.

Chair Torkelson moved the SF4401DE1 amendment and requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:

AYES:
FRAZIER, Cedrick, DFL Chair
AGBAJE, Esther, DFL Vice Chair
ACOMB, Patty
BIERMAN, Robert
GOMEZ, Aisha
KLEVORN, Ginny
KOEGEL, Erin
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie
LILLIE, Leon
MOLLER, Kelly
NOOR, Mohamud
PINTO, Dave
VANG, Samantha
WEST, Nolan
YOUAKIM, Cheryl

NAYS:
TORKELSON, Paul, GOP Chair
SCOTT, Peggy, GOP Vice Chair
BACKER, Jeff
BAKER, Dave
HEINTZEMAN, Josh
IGO, Spencer
KOZNICK, Jon
KRESHA, Ron
NASH, Jim
NOVOTNY, Paul
OLSON, Bjorn
SCHOMACKER, Joe
SWEDZINSKI, Chris

On a vote of 15 AYES and 13 NAYS, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Torkelson renewed the motion that SF4401, as amended, be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:44PM.





Representative Torkelson, Chair




Representative Cedrick Frazier, Chair




Representative Peggy Scott, Vice Chair




Representative Esther Agbaje, Vice Chair




Representative Patty Acomb




Representative Jeff Backer




Representative Dave Baker




Representative Robert Bierman




Representative Aisha Gomez




Representative Josh Heintzeman




Representative Spencer Igo




Representative Ginny Klevorn




Representative Erin Koegel




Representative Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn




Representative Jon Koznick




Representative Ron Kresha




Representative Leon Lillie




Representative Kelly Moller




Representative Jim Nash




Representative Mohamud Noor




Representative Paul Novotny




Representative Bjorn Olson




Representative Dave Pinto




Representative Joe Schomacker




Representative Chris Swedzinski




Representative Samantha Vang




Representative Nolan West




Representative Cheryl Youakim




Allie Spellman, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • SF334 (Clardy) - Human Services Systems Modernization Advisory Council and a Legislative Commission on Human Services Systems, modernization fund and eligible uses established, reports required, and money appropriated.
  • SF4401 (Hanson) - Cannabis policy bill.
  • HF2484 (Lee) - Bonding bill; spending authorized to acquire and better land and buildings and for other improvements of a capital nature, new programs established and existing programs modified, report required, prior appropriations modified and canceled, and money appropriated.
  • HF719 (Franson) - Safe routes to school grant program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
  • HF2486 (Franson) - Early childhood learning and child protection facilities funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
  • SF1943 (Norris) - Legacy bill; Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council and Greater Minnesota Regional Park and Trails Commission provisions modified, acquiring land interests provisions modified, state parks added to and deleted from, land sales and conveyances authorized, money appropriated from outdoor heritage fund, and prior appropriations modified and extended from legacy funds.
Documents:
Audio:
Listen Now
House TV Video:
View Archive

02:06 - SF334 (Torkelson) Information technology modernization account established, general fund surplus dollars allocated to account, report required, and money transferred.
03:30 - HF2484 (Lee, F.) Library construction grant program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
05:29 - HF719 (Franson) Safe routes to school grant program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
07:13 - HF2486 (Franson) Early childhood learning and child protection facilities funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
The Committee recessed.
Runs 11 minutes.

House TV Video:
View Archive

00:22 - SF1943 (Norris) Outdoor Heritage Fund legacy and Lands bill.
04:43 - SF4401 (Hanson) Cannabis; studies and market analysis conducted by the Office of Cannabis Management modified, and reports required.
Runs 1 hour, 44 minutes.

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of May 14, 2026, Committee Minutes

3. SF334 (Torkelson) Information technology modernization account established, general fund surplus dollars allocated to account, report required, and money transferred. SF334 will be amended by the SF334 DE1 Amendment.

4. SF4401(Hanson, J.) Studies and market analysis conducted by the Office of Cannabis Management modified, and reports required.
SF4401 will be amended by the SF4401 DE1 Amendment.

5. HF2484 (Lee, F.) Library construction grant program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2484 will be amended by the HF2484 DE1 Amendment.

6. HF719 (Franson) Safe routes to school grant program funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF719 will be amended by the HF719 A1 Amendment.

7. HF2486 (Franson) Early childhood learning and child protection facilities funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated. HF2486 will be amended by the HF2486 A1 Amendment.

8. SF1943 (Norris) Pet shops prohibited from selling cats and dogs. SF1943 will be amended by the DE1 Amendment. This will be the Legacy and Lands Bill.

Agenda items may be added or removed.