Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

State Government Finance and Elections

FORTY-FIRST MEETING

2021-2022 Regular Session - Tuesday, February 15, 2022

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


STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCE & ELECTIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES

Representative Michael V. Nelson, Chair of the Committee, called the virtual State Government Finance & Elections Committee meeting to order at 8:31 AM, February 15, 2022 pursuant to House rule 10.01. The meeting was conducted over Zoom and broadcast via House Public Information Services.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members Present:
NELSON, Michael V. - Chair
CARLSON, Andrew - Vice Chair
NASH, Jim - Minority Lead
BAHNER, Kristin
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
ELKINS, Steve
GREENMAN, Emma
KLEVORN, Ginny
KOZNICK, Jon
MASIN, Sandra
NEU BRINDLEY, Anne
PELOWSKI, Gene
QUAM, Duane

A quorum was present.

Representative Klevorn moved that the minutes for February 14, 2022, be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Nelson moved that HF2618 be referred to the General Register.

Representative Hansen presented HF2618, cities required to allow native landscapes on private land, and vegetation overgrowth within cities prohibited.

The following testified on HF2618:
Elaine Evans, Department of Entomology, U of M
Heidi Heiland, Owner, Heidi's GrowHaus & Lifestyle Gardens
Jason Rathe, Field Outdoor Spaces
Tim Malooly, Irrigation by Design
Scott Frampton, Co-Owner, Landscape Renovations

The following submitted written testimonies on HF2618:
Joanna Eckles, Conservation Biologist, Avian specialist
Dale Gentry, Conservation Manager, Audubon Minnesota
Laurie Schneider, Executive Director, Pollinator Friendly Alliance
Paulita LaPlante, CSO & Partner, Prescription Landscape Inc.
Jeff Dinsmore, Co-founder, Humming for Bees
Patricia Hauser, Co-founder, Humming for Bees
Mike Lund, Government Relations Specialist, Metro Cities
John Bly, Director of Operations & Special Projects
Craig A. Johnson, Intergovernmental Relations Representative, League of Minnesota Cities
Dell Eriksson, Citizen
Margot Monson, Entomologist

Chair Nelson renewed the motion that HF2618 be referred to the General Register.

The clerk noted the roll.

AYES
NELSON, Michael V. - Chair
CARLSON, Andrew - Vice Chair
BAHNER, Kristin
ELKINS, Steve
GREENMAN, Emma
KLEVORN, Ginny
KOZNICK, Jon
MASIN, Sandra
PELOWSKI, Gene

NAYS
NASH, Jim - Minority Lead
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
NEU BRINDLEY, Anne
QUAM, Duane

With a vote of 9 AYES and 4 NAYS, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Nelson moved that the HF2894 division report be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Nelson moved that HF2894 be referred to the General Register.

Representative Huot presented HF2894, subordinate service district establishment by counties permitted.

The following testified on HF2894:
Commissioner Mike Slavik, Dakota County
Sheriff Tim Leslie, Dakota County

Chair Nelson renewed the motion that HF2894 be referred to the General Register.

The clerk noted the roll.

AYES
NELSON, Michael V. - Chair
CARLSON, Andrew - Vice Chair
BAHNER, Kristin
ELKINS, Steve
GREENMAN, Emma
KLEVORN, Ginny
KOZNICK, Jon
MASIN, Sandra
PELOWSKI, Gene

NAYS
NASH, Jim - Minority Lead
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
NEU BRINDLEY, Anne
QUAM, Duane

With a vote of 9 AYES and 4 NAYS, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Nelson moved HF2454 to be referred to the General Register.

Representative N. Nelson presented HF2454, Public Utilities Commission membership increase permitted.

The following testified on HF2454:
Greg Ardner, Chair, Mora Public Utilities Commission
Mayor Alan Skramstad, Mora

Chair Nelson renewed the motion that HF2454 be referred to the General Register.

The clerk noted the roll.

AYES
NELSON, Michael V. - Chair
CARLSON, Andrew - Vice Chair
NASH, Jim - Minority Lead
BAHNER, Kristin
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
ELKINS, Steve
GREENMAN, Emma
KLEVORN, Ginny
KOZNICK, Jon
MASIN, Sandra
NEU BRINDLEY, Anne
PELOWSKI, Gene
QUAM, Duane

With a vote of 13 AYES, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The committee recessed at 9:43 AM.

The committee reconvened at 6:01 PM.

Chair Nelson moved HF3190 to be laid over for future consideration.

Chair Nelson moved Amendment H3190A5. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Chair Nelson moved Amendment H3190A6. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Nash moved Amendment H3190A4 and called for a Roll Call Vote.

The clerk noted the roll.

AYES
NASH, Jim - Minority Lead
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
KOZNICK, Jon
NEU BRINDLEY, Anne
QUAM, Duane

NAYS
NELSON, Michael V. - Chair
CARLSON, Andrew - Vice Chair
ELKINS, Steve
GREENMAN, Emma
KLEVORN, Ginny
PELOWSKI, Gene

ABSENT
BAHNER, Kristin
MASIN, Sandra

With a vote of 5 AYES, 6 NAYS, and 2 ABSENT, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

The following testified on HF3190 as amended:
Aaron McKean, Legal Counsel, State & Local Reform, Campaign Legal Center
Arline Datu, ISAIAH
Jeff Sigurdson, Executive Director, Minnesota Campaign Finance Board

The following submitted written testimonies on HF3190 as amended:
Chris Conry, Campaign Director, 100% Campaign
George Beck, Board Member, Clean Elections Minnesota
Aaron McKean, Legal Counsel, Campaign Legal Center

Representative Long presented HF3190, as amended, campaign finance; communication express advocacy definition modified, independent expenditure disclaimer additional information required, and Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board directed to adopt rules on small electronic communication disclaimer requirements.

Chair Nelson renewed the motion that HF3190, as amended, be laid over for future consideration.

Chair Nelson moved HF2857 to be laid over for future consideration.

Representative Nash presented HF2857, elections; absentee or sample ballot application mailing requirements provided for committee or private organization.

The following testified on HF2857:
Matt Gehring, Staff Coordinator / Attorney, Minnesota House of Representatives
Nicole Freeman, Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State

Chair Nelson renewed the motion that HF2857 be laid over for future consideration.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 PM.



__________________________________________
Representative Michael Nelson, Chair


__________________________________________
Benjamin Brinks, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF2454 (Nelson) - Mora; Public Utilities Commission membership increase permitted.
  • HF2618 (Hansen) - Cities required to allow native landscapes on private land, and vegetation overgrowth within cities prohibited.
  • HF2894 (Huot) - Dakota County; subordinate service district establishment authorized.
  • HF2857 (Nash) - Elections; absentee or sample ballot application mailing requirements provided for committee or private organization.
  • HF3190 (Long) - Campaign finance; communication express advocacy definition modified, independent expenditure disclaimer additional information required, and Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board directed to adopt rules on small electronic communication disclaimer requirements, and money appropriated.
House TV Video:
View Archive

02:21 - HF2618 (Hansen) Cities required to allow native landscapes on private land, and vegetation overgrowth within cities prohibited.
32:05 - HF2894 (Huot) Subordinate service district establishment by counties permitted.
1:04:00 - HF2454 (Nelson, N) Mora; Public Utilities Commission membership increase permitted.
The committee recessed.
Runs 1 hour, 13 minutes.

House TV Video:
View Archive

00:13 - HF3190 (Long) Campaign finance; communication express advocacy definition modified, independent expenditure disclaimer additional information required, and Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board directed to adopt rules on small electronic communication disclaimer requirements.
34:34 - HF2857 (Nash) Elections; absentee or sample ballot application mailing requirements provided for committee or private organization.
Runs 1 hour.


8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
*HF2618 (Hansen) Cities required to allow native landscapes on private land, and vegetation overgrowth within cities prohibited.
*HF2894 (Huot) Subordinate service district establishment by counties permitted.
*HF2454 (Nelson, N.) Mora; Public Utilities Commission membership increase permitted.

Recess by 10 a.m.
Any business not finished in the morning will be continued when the committee reconvenes in the evening.

Reconvene at 6 p.m.
*HF3190 (Long) Campaign finance; communication express advocacy definition modified, independent expenditure disclaimer additional information required, and Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board directed to adopt rules on small electronic communication disclaimer requirements.
*HF2857 (Nash) Elections; absentee or sample ballot application mailing requirements provided for committee or private organization.

TESTIFYING: To testify or submit written testimony, please email Amanda Rudolph, the committee administrator, at amanda.rudolph@house.mn no later than 5 p.m. the business day before the hearing. Testimony will be limited and as time permits, therefore written testimony is encouraged. Please plan accordingly.
HANDOUTS: Handouts must be in PDF format with Optical Character Recognition ability and emailed to Amanda Rudolph, the committee administrator, at amanda.rudolph@house.mn no later than 5 p.m. the business day before the hearing.
RULE 10.01: Meetings are held in accordance with House Rule 10.01.

This remote hearing may be viewed via the House webcast schedule page: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp

All events are closed-captioned.

To provide feedback on digital accessibility of meeting information, please submit comments through the Minnesota Legislature Accessibility & Usability Comment Form. If you require an accommodation, please contact John Howe at: John.Howe@house.mn or by leaving a message at 651-296-3208. Please do not contact him with questions about the substance of the meeting agenda. To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access.