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Agriculture Finance and Policy

EIGHTEENTH MEETING

2021-2022 Regular Session - Monday, March 15, 2021

STATE OF MINNESOTA EIGHTEENTH 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 Monday, March 15, 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. Anderson moved to approve adoption of the minutes of the previous meeting. The motion prevailed. The minutes from the March 10, 2021 meeting were adopted.

HF 1524 (Sundin) Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, and Agriculture Utilization Research Institute budget established; border-to-border broadband fund account money transferred; agriculture policy and technical changes made; biofuels program and advisory committee created; and money appropriated.

Rep. Sundin moved HF 1524 to get the bill before the committee.

Colbey Sullivan, House Research, provided a walkthrough of Article 1.

Sherry Kromschroeder, Finance and Budget Director, MDA, provided a walkthrough of Article 2.

Testifying:
Tristan Wilmes, CFS Cooperative and MN Crop Production Retailers Association
Bill Bond, MN Crop Production Retailers Association Executive Director
Timothy J. Rudnicki, Executive Director, Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association

Chair Sundin noted that the MN Nursery and Landscape Association, MN Farm Bureau, and MN Farmers Union submitted written testimony.

Chair Sundin laid over HF 1524.

HF 1059 (Burkel) Wolf and elk depredation payment funding provided, and money appropriated.

Rep. Burkel moved that HF 1059 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill.

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

Testifying:
Shayne Isane, Minnesota Farm Bureau
Bruce Kleven, Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association

Chair Sundin laid over HF 1059, as amended, for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill.

HF 1547 (Lueck) Food handler license account and vending machine inspection account created.

Rep. Lueck moved that HF 1547 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill.

Testifying:
Katherine Simon, Director of the MN Department of Agriculture’s Food and Feed Safety Division

Rep. Lueck renewed his motion that HF 1547 be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Agriculture Finance bill. HF 1547 was laid over.

HF 800 (Wolgamott) Meat and poultry processing workplace safety provided, rulemaking authorized, report required, and money appropriated.

Rep. Vang moved HF 800 to get the bill before the committee.

Rep. Wolgamott presented HF 800.

Rep. Vang moved the A4 amendment. The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.

Testifying:
Matt Utecht, president UFCW Local 663
Steve Schneider, Schneider Custom Meats
Yolanda Martinez, UFCW Local 663 member
Tamara Nelsen, Executive Director, MN AgriGrowth
Brian Schatz, President of the Minnesota Association of Meat Processors
Ma Elena Gutierrez, Fe y Justicia
Matthew Sheets, Land Stewardship Project
Pamela Lomeli, Organizer

Rep. Vang renewed her motion that HF 800, as amended, be recommended to be referred to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law committee.

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

NAYS:
ANDERSON
LUECK
MILLER
NELSON

PASS/ABSTAIN:
BURKEL

There being 8 ayes and 4 nays, the motion prevailed.


Chair Sundin adjourned the meeting at 2:29 P.M.





_______________________________
Representative Mike Sundin, Chair





_______________________________
Kyle Smith, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF1524 (Sundin) - Omnibus agriculture bill.
  • HF1059 (Burkel) - Wolf and elk depredation payment funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF800 (Wolgamott) - Meat and poultry processing workers provided safe workplaces, rulemaking authorized, report required, and money appropriated.
  • HF1547 (Lueck) - Food handler license account and vending machine inspection account created.
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:47 - HF1524 (Sundin) Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, and Agriculture Utilization Research Institute budget established; border-to-border broadband fund account money transferred; agriculture policy and technical changes made; biofuels program and advisory committee created; and money appropriated.
- HF1524 is the bill that reflects the governor's ag-related budget recommendations; articles 1 and 2 were heard and public testimony taken but the bill was laid over for future consideration; this was the vehicle for the Omnibus Agriculture Finance bill to be acted on at a later date.
30:39 - HF1059 (Burkel) Wolf and elk depredation payment funding provided, and money appropriated.
42:37 - HF800 (Wolgamott) Meat and poultry processing workplace safety provided, rulemaking authorized, report required, and money appropriated.
37:38 - HF1547 (Lueck) Food handler license account and vending machine inspection account created.
Runs 1 hour, 29 minutes.


I. *HF 1524 (Sundin) Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, and Agriculture Utilization Research Institute budget established; border-to-border broadband fund account money transferred; agriculture policy and technical changes made; biofuels program and advisory committee created; and money appropriated.
II. HF1059 (Burkel) Wolf and elk depredation payment funding provided, and money appropriated.
III. HF 800 (Wolgamott) Meat and poultry processing workplace safety provided, rulemaking authorized, report required, and money appropriated. (pending referral)
IV. HF 1547 (Lueck) Food handler license account and vending machine inspection account created.

*HF 1524 is the bill that reflects the Governor's ag-related budget recommendations. Articles 1 and 2 will be heard and public testimony taken but the bill will be laid over for future consideration. This will be the vehicle for the 2021 Omnibus Agriculture Finance bill to be acted on at a later date.

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, Friday, March 12, 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 12th to ensure it will be posted on the committee website and provided to members in advance of the hearing.

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