THIRTEENTH MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTEENTH 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 22, 2023, 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
STEPHENSON, Zack

A quorum was present.

Representative Torkelson moved that the minutes from March 15, 2023 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Torkelson moved that the minutes from March 17, 2023 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Freiberg moved that HF 1141, first heard on February 15, 2023, be placed on the general register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 1942 (Coulter); Mail balloting authorized in any town or city with fewer than 400 registered voters.

Representative Coulter moved that HF 1942 be laid over for possible inclusion in an Elections omnibus bill.

Representative Coulter moved the H1942DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.


Testifying on 1942, as amended:
• Nicole Freeman, Government Relations, Minnesota Secretary of State

Representative Coulter renewed the motion that HF 1942, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in an Elections omnibus bill.

The bill was laid over.

HF 1489 (Coulter); Maximum refund permitted by political contribution refund program increased, and money appropriated.

Representative Coulter moved that HF 1489 be re-referred to the committee on Taxes.

Representative Coulter moved the H1489A3 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Coulter moved the H1489A4 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 1489, as amended:
• Mary Hartnett, Executive Director, Clean Elections Minnesota
• Jeff Sigurdson, Executive Director, Campaign Finance Board

Representative Coulter renewed the motion that HF 1489, as amended, be re-referred to the committee on Taxes. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 2793 (Frederick); Small donor political committees and funds regulated, small donor state match program established, candidate expenditures exempted from aggregate expenditure limits, campaign public subsidy program repealed, and money transferred.

Representative Frederick moved that HF 2793 be laid over for possible inclusion in an Elections omnibus bill.

Representative Coulter moved the H2793DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 2793, as amended:
• Mary Hartnett, Executive Director, Clean Elections Minnesota
• Lilly Sasse, Director, We Choose Us
• Halley Norman, Democracy Movement Organizer, Minnesota Voice

Representative Davis moved the H2793A3 amendment.

Representative Davis withdrew the H2793A3 amendment.

Representative Coulter renewed the motion that HF 2793, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in an Elections omnibus bill.

The bill was laid over.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:57 AM.


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Representative Mike Freiberg, Chair


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Mike Hermanson, Committee Legislative Assistant