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Commerce Finance and Policy

TWENTIETH MEETING

2023-2024 Regular Session - Monday, March 20, 2023

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTIETH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD SESSION

COMMERCE FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES

Representative Zack Stephenson, Chair of the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM on March 20, 2023 in Room 10 of the State Office Building. It was broadcast via House Public Information Services.

Members Present:
STEPHENSON, Zack, Chair
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Vice Chair
O’DRISCOLL, Tim, GOP Lead
BIERMAN, Robert
CHA, Ethan
DAUDT, Kurt
DOTSETH, Jeff
FREIBERG, Mike
KLEVORN, Ginny
KOEGEL, Erin
KRAFT, Larry
LIEBLING, Tina
NEU BRINDLEY, Anne
NISKA, Harry
PERRYMAN, Bernie
PFARR, Brian
TABKE, Brad

A presentation of the Governor’s Commerce budget recommendations from the Department of Commerce.

Presenting:
Grace Arnold, Commissioner, Department of Commerce

A quorum was present.

Vice Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved approval of the minutes from March 15, 2023. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Vice Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn assumed the gavel at 1:18 PM.

HF100 (Stephenson); Omnibus cannabis bill.

Chair Stephenson moved that HF100 be recommended to be referred to the Taxes Committee.

Chair Stephenson moved the H0100A83 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

The following testified on HF100 as amended:
• Kayla Fearing, Owner, Healing Fear Consulting
• Glenn McElfresh, Co-founder, Plift Beverages
• John Dugas, CEO, Superior Molecular
• Veronika Alfaro, Founder, Mi Sota Essence
• Ted Galaty, Owner, Willow’s Keep Farm
• Nathan Ratner, Vice President and Co-founder, The Great Rise
• Matt Schwandt, Owner, Bauhaus Brew Labs
• Carol Moss, Business Attorney, Hellmuth & Johnson PLLC
• Susan Burns, Attorney, S Burns Legal PLLC
• Angela Dawson, Co-founder and CEO, Forty Acre Cooperative

Representative Tabke moved the H0100A72 amendment.

The following testified on the H0100A72 amendment:
Dr. Clemon Dabney, Chief Science Officer, Superior Moleculor

Representative Tabke renewed the motion of the H0100A72 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Perryman moved the H0100A81 amendment.

Representative O’Driscoll requested a roll call on the H0100A81 amendment. The clerk took the roll.

AYES
O’DRISCOLL, Tim, GOP Lead
DAUDT, Kurt
DOTSETH, Jeff
NEU BRINDLEY, Anne
NISKA, Harry
PERRYMAN, Bernie
PFARR, Brian

NAYS
STEPHENSON, Zack, Chair
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Vice Chair
CHA, Ethan
FREIBERG, Mike
KLEVORN, Ginny
KOEGEL, Erin
KRAFT, Larry
LIEBLING, Tina
TABKE, Brad

EXCUSED
BIERMAN, Robert

With 7 AYES and 9 NAYS, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL AND THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative O’Driscoll moved the H0100A84 amendment.

Representative O’Driscoll requested a roll call on the H0100A84 amendment. The clerk took the roll.

AYES
O’DRISCOLL, Tim, GOP Lead
DAUDT, Kurt
DOTSETH, Jeff
NEU BRINDLEY, Anne
NISKA, Harry
PERRYMAN, Bernie
PFARR, Brian

NAYS
STEPHENSON, Zack, Chair
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Vice Chair
CHA, Ethan
FREIBERG, Mike
KLEVORN, Ginny
KOEGEL, Erin
KRAFT, Larry
LIEBLING, Tina
TABKE, Brad

EXCUSED
BIERMAN, Robert

With 7 AYES and 9 NAYS, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL AND THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Chair Stephenson renewed the motion that HF100, as amended, be recommended to be referred to the Taxes Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Stephenson assumed the gavel at 2:17 PM.

HF2503 (Bahner); Equal coverage of services provided by pharmacist required, and medical assistance and MinnesotaCare requirements for coverage and payment of pharmacy services set.

Chair Stephenson moved that HF2503 be recommended to be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee.

Representative Bahner presented HF2503.

The following testified on HF2503:
• Jeff Lindoo, Co-chair, Public Affairs Committee, Minnesota Pharmacists Association (MPhA)
• Matt Shafer, Director of Government Relations, Medica

Chair Stephenson renewed the motion that HF2503 be recommended to be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1459 (Freiberg); Consumer protection violation civil remedies amended for individual or family farmer.

Representative Freiberg moved that HF1459 be recommended to be placed on the General Register.

Representative Freiberg moved the H1459A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Freiberg presented HF1459 as amended.

The following testified on HF1459 as amended:
• Ron Elwood, Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid

Representative Freiberg renewed the motion that HF1459, as amended, be recommended to be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1751 (Kotyza-Witthuhn); Loan resolution and financial stability program funding provided for a character-based innovative loan program, and money appropriated.

Vice Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved that HF1751 be laid over for possible inclusion in a Commerce Finance and Policy omnibus bill.

Vice Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved the H1751DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Vice Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn presented HF1751 as amended.

The following testified on HF1751 as amended:
• Anne Leland Clark, Executive Director, Exodus Lending
• Melissa Burrola, Bilingual Financial Services Coordinator, Neighbors Inc.

Vice Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn renewed the motion that HF1751, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion. The bill was laid over.

HF1336 (Kotyza-Witthuhn); Minnesota Council on Economic Education grants provided, reports required, and money appropriated.

Vice Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved that HF1336 be laid over for possible inclusion in a Commerce Finance and Policy omnibus bill.

Vice Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn presented HF1336.

The following testified on HF1336:
• Julie Bunn, Executive Director, Minnesota Council on Economic Education

Vice Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn renewed the motion that HF1336 be laid over for possible inclusion. The bill was laid over.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:44 PM.

___________________________________________
Representative Zack Stephenson, Chair


___________________________________________
Jack Dockendorf, Committee Legislative Assistant




More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF100 (Stephenson) - Cannabis finance and policy bill.
  • HF1336 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) - Minnesota Council on Economic Education grants provided, reports required, and money appropriated.
  • HF1751 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) - Loan resolution and financial stability program funding provided for a character-based innovative loan program, and money appropriated.
  • HF2503 (Bahner) - Equal coverage of services provided by pharmacist required, and medical assistance and MinnesotaCare requirements for coverage and payment of pharmacy services set.
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:11 - Department of Commerce budget presentation.
19:09 - HF100 (Stephenson) Cannabis finance and policy bill.
1:17:57 - HF2503 (Bahner) Equal coverage of services provided by pharmacist required, and Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare requirements for coverage and payment of pharmacy services set.
1:25:23 - HF1459 (Freiberg) Consumer protection violation civil remedies amended for individual or family farmer.
1:28:15 - HF1751 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) Loan resolution and financial stability program funding provided for a character-based innovative loan program, and money appropriated.
1:39:41 - HF1336 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) Minnesota Council on Economic Education grants provided, reports required, and money appropriated.
Runs 1 hour, 44 minutes.


Budget Presentation - Commissioner Grace Arnold, Department of Commerce

HF100 (Stephenson); Omnibus cannabis bill. **testimony limited to the amendments**

HF2503 (Bahner); Equal coverage of services provided by pharmacist required, and medical assistance and MinnesotaCare requirements for coverage and payment of pharmacy services set.

HF1751 (Kotyza-Witthuhn); Loan resolution and financial stability program funding provided for a character-based innovative loan program, and money appropriated.

HF1336 (Kotyza-Witthuhn); Minnesota Council on Economic Education grants provided, reports required, and money appropriated.

HF1459 (Freiberg); Consumer protection violation civil remedies amended for individual or family farmer.

Items may be taken up in any order, added, removed at the Chair’s discretion

**Public testimony may be limited at the Chair’s discretion. Testimony will be taken in the order signed up. If testimony is limited, you will be informed by email**

If you would like to testify or provide handouts to the committee please email simon.brown@house.mn.gov, preferably 24 hours prior to the hearing.

To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access. If you have further questions on accommodations or accessibility, please contact the Committee Administrator.

The hearing will be broadcast through House Information Services, for more information visit: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/hinfo.asp