THIRTY-SEVENTH MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTY-SEVENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD SESSION



TRANSPORTATION FINANCE AND POLICY MINUTES

Representative Frank Hornstein, Chair of the Committee on Transportation Finance and Policy, called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM on March 12, 2024, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:
HORNSTEIN, Frank, Chair
TABKE, Brad, Vice Chair
PETERSBURG, John, Republican Lead
BRAND, Jeff
ELKINS, Steve
FOGELMAN, Marj
HUDELLA, Shane
KOEGEL, Erin
KRAFT, Larry
MURPHY, Tom
NELSON, Michael
NORRIS, Matt
OLSON, Bjorn
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
WEST, Nolan

A quorum was present.

Representative Petersburg moved that the minutes of March 7, 2024, be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 3499 (Brand) Maximum train length established, and penalties provided.

Representative Brand moved that HF 3499 be re-referred to Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law.

Representative Brand moved the H3499A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Brand presented HF 3499 as amended.

Testifying on HF 3499 as amended:
• Joel Mueller, Local Chairman, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
• Nick Katich, Minnesota State Legislative Director, SMART Transportation Division
• Amber Backhaus, Executive Regional Director, Regional Railroads Association
• Jason Taullie, Director of Operating Practices and Rules, Union Pacific
• Travis Owsley, Senior General Attorney, BNSF Railway
• Larry Lloyd, Senior Director of Government Affairs, CPKC

Representative Petersburg requested a roll call on HF 3499 as amended.

Representative Brand renewed the motion that HF 3499 as amended, be re-referred to Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law.

The clerk took the roll on HF 3499 as amended:

AYES
Hornstein
Tabke
Brand
Elkins
Koegel
Kraft
Nelson
Norris
Sencer-Mura

NAYS
Petersburg
Fogelman
Hudella
Murphy
Olson
West

There being 9 ayes and 6 nays, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 3798 (Brand) Hazardous railroad incident notification requirements modified.

Representative Brand moved that HF 3798 be re-referred to the General Register.

Representative Brand presented HF 3798.

Testifying on HF 3798:
• Daniel Krier, State Fire Marshal, Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Representative Brand renewed the motion that HF 3798 be re-referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 4356 (Brand) Limitations on hours of service required of yardmasters established.

Representative Brand moved that HF 4356 be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Representative Brand presented HF 4356.

Testifying on HF 4356:
• Nick Katich, Minnesota State Legislative Director, SMART Transportation Division
• Amber Backhaus, Executive Regional Director, Regional Railroads Association
• Travis Owsley, Senior General Attorney, BNSF Railway

Representative Petersburg requested a roll call on HF 4356.

Representative Brand renewed the motion that HF 4356 be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

The clerk took the roll on HF 4356:

AYES
Hornstein
Tabke
Brand
Elkins
Koegel
Kraft
Nelson
Norris
Sencer-Mura

NAYS
Petersburg
Fogelman
Hudella
Murphy
Olson
West

There being 9 ayes and 6 nays, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 4357 (Brand) Wayside detector system requirements established.

Representative Brand moved HF 4357 be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Representative Brand presented HF 4357.

Testifying on HF 4357:
• Nick Katich, Minnesota State Legislative Director, SMART Transportation Division
• Joel Mueller, Local Chairman, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
• Amber Backhaus, Executive Regional Director, Regional Railroads Association
• Mark Wegner, President, Twin Cities and Western Railroad
• Larry Lloyd, Senior Director of Government Affairs, CPKC
• Travis Owsley, Senior General Attorney, BNSF Railway

Representative Petersburg requested a roll call on HF 4357.

Representative Brand renewed the motion that HF 4357 be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

The clerk took the roll on HF 4357:

AYES
Hornstein
Tabke
Brand
Elkins
Koegel
Kraft
Nelson
Norris

NAYS
Petersburg
Fogelman
Hudella
Murphy
Olson
West

EXCUSED
Sencer-Mura

There being 8 ayes, 6 nays, and 1 excused, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:47 AM.






__________________________________________
Representative Frank Hornstein, Chair


__________________________________________
Tenzin Tsangyang, Committee Legislative Assistant