STATE OF MINNESOTA SEVENTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FINANCE POLICY MEETING MINUTES
Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn, Chair of the Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Room 123 of the Capitol Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
KOTYZA-WITTHUHN, Carlie, Co-Chair
WEST, Nolan, Co-Chair
HANSON, Jessica, Co-Vice Chair
NELSON, Nathan, Co-Vice Chair
ALTENDORF, Pam
COULTER, Nathan
HEMMINGSEN-JAEGER, Amanda
HICKS, Kim
MCDONALD, Joe
NADEAU, Danny
OLSON, Bjorn
PÉREZ-VEGA, María Isa
SENCER-MURA, Samantha
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie
A quorum was present.
Representative Nelson moved the minutes of April 2, 2025. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 2436 (West) - Children and Families Budget Bill
Chair West presented HF2436 and the DE1 amendment.
House Nonpartisan Staff provided an informational overview and walkthrough of the DE1 amendment.
Testifying on the bill:
? Christina and Cody Pech
? Janice Degonda
? Susanne Dickison
? Alexis Borgesen (she/her), Foster Youth Outreach and Engagement Specialist, Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson
? Shawntel Gruba, Director, Owner, IRON RANGE TYKES Learning Center
? Karen DeVos (she/her), Little Learners Early Childhood Centers
? Joe Piket, Former Franchise Owner, Primrose School of Champlin Park
? Bekah Kerfeld
? Courtney Griner, Childcare Provider, Esko, MN
? Commissioner Laurie Halverson, Dakota County, Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC)
? Stacy Hennen, Executive Director, Western Prairie; Director, Traverse County Social Services, Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators (MACSSA)
? Lisa Thompson, Ombudsperson, Office of the Ombuds for Family Child Care Providers
? Sydney Spreck, Political Affairs Coordinator, MN Association of Professional Employees
? Peter Woitock (he/him), Government Relations Manager, The Food Group MN
? Kathlyn S. McHenry, Director of State Government Relations for the Early Care & Education Consortium
? Virginia Witherspoon, Executive Director, Channel One, Rochester
? Austin Railey III, Government Relations Representative – Midwest, KinderCare Learning Companies
? Dr. Lisa Hollensteiner, MD; Board Chair, Safe Passage for Minnesota Children
? Ericca Maas, Think Small
? Clare Sanford, Government Relations Chair, Minnesota Child Care Association
? Lisa Lane, Chief External Affairs Officer, Open Arms of MN
The meeting was adjourned at 4:45PM.
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Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn, Chair
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Caleb Rohrer, Committee Legislative Assistant