STATE OF MINNESOTA ELEVENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION
AGRICULTURE, RURAL ECONOMIES AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Otremba, Chair of the Committee, called the meeting to order at 8:05 A.M. on, February 28, 2007, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
OTREMBA, Chair HEIDGERKEN
FAUST, Vice-Chair HOSCH
HAMILTON, Republican Lead JUHNKE
BROWN MORROW
DOTY SHIMANSKI
EKEN URDAHL
FINSTAD
A quorum was present.
Rep. Brown moved approval of the minutes from February 21, 2007.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE MINUTES WERE ADOPTED.
Representative Juhnke moved HF 390 (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/hf0390.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Taxes.
Representative Rukavina explained HF 390 Disabled veteran or surviving spouse homestead property tax exemption provided to the committee.
Representative Juhnke renewed his motion that HF 390 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Taxes.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Faust moved HF 162 (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/hf0162.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Representative Faust moves amendment
HO162A1
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Haws and Representative Dan Severson presented HF 162 Minnesota GI Bill program established to provide postsecondary education assistance to veterans, and money appropriated.
Speaking on behalf of HF 162:
Commissioner Clark Dyrud, Department of Veterans Affair
Colonel Eric Ahlness, Department of Military Affairs, Minnesota National Guard
Representative Faust renewed his motion that HF 162 be recommended to pass as amended and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Faust moved HF533, the first committee engrossment (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/hf0533.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
Representative Faust moved to amend HF 533, the first committee engrossment as follows:
Page 2, Line 28 delete "public".
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THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Lieder presented HF 533, the first committee engrossment Veterans' tuition and fee assistance and reimbursement provided for military veterans and their surviving spouses and children at public colleges and universities, and money appropriated.
Mr. Benjamin Wogsland, Office of the Minnesota Attorney General explained the benefits of this bill to the committee member and answered questions.
Representative Faust renewed his motion that HF 533, the first committee engrossment be recommended to pass as amended and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Faust moved HF 300, the First Engrossment (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/hf0300.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Taxes.
Mr Jim Cleary, Minnesota House Research explained amendment
HO300A2 to the committee.
Representative Faust took over the chair at 8:50 AM.
Representative Eken moves amendment
H0300A2.
Representative Morrow moves to amend
H0300A2, the amendment to HF 300, the first committee engrossment, as follows:
Page 3, Line 14, after "United States" insert ", including members of the Minnesota National Guard,"
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Eken renewed his motion to move amendment
H0300A2 as amended.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Haws and Representative Severson explained HF 300, the first committee engrossment on Military pay tax deduction expanded and military pension subtraction including survivor benefits created to the committee.
Testifying in favor of HF 300, the first committee engrossment was:
Mr. Paul Wagner, Chairman & CEO of Minnesota Wire & Cable Company
Mr. Ralph Donais, Minnesota Veterans Retiree association.
Colonel Eric Ahlness, Department of Military Affairs, Minnesota National Guard.
Representative Faust renewed his motion that HF 300, the first committee engrossment be recommended to pass as amended and re-referred to the Committee on Taxes.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Heidgerken moved HF 142 (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/hf0142.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Taxes.
Representative Wardlow explained HF 142 Property tax refund household income definition modified to exempt the amount of any military disability pay received by a veteran from the federal government.
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Representative Heidgerken renewed his motion that HF 142 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Taxes.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Heidgerken moved HF 284, the first committee engrossment (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/hf0284.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Local Government.
Representative Ruth explained HF 284, the first committee engrossment, Special assessment deferments authorized for members of the armed forces, and grants
from the Support Our Troops account authorized for eligible individuals to pay special assessments.
Representative Heidgerken moved to amend HF 284, the first committee engrossment, as follows:
Page 1, line 16, delete “for a period of six months or more,"
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifying in favor of HF 284 were:
Colonel Eric Ahlness, Department of Military Affairs, Minnesota National Guard
Representative Heidgerken renewed his motion that HF 284, the first committee engrossment be recommended to pass as amended and re-referred to the Committee Local Government.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Urdahl moved SF 255 (see language at: http://wdoc.house.leg.state.mn.us/leg/LS85/sf0255.1.pdf) be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Finance.
THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The Chair re-referred the following bills to the Veterans Affair Division:
HF1134 (Doty) Minnesota National Guard Non-appropriated Fund Instrumentality established.
HF551 (Wollschlager) Tax deduction for out-of-state active military duty clarified.
HF903 (Severson) Montgomery GI Bill for the Selected Reserves; Congress urged by resolution to permit members of the National Guard and reserves to receive and use federal educational benefits following separation from active status and discharge.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:31 A.M.
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REP. MARY ELLEN OTREMBA, Chair
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Mary M. Larson, Committee Legislative Assistant