STATE OF MINNESOTA FOURTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FINANCE AND POLICY
MINUTES
Representative Nelson, Vice Chair of the Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 3:02 PM on March 26, 2025, in Room 123 of the State Capitol Building. A quorum was present.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
WEST, Nolan, GOP Chair
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, DFL Chair
NELSON, Nathan, GOP Vice-Chair
HANSON, Jessica, DFL Vice-Chair
ALTENDORF, Pam
COULTER, Nathan
HEMMINGSEN-JAEGER, Amanda
HICKS, Kim
McDONALD, Joe
NADEAU, Danny
OLSON, Bjorn
PÉREZ-VEGA, Maria Isa
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie
Representative Zeleznikar moved the minutes of March 25, 2025, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF1918 (Hanson J.) - Department of Children, Youth, and Families policy language; TEACH early childhood program, great start compensation support payment program, child welfare policies, and out-of-home placement plans updated; and provisions to prevent foster care placements modified.
Vice Chair Hanson moved HF1918 be re-referred to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee.
Testifiers:
Nick Demm, Legislative Director, Department of Children, Youth and Families
Jennifer Sommerfeld, Government Relations Director, Department of Children, Youth and Families
Chair West assumed the gavel at 3:13 PM.
Vice Chair Hanson renewed the motion that HF1918 be re-referred to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF2191 (Gillman) - Children and families licensing and certification regulations modified.
Chair West moved HF2191 before the Committee.
Chair West moved to adopt the H2191DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representative Gillman presented HF2191, as amended.
Testifiers:
Ari Didion, Director of Legislative and External Affairs, Office of Inspector General
Chair West laid over HF2191, as amended.
HF897 (Knudsen) - Protection to children and vulnerable adults from exposure to fentanyl provided, and criminal penalties for violation imposed.
Chair West moved that HF897 be re-referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee.
Testifiers:
Paul Ostrow, Chairman, Fentanyl Free Communities
Kari Sheldon, Resident
Sebastian Mesa, Assistant County Attorney, Atkin County
Chair West renewed the motion that HF897 be re-referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF2617 (Coulter) - Childcare conditional license requirements modified, commissioner directed to create standardized visit timelines and requirements, definition of education amended, background study liaison created, and money appropriated.
Representative Coulter moved HF2617 before the Committee.
Representative Coulter moved to adopt the H2617DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers:
Kayley Spencer, Director, Lakeside Early Learning, Kids Count on Us
Karin Swenson, Executive Director, Meadowpark Learning, Preschool
Christina Killion Valdez, Executive Director, Listos Preschool and Childcare
Erica Maas, Policy and Advocacy, Think Small
Courtney Greiner, Esko Minis Childcare, Kids Count on Us
Chair West laid over HF2617, as amended.
Vice Chair Nelson assumed the gavel at 4:31 PM.
HF2305 (West) - Childcare licensing action accompanied by a maltreatment investigation memorandum required to be publicly posted for ten years.
Chair West moved HF2305 before the Committee.
HF2305 was laid over.
Chair West assumed the gavel at 4:36 PM.
HF2551 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) - Follow-up to 2024 children, youth, and families recodification; technical changes made
Chair Kotyza-Witthuhn moved HF2551 be re-referred to the Judiciary Finance and Policy Committee.
Testifiers:
Jennifer Sommerfeld, Government Relations Director, Department of Children, Youth and Families
Chair West renewed the motion that HF2551 be re-referred to the Judiciary Finance and Policy Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:47 PM.
Representative Nolan West, Chair
Elizabeth Laukka, Committee Legislative Assistant