STATE OF MINNESOTA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOURTEENTH MEETING
NINETY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee Minutes
Representative Peter Fischer, Co-Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM on Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Hearing Room G3 of the Minnesota Capitol Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present
FISCHER, Peter, DFL Co-Chair
HEINTZEMAN, Josh, GOP Co-Chair
PURSELL, Kristi, DFL Co-Vice Chair
BURKEL, John, GOP Co-Vice Chair
FALCONER, Alex
FINKE, Leigh
GILLMAN, Dawn
GOTTFRIED, David
HANSEN, Rick
JACOB, Steven
JORDAN, Sydney
NELSON, Nathan
SCHULTZ, Isaac
WARWAS, Cal
A quorum was present.
Co-Chair Heintzeman moved to approve the minutes for March 25, 2025. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Budget presentation from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
Presenting:
• Katrina Kessler, Commissioner, MPCA
• Tom Johnson, Government Relations Director, MPCA
• Frank Kohlasch, Assistant Commissioner, MPCA
HF1587 (Stephenson) Cass County; funding provided to condemn certain land, land transfer for no consideration authorized, and money appropriated.
Chair Fischer moved that HF1587 be laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill.
Representative Stephenson presented HF1587.
Testifying on HF1587:
• Steve White, District II Representative, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
• Lenny Fineday, Secretary/Treasurer, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
• Aaron Vande Linde, Director, Office of School Trust Lands
• Bob Meier, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
HF1587 was laid over.
HF2293 (Hollins) Commissioner of natural resources funding provided for grants under the environment and naturals resources trust fund community grant program, and money appropriated.
Chair Fischer moved that HF2293 be laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill.
Representative Hollins presented HF2293.
Testifying on HF2293:
• Katherine Sherman-Hoehn, Agency-Wide Grants Manager, DNR
• Mary Robinson, CFO, DNR
• Mike Harley, Executive Director, Environmental Initiative
• Cecelia Calvo, Senior Director of Environmental Research at Rainbow Research
HF2293 was laid over.
HF2218 (Falconer) Metropolitan Council funding provided for grants to implementing agencies to manage aquatic invasive species, and money appropriated.
Representative Falconer moved that HF2218 be laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill.
Representative Falconer presented HF2218.
Testifying on HF2218:
• Boe Carlson, Superintendent, Three Rivers Park District
• Fran Miron, Commissioner, Washington County
HF2218 was laid over.
Co-Vice Chair Pursell assumed the gavel at 2:28PM.
HF1208 (Fischer) Permitting efficiency provisions modified.
Chair Fischer moved that HF1208 be laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill.
Chair Fischer moved the H1208A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Fischer presented HF1208, as amended.
Testifying on HF1208, as amended:
• Tom Johnson, Government Relations Director, MPCA
• Andrew Morley, Director of Environmental Policy, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
• Darin Broton, Executive Director, Minnesota AgriGrowth Council
HF1208, as amended, was laid over.
Co-Chair Fischer assumed the gavel at 2:49pm.
HF1482 (Hansen) Money appropriated from the environment and natural resources trust fund, and prior appropriations modified.
Representative Hansen moved that HF1482 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Representative Hansen moved an oral amendment to HF1482 as below:
Page 19, line 7, delete "Bay West, LLC" and insert "Freshwater Society"
Co-Chair Heintzeman requested a roll call on HF1482.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE ORAL AMENDMENT WAS INCORPORATED.
Representative Hansen presented HF1482, as amended.
Co-Chair Heintzeman withdrew his request for a roll call.
Representative Hansen moved that HF1482, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill.
HF1482, as amended, was laid over.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:52 PM.
_________________________________________
Representative Peter Fischer, Co-Chair
_________________________________________
Jared Margolis, DFL Committee Legislative Assistant