STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTIETH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD SESSION
ELECTIONS FINANCE AND POLICY MEETING MINUTES
Representative Mike Freiberg, Chair of the Committee on Elections Finance and Policy, called the meeting to order at 8:30am on March 13, 2024, in Room 200 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members Present:
FREIBERG, Mike, Chair
GREENMAN, Emma, Vice Chair
TORKELSON, Paul, Republican Lead
AGBAJE, Esther
ALTENDORF, Pam
BAHNER, Kristin
BLISS, Matt
COULTER, Nathan
DAVIS, Ben
FREDERICK, Luke
PURSELL, Kristi
QUAM, Duane
VIRNIG, Bianca
A quorum was present.
Representative Frederick moved that the minutes from March 6, 2023 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3276 (Frazier); A bill for an act relating to elections; providing for ranked choice voting; authorizing jurisdictions to adopt ranked choice voting for local offices; establishing procedures for adoption, implementation, and use of ranked choice voting for local jurisdictions; allowing
local jurisdictions to use electronic voting systems with a reallocation feature; authorizing rulemaking; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 204B.35, subdivision 1; 204C.21, by adding a subdivision; 204D.07, subdivision 3; 205.13, subdivision 2; 206.57, subdivision 6; 206.58, subdivision 1; 206.83; 211A.02, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 206; proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 204E.
Representative Freiberg moved that HF 3276 be re-referred to the Committee on State and Local Government Finance Policy.
Testifying on HF3276:
• Steve Simon, Secretary of State, Minnesota
• Jen Westmoreland, Member, Hopkins School Board
• Christina Scipioni, City Clerk, Bloomington
• Anita Smithson, Resident, Bloomington
• Rod Adams, Executive Director, New Justice Project Minnesota
• Mary Hartnett, Executive Director, Clean Elections Minnesota
• Michael Holdt, Resident, St. Paul
• Nicole Freeman, Government Relations, Secretary of State
Representative Torkelson moved the H3276A6 amendment.
Representative Torkelson withdrew the H3276A6 amendment.
Representative Quam moved the H3276A7 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Freiberg renewed the motion that HF 3276 be re-referred to the Committee on State and Local Government Finance Policy. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4728 (Bahner); A bill for an act relating to elections; requiring the commissioner of revenue to establish an online system to claim the political contribution refund; amending the political contribution refund program to allow for electronic information transfer between the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board and the Department of Revenue; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 10A.02, subdivision 11b; 10A.322, subdivision 4; Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 290.06, subdivision 23.
Representative Bahner moved that HF 4728 be re-referred to the Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law.
Representative Bahner moved the H4728DE2 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifying on HF 4728, as amended:
• Kyle Tonn, Resident, Maple Grove
• Mary Hartnett, Executive Director, Clean Elections Minnesota
• Tom Wiesen, Resident, Minnesota
• Joanna Bayers, Legislative Director, Department of Revenue
• Jeff Sigurdson, Executive Director, Campaign Finance Board
Representative Bahner renewed the motion that HF 4728, as amended, be re-referred to the Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4287 (Virnig); A bill for an act relating to school boards; modifying the requirements to fill a vacancy in the office of school board member; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 123B.09, subdivision 5b.
Representative Virnig moved that HF 4287 be placed on the General Register.
Testifying on HF 4287:
• Gregory Winter, Superintendent, Melrose Area Public Schools
• Mike Funk, Superintendent, Stillwater Area Public Schools
Representative Virnig renewed the motion that HF 4287 be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was recessed at 9:50AM.
The meeting was re-convened at 6:00PM.
HF 4598 (Long); A bill for an act relating to the legislature; proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article IV, sections 3, 5, and 12; by adding an article XV; establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission; establishing a Redistricting Commission Applicant Review Panel; establishing principles to be used in adopting legislative and congressional districts; prohibiting members of the legislature from being employed or engaged for compensation as a lobbyist for a period of one year following the end of their legislative service; amending requirements related to the convening and conduct of regular legislative sessions; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 2.031, by adding a subdivision; 2.731; 10A.01, subdivision 35; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 2; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 2.91.
Representative Freiberg moved that HF 4598 be re-referred to the Committee on State and Local Government Finance Policy.
Testifying on HF4598, as amended:
• Michael Li, Senior Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice
• Sarah Lopez, Policy Director, UnidosMN
• Robert Haider, Legislative Director, Take Action
• David Fisher, Volunteer, Clean Elections Minnesota
Representative Davis moved the H4598A2 amendment.
Representative Davis requested a roll call on the H4598A2 amendment.
AYES:
Altendorf
Bliss
Davis
Quam
NAYS:
Freiberg
Greenman
Bahner
Coulter
Frederick
Pursell
Virnig
EXCUSED:
Torkelson
Agbaje
There being 4 Ayes, 7 Nayes, and 2 Excused, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Altendorf moved the H4598A3 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Altendorf moved the H4598A4 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Bliss moved the H4598A5 amendment.
Representative Bliss requested a roll call on the H4598A5 amendment.
AYES:
Altendorf
Bliss
Davis
Quam
NAYS:
Freiberg
Greenman
Bahner
Coulter
Frederick
Pursell
Virnig
EXCUSED:
Torkelson
Agbaje
There being 4 Ayes, 7 Nayes, and 2 Excused, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Davis moved the H4598A6 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Quam moved the H4598A7 amendment.
Representative Quam requested a roll call on the H4598A7 amendment.
AYES:
Altendorf
Bliss
Davis
Quam
NAYS:
Freiberg
Greenman
Bahner
Coulter
Frederick
Pursell
Virnig
EXCUSED:
Torkelson
Agbaje
There being 4 Ayes, 7 Nayes, and 2 Excused, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Altendorf moved the H4598A8 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Freiberg renewed the motion that HF 4598, as amended, be re-referred to the Committee on State and Local Government Finance Policy. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4593 (Klevorn); A bill for an act relating to redistricting; establishing an advisory citizens' redistricting commission; establishing redistricting principles and redistricting requirements; proposing a constitutional amendment to establish an independent citizens' redistricting commission; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 2A; 204B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 2.91, subdivision 1.
Representative Freiberg moved that HF 4593 be re-referred to the Committee on State and Local Government Finance Policy.
Testifying on HF4593:
• Dan Vicuna, Director of Redistricting, Common Cause
• Jovita Morales, Executive Director, Minnesota Immigrant Movement
• May Yang, Public Policy Manager, Minnesota Council on Foundations
• Brian Cook, Director of Elections and Energy, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Representative Davis moved the H4593A1 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.
Representative Freiberg renewed the motion that HF 4593 be re-referred to the Committee on State and Local Government Finance Policy. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:41 PM.
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Representative Mike Freiberg, Chair
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Mike Hermanson, Committee Legislative Assistant