STATE OF MINNESOTA SIXTH 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, on ¬¬¬¬¬February 27, 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 Burkle moved the minutes of February 25, 2025 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 28 (Mekeland) Data center energy generation redundancy provided.
Chair Heintzeman moved that HF 28 be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
The Minnesota Environment Quality Board provided an overview of the A4 amendment. The presenter was:
Catherine Neuschler, Executive Director, Minnesota Environment Quality Board.
Chair Heintzeman moved adoption of the A4 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
The following individuals testified on HF 28:
Mark Kolbinger, Mayor of Becker.
Greg Lerud, Becker City Administrator.
Dr. Jeremy Schmidt, Superintendent, Becker Public School District.
Joel Johnson, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers State Council.
Joe Parkhurst, Native Sun Community Power Development.
Sara Wolff, Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light.
Peter Wagenius, Sierra Club North Star Chapter.
Patty O’Keefe, Vote Solar.
Avonna Starck, Clean Water Action.
Sarah Mooradian, Clean Up the River Environment.
Cathy Johnson, Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development.
Representative Fischer moved to lay HF 28 on the table and requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:
AYES
FISCHER, Peter
FALCONER, Alex
FINKE, Leigh
HANSEN, Rick
JORDAN, Sydney
PURSELL, Kristi
NAYS
HEINTZEMAN, Josh
BURKEL, John
GILLMAN, Dawn
JACOB, Steven
NELSON, Nathan
SCHULTZ, Isaac
WARWAS, Cal
On a vote of 6 AYES and 7 NAYS, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Chair Heintzeman moved to amend the original motion that HF 28, as amended, be re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee and instead that HF 28, as amended, be placed on the General Register.
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
FINKE, Leigh
HANSEN, Rick
JORDAN, Sydney
PURSELL, Kristi
On a vote of 7 AYES and 6 NAYS, THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Representatives Finke and Jordan were excused for the remainder of the hearing.
HF 819 (Schultz) Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force established, appointments provided, and report required.
Representative Schultz moved HF 819 before the committee.
Representative Schultz moved the DE2 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED
The following individuals testified on HF 819:
Peter Martignacco, Minnesota Mycological Society.
Alan Bergo, Forager Chef.
Greg Kvale, Minnesota Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
Tim Clemens, Ironwood Foraging Company.
Tara Erickson, Minnesota Mycological Society, Erickson Public Affairs.
Bob Meier, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources.
Chair Heintzeman laid over HF 819, as amended.
HF 944 (Gillman) Trespass law modified to allow purple markings.
Representative Gillman moved that HF 944 be placed on the General Register.
Chair Heintzeman moved the A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED
The following individual testified on HF 944:
Robert Gorecki, Lieutenant Colonel, Department of Natural Resources.
Representative Gillman renewed the motion that HF 944, as amended, be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:38 PM.
Representative Josh Heintzeman, Chair
Shaelong Yang, Committee Legislative Assistant