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Agriculture Finance and Policy

TWENTY-FIRST MEETING

2021-2022 Regular Session - Wednesday, March 24, 2021

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-FIRST MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-SECOND SESSION
AGRICULTURE FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES

Representative Mike Sundin, Chair of the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee, called the virtual meeting to order at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, pursuant to House rule 10.01. The meeting was broadcast via Zoom and House Public Information Services.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll. A quorum was present.

Members present:
SUNDIN, Mike, CHAIR
VANG, Samantha, Vice Chair
ANDERSON, Paul, Minority Lead
BURKEL, John
ECKLUND, Rob
HANSEN, Rick
HANSON, Jessica
KLEVORN, Ginny
LIPPERT, Todd
LUECK, Dale
MILLER, Tim
NELSON, Nathan
THOMPSON, John

Rep. Vang moved to approve adoption of the minutes of the previous meeting. The motion prevailed. The minutes from the March 22, 2021 meeting were adopted.

HF 600 (Winkler) Cannabis; Cannabis Management Board and advisory councils established; business licensing, inspection, and regulation provided; testing and labeling of cannabis and related products required; grant and loan programs established; and money appropriated. (Sections related to the Agriculture bill)

Rep. Vang moved that HF 600, third engrossment, be recommended to be referred to the Environment & Natural Resources Finance and Policy committee.

Rep. Vang moved the A13 amendment. The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.

Rep. Winkler presented HF 600 and described the portions of the bill related to the jurisdiction of the Agriculture Committee.

Testifying:
Judson (Kim) Bemis, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Minnesota
Charles Levine, Hemp Acres
Angela Dawson, 40-Acre Cooperative
Jim Erickson, MN Hemp Growers Cooperative
Michael Chaney, Project Sweetie Pie

Assistant Commissioner Whitney Place responded to member questions on behalf of MDA.

Rep. Vang renewed her motion that HF 600, third engrossment, as amended, be recommended to be referred to the Environment & Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee.

AYES:
SUNDIN
VANG
ECKLUND
HANSEN, R.
HANSON, J.
KLEVORN
LIPPERT
THOMPSON

NAYS:
ANDERSON
BURKEL
LUECK
MILLER
NELSON

There being 8 ayes and 5 nays, the motion prevailed.

HF 2147 (Anderson) County agricultural inspector grant funding provided, and money appropriated.

Rep. Anderson moved that HF 2147 be laid for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill.

Testifying:
Joseph Enfield- CHMM, CAI, Lead Environmentalist, Carver County Public Services Division

Rep. Anderson renewed his motion that HF 2147 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill. HF 2147 was laid over.

HF 2298 (Vang) Establishing an emerging farmer account; funding an emerging farmer office and outreach coordinator; appropriating money for emerging farmer grants; transferring money; requiring reports.

Rep. Vang moved that HF 2298 laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill.

Testifying:
Janssen Hang, Executive Director with the Hmong American Farmers Association
Henry Jimenez, Executive Director, Latino Economic Development Center
Dayna Burtness, LSP Member, Houston County Pastured Hog Farmer

Rep. Thompson moved the A1 amendment. The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.

Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey responded to member questions on behalf of MDA.

Rep. Vang renewed her motion that HF 2298, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill. HF 2298 was laid over.

MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen provided an update on the Governor’s revised budget recommendations and an update on federal recovery funding.


Chair Sundin adjourned the meeting at 2:28 P.M.






_______________________________
Representative Mike Sundin, Chair





_______________________________
Kyle Smith, Committee Legislative Assistant


More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF2147 (Anderson) - County agricultural inspector grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF0600 (Winkler) - Omnibus cannabis bill.
  • HF2298 (Vang) - Emerging farmer account established, emerging farmer office and outreach coordinator and grants funded, money transferred, reports required, and money appropriated.
House TV Video:
View Archive

02:04 - HF600 (Winkler) Cannabis; Cannabis Management Board and advisory councils established; use and sale reports required; adult use and possession limited and legalized; business licensing, inspection, and regulation provided; testing and labeling of cannabis and related products required; advertisement limited; private residence cultivation provided; regulatory authority transferred; adult-use sale taxed; grant and loan programs established; criminal penalties amended; expungement procedures established; labor standards established; nuisance civil cause of action created; marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols scheduling amended; data classified; and money appropriated.
43:00 - HF2147 (Anderson) County agricultural inspector grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
52:38 - HF2298 (Vang) Emerging farmer account established; emerging farmer office and outreach coordinator and grants funded; money transferred; reports required; and money appropriated.
1:11:15 - Department of Agriculture update on revised governor's agriculture-related budget recommendations and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 impact on agriculture.
Runs 1 hour, 28 minutes.


I. HF 2147 (Anderson) County agricultural inspector grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
II. HF 2298 (Vang) Establishing an emerging farmer account; funding an emerging farmer office and outreach coordinator; appropriating money for emerging farmer grants; transferring money; requiring reports;
III. *HF 600 (Winkler) Cannabis; Cannabis Management Board and advisory councils established; use and sale reports required; adult use and possession limited and legalized; business licensing, inspection, and regulation provided; testing and labeling of cannabis and related products required; advertisement limited; private residence cultivation provided; regulatory authority transferred; adult-use sale taxed; grant and loan programs established; criminal penalties amended; expungement procedures established; labor standards established; nuisance civil cause of action created; marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols scheduling amended; data classified; and money appropriated.
IV. MDA update on revised Governor's agriculture-related budget recommendations and American Rescue Plan Act impact on ag

* For HF 600, the focus will be on sections within the jurisdiction of the Agriculture Committee.

Amendment deadline is 4:00 PM, Tuesday, March 23, 2021.

This remote hearing is taking place pursuant to Rule 10.01, which you may view here: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/rules/permrule/1001.htm

PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Please contact nancy.conley@house.mn by 4:00 PM, Tuesday, March 23, 2021 if you would like to sign up to testify (testimony may be limited to 2 minutes/person). Written testimony is encouraged and should be submitted by 4:00 PM, March 23rd to ensure it will be posted on the committee website and provided to members in advance of the hearing. Please note: Public testimony on HF 600 should be related to issues within the jurisdiction of the Agriculture Committee and will be limited to 10 minutes total for supporters and 10 minutes total for those in opposition.

PUBLIC VIEWING: This remote hearing may be viewed via the House webcast schedule page: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp NOTE: HTV 1 and HTV 2 will provide live closed captioning. Video archives of meetings streamed on HTV 3, 4, and 5 will have closed captions added. Other reasonable accessibility accommodations may be made with advance notice.

PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY: If you have questions about the accessibility of remote hearings or require an accommodation, please contact Jenny Nash at: jenny.nash@house.mn or by leaving a message at 651-296-4122. Please do not contact her with questions about the substance of the meeting agenda.

MEETING DOCUMENTS: Meeting documents will be posted on the House Agriculture Finance & Policy Committee website at https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/Committees/Home/92001