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Minnesota House of Representatives

Commerce Finance and Policy

FOURTEENTH MEETING

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

STATE OF MINNESOTA FOURTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-SECOND SESSION

COMMERCE FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE

MINUTES
Representative Zack Stephenson, Chair of the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, called the virtual meeting to order at 3:01 PM on February 24, 2021 pursuant to House rule 10.01. The meeting was broadcast via Zoom and House Public Information Services.

Members present:
STEPHENSON, Zack, Chair
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Vice Chair
O’DRISCOLL, Tim, GOP Lead
BAHR, Cal
CARLSON, Andrew
DAVNIE, Jim
ELKINS, Steve
HALEY, Barb
KOEGEL, Erin
LEE, Fue
LILLIE, Leon
LISLEGARD, Dave
LUCERO, Eric
OLSON, Liz
PFARR, Brian
RASMUSSON, Jordan
RICHARDSON, Ruth
THEIS, Tama

A quorum was present.

Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn moved to approve the minutes from the committee meeting on February 23, 2021. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn assumed the gavel at 3:02 PM.

HF1183 (Stephenson); Drug manufacturer or wholesale distributor prohibited from charging unconscionable prices for prescription drugs; Board of Pharmacy, commissioner of human services, and health plan companies required to notify attorney general of prescription drug price increases; attorney general authorized to take action against drug manufacturers and wholesalers; civil penalties imposed; and money appropriated.

Representative Stephenson moved HF1183, as amended, be recommended to be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee.

Representative Stephenson renewed the motion that HF1183, as amended, be recommended to be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee. The clerk took the roll.

AYES
STEPHENSON, Zack, Chair
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Vice Chair
CARLSON, Andrew
DAVNIE, Jim
ELKINS, Steve
KOEGEL, Erin
LEE, Fue
LILLIE, Leon
LISLEGARD, Dave
OLSON, Liz
RICHARDSON, Ruth

NAYS
O’DRISCOLL, Tim, GOP Lead
BAHR, Cal
HALEY, Barb
LUCERO, Eric
PFARR, Brian
RASMUSSON, Jordan
THEIS, Tama

With a vote of 11 AYES and 7 NAYS, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Stephenson assumed the gavel at 3:15 PM.

HF686 (Ecklund); Existing easements held by rural electric cooperative allowed to be used to provide broadband service.

Representative Stephenson moved HF686 be recommended to be referred to the Industrial Education and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee.

Representative Stephenson moved the A21-0037 (Ecklund) amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

The following testified on HF686:
Brian Krambeer, MiEnergy Cooperative
Scott Reimer, Federated Rural Electric Association
Tony Mendoza, MN Cable Communications Association

HF686, as amended, was laid over pending further consideration.

Bentley Graves, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the following four bills requiring mandated coverage for certain conditions.

HF56 (Elkins); Lymphedema compression treatment item coverage required.

Representative Elkins moved HF56 be recommended to be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee.

The following testified on HF56:
Dr. Nancy Hutchinson

Representative Rasmusson moved the H0056A1 (Rasmusson) amendment.

Representative Rasmusson withdrew the H0056A1 (Rasmusson) amendment.

Representative Elkins renewed the motion that HF56 be recommended to be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee. The clerk took the roll.

AYES
STEPHENSON, Zack, Chair
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Vice Chair
CARLSON, Andrew
ELKINS, Steve
KOEGEL, Erin
LEE, Fue
LILLIE, Leon
LISLEGARD, Dave
OLSON, Liz
RICHARDSON, Ruth

NAYS
O’DRISCOLL, Tim, GOP Lead
BAHR, Cal
HALEY, Barb
LUCERO, Eric
PFARR, Brian
RASMUSSON, Jordan
THEIS, Tama

NOT VOTING
DAVNIE, Jim

With a vote of 10 AYES, 7 NAYS, and 1 NOT VOTING, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF626 (Reyer); Rare disease diagnosis and treatment unrestricted services access required.

Representative Stephenson moved HF626 be recommended to be re-referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee.

The following testified on HF626:
Dr. Art Beisang, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
Matt Schafer, Medica

Representative Stephenson renewed the motion that HF626 be recommended to be re-referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee. The clerk took the roll.

AYES
STEPHENSON, Zack, Chair
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Vice Chair
CARLSON, Andrew
DAVNIE, Jim
ELKINS, Steve
KOEGEL, Erin
LEE, Fue
LILLIE, Leon
LISLEGARD, Dave
OLSON, Liz
RICHARDSON, Ruth

NAYS
O’DRISCOLL, Tim, GOP Lead
BAHR, Cal
HALEY, Barb
LUCERO, Eric
PFARR, Brian
RASMUSSON, Jordan
THEIS, Tama

With a vote of 11 AYES and 7 NAYS, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF447 (Acomb); No-cost diagnostic services and testing following a mammogram required.

Representative Stephenson moved HF447 be recommended to be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee.

Representative Stephenson renewed the motion that HF447 be recommended to be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee. The clerk took the roll.

AYES
STEPHENSON, Zack, Chair
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Vice Chair
CARLSON, Andrew
DAVNIE, Jim
ELKINS, Steve
KOEGEL, Erin
LEE, Fue
LILLIE, Leon
LISLEGARD, Dave
OLSON, Liz
RICHARDSON, Ruth

NAYS
O’DRISCOLL, Tim, GOP Lead
BAHR, Cal
HALEY, Barb
LUCERO, Eric
PFARR, Brian
RASMUSSON, Jordan
THEIS, Tama

With a vote of 11 AYES and 7 NAYS, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF785 (Frieberg); Health plan coverage provided for acupuncture services.

Representative Stephenson moved HF785 be recommended to be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee.

Representative Stephenson moved the H0785DE1 (Freiberg) amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

The following testified on HF785:
Paul R. Magee, L.Ac., Ma.O.M.

Representative Stephenson renewed the motion that HF785, as amended, be recommended to be referred to the Health Finance and Policy Committee. The clerk took the roll.

AYES
STEPHENSON, Zack, Chair
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Vice Chair
CARLSON, Andrew
DAVNIE, Jim
ELKINS, Steve
KOEGEL, Erin
LEE, Fue
LILLIE, Leon
LISLEGARD, Dave
OLSON, Liz
RICHARDSON, Ruth
THEIS, Tama

NAYS
O’DRISCOLL, Tim, GOP Lead
HALEY, Barb
PFARR, Brian
RASMUSSON, Jordan

ABSTAIN
BAHR, Cal
LUCERO, Eric

With a vote of 12 AYES, 4 NAYS, and 2 ABSTENTIONS, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 PM.



Representative Zack Stephenson, Chair




Simon Brown,
Committee Legislative Assistant


More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF0056 (Elkins) - Lymphedema compression treatment item coverage required.
  • HF0626 (Reyer) - Rare disease diagnosis and treatment unrestricted services access required.
  • HF0686 (Ecklund) - Existing easements held by rural electric cooperative allowed to be used to provide broadband service.
  • HF0447 (Acomb) - No-cost diagnostic services and testing following a mammogram required.
  • HF0785 (Freiberg) - Health plan coverage provided for acupuncture services.
  • HF1183 (Stephenson) - Excessive drug price increases prohibited by manufacturers to generic or off-patent drugs, attorney general authorized to take action against manufacturers for price increases, withdrawal of generic or off-patent drug sales prohibited, and civil penalties imposed.
Documents:
Audio:
Listen Now
House TV Video:
View Archive

02:06 - HF1183 (Stephenson) Drug manufacturer or wholesale distributor prohibited from charging unconscionable prices for prescription drugs; Board of Pharmacy, commissioner of human services, and health plan companies required to notify attorney general of prescription drug price increases; attorney general authorized to take action against drug manufacturers and wholesalers; civil penalties imposed; and money appropriated.
15:26 - HF686 (Ecklund) Existing easements held by rural electric cooperative allowed to be used to provide broadband service.
43:30 - HF56 (Elkins) Lymphedema compression treatment item coverage required.
1:06:16 - HF626 (Reyer) Rare disease diagnosis and treatment unrestricted services access required.
1:21:03 - HF785 (Freiberg) Health plan coverage provided for acupuncture services.
1:25:38 - HF447 (Acomb) No-cost diagnostic services and testing following a mammogram required.
Runs 1 hour, 31 minutes.

HF 1183 (Stephenson) - Drug manufacturer or wholesale distributor prohibited from charging unconscionable prices for prescription drugs; Board of Pharmacy, commissioner of human services, and health plan companies required to notify attorney general of prescription drug price increases; attorney general authorized to take action against drug manufacturers and wholesalers; civil penalties imposed; and money appropriated.

HF 686 (Ecklund) -Existing easements held by rural electric cooperative allowed to be used to provide broadband service.

HF 56 (Elkins) - Lymphedema compression treatment item coverage required.

HF 626 (Reyer) - Rare disease diagnosis and treatment unrestricted services access required.

HF 785 (Freiberg) - Health plan coverage provided for acupuncture services.

HF 447 (Acomb) - No-cost diagnostic services and testing following a mammogram required.


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

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.

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 Jenny regarding agenda items, testimony, or the substance of the hearing.

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

Any meeting documents will be posted on the House Commerce committee website at https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/Committees/Home/92003

To submit written testimony to be included in the official record, please email the Committee Administrator no later than 4:00 pm on Thursday, February 25th, at adeline.miller@house.mn. To request to testify orally, please email the Committee Administrator as soon as possible (no less than 24 hours ahead of time preferred) at adeline.miller@house.mn.