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Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

SECOND MEETING

2025-2026 Regular Session - Thursday, February 13, 2025

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


Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee

MINUTES

Representative Josh Heintzeman, Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM, February 13, 2025, in Room G3 of the Capitol Building.

Members present:

HEINTZEMAN, Josh, Chair
BURKEL, John, Vice Chair
FISCHER, Peter, DFL Lead
FALCONER, Alex
FINKE, Leigh
GILLMAN, Dawn
HANSEN, Rick
JACOB, Steven
JORDAN, Sydney
NELSON, Nathan
PURSELL, Kristi
SCHULTZ, Isaac
WARWAS, Cal

A quorum was present.

Vice Chair Burkel moved that the minutes of February 11, 2025, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The Minnesota Chamber Foundation provided a presentation on its environmental permitting report. The presenter was:

Sean O’Neil, Director of Economic Development and Research, Minnesota
Chamber of Commerce

Vice Chair Burkel assumed the gavel at 1:38 PM.

Chair Heintzeman moved that HF 8 be re-referred to Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee.

H.F. 8 (Heintzeman) Efficiency of Wetland Conservation Act determinations improved, permitting efficiency reporting requirements modified, permit application process improved, Pollution Control Agency permit provisions modified, environmental assessment worksheet provisions modified, and money appropriated.

Chair Heintzeman moved to adopt the A2 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

The following individuals testified on HF 8:

Tom Johnson, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Tom Dicklich, Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council
Andrew Morley, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Darin Broton, Minnesota AgriGrowth Council
Lauren Servick, Minnesota Pork Producers Association
Daryn McBeth, Minnesota Milk Producers Association
Aaron Klemz, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
Andy Wilke, Greater Mankato Growth
Dawn Georgieff, Sierra Club Water/Wetlands Committee
Rob Sip, Red River Watershed Management Board
Brian Werner, Minnesota Biofuels Association
Veda Kanitz, DFL Environmental Caucus
Brian Martinson, Association of Minnesota Counties
Tim Kelly, District Administrator of the Coon Creek Watershed District

The committee went into recess at 3:00 PM.

The committee reconvened at 4:00 PM.

Chair Heintzeman assumed the gavel at 4:00 PM.

Representative Finke was excused for the remainder of the hearing.

Representative Fischer moved that HF 8 be laid on the table and requested a roll call vote. The result were as follows:

AYES:

FISCHER, Peter
FALCONER, Alex
HANSEN, Rick
JORDAN, Sydney
PURSELL, Kristi

NAYS:

HEINTZEMAN, Josh
BURKEL, John
GILLMAN, Dawn
JACOB, Steven
NELSON, Nathan
SCHULTZ, Isaac
WARWAS, Cal

EXCUSED:

FINKE, Leigh

On the vote of 5 Ayes and 7 Nays, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.

Representative Heintzeman renewed the motion that HF 8, as amended, be re-referred to Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee. Representative Fischer requested a roll call vote. The result were as follows:

AYES:

HEINTZEMAN, Josh
BURKEL, John
GILLMAN, Dawn
JACOB, Steven
NELSON, Nathan
SCHULTZ, Isaac
WARWAS, Cal

NAYS:

FISCHER, Peter
FALCONER, Alex
HANSEN, Rick
JORDAN, Sydney
PURSELL, Kristi

EXCUSED:

FINKE, Leigh

On the vote of 7 Ayes and 5 Nays, THE MOTION PREVAILED.


The meeting was adjourned at 4:32 PM.





Representative Josh Heintzeman, Chair




Shaelong Yang, Committee Legislative Assistant



More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF8 (Heintzeman) - Wetland Conservation Act determination efficiency improved, permitting efficiency reporting requirements modified, permit application process improved, Pollution Control Agency required to issue separate permits, expedited permitting process modified, petitioners required to reside in affected or adjoining counties, scoping environmental assessment worksheet requirements eliminated, local review clarified, state implementation plan modification required, reports required, and money appropriated.
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:17 - Minnesota Chamber Foundation presentation on environmental permitting.
37:36 - HF8 (Heintzeman) Efficiency of Wetland Conservation Act determinations improved, permitting efficiency reporting requirements modified, permit application process improved, Pollution Control Agency permit provisions modified, environmental assessment worksheet provisions modified, and money appropriated.
The committee recessed.
Runs 2 hours.

House TV Video:
View Archive

00:12 - Continued consideration of HF8 (Heintzeman) Efficiency of Wetland Conservation Act determinations improved, permitting efficiency reporting requirements modified, permit application process improved, Pollution Control Agency permit provisions modified, environmental assessment worksheet provisions modified, and money appropriated.
Runs 32 minutes.


Presentation on Minnesota Chamber Foundation Report, "Streamlining Minnesota's Environmental Permitting Process: Essential for Economic Growth"
(report available at: https://www.mnchamber.com/sites/default/files/Minnesota%20Foundation%20permitting%20report.pdf)

HF 8 - Efficiency of Wetland Conservation Act determinations improved, efficiency of environmental and resource management permit application process improved, Pollution Control Agency permit process modified, reports required, and money appropriated.

TESTIMONY AND MATERIALS SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Individuals wishing to testify or submit written testimony or handouts for the hearing must e-mail the committee administrator by 1 p.m. the day prior to the hearing. Handouts must be in PDF format with OCR capability. In-person testimony may be limited due to committee time constraints.

AMENDMENT DEADLINE: Amendments must be e-mailed to the committee administrator by 1 p.m. the day prior to the hearing.