STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
WORKFORCE, LABOR, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Baker, Chair of the Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 8:16 AM on Tuesday, March 11th, 2025, in Room G3 of the Capitol.
Representative Mekeland moved the minutes for Thursday, March 6th, 2025, to be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
A Quorum was present.
Members present:
BAKER, Dave Chair
MEKELAND, Shane Vice-Chair
BAKEBERG, Ben
BERG, Kaela
FRAZIER, Cedrick
GREENMAN, Emma
HUSSEIN, Samakab
JOHNSON, Pete
JOHNSON, Wayne
KOZLOWSKI, Liish
MUELLER, Patricia
SCHULTZ, Isaac
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie
Non-voting member present:
PINTO, Dave, Minority Lead
The committee heard testimony from bill author, Representative Harry Niska, on H.F.1768 – additional circumstances under which a covenant not to compete is valid and enforceable provided.
Additional testifiers were:
Lauryn Schothorst, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Kurt Zellers, CEO, Minnesota Business Partnership
Ryan Mick, Minnesota Employment Law Counsel
Hannah Garden-Monheit, American Economic Liberties Project, via zoom
Hunter Cantrell
Brian Callaci, Open Markets Institute
Dr. Shannon Neale, MN Academy of Physicians
Chairman Baker moved the bill to be referred to the General Register. Representative Greenman requested a roll call.
On a vote of 7 AYES and 6 NAYES THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Those who voted in the affirmative were:
Baker
Mekeland
Bakeberg
Johnson, W.
Mueller
Schultz
Zeleznikar
Those who voted against were:
Berg
Frazier
Greenman
Hussein
Johnson, P.
Kozlowski
The committee heard testimony from bill author, Chairman Dave Baker, on H.F. 1355 – Holders of permits to harvest and destroy aquatic plants required to safely use scuba diving equipment, and commercial diving operations requirements established.
Additional testifiers were:
David and Laurie Anderson
Bill and Dine Aune
Dan Gruber, via zoom
Ryan Mueller, St. Paul firefighter, via zoom
Tom Suerth, Waterfront Restoration
Chairman Dave Baker moved to refer the bill to Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The committee heard testimony from bill author, Representative Sencer-Mura, on H.F. 1469 – Job skills training for recently released inmates funding provided.
Additional testifiers were:
Jason Allen, Director of Enterprise Services
Tino Jones, Participant
H.F. 1469 was laid over for future consideration.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:02 A.M.
Representative Dave Baker, Chair
Ann C. Tepoorten, Committee Legislative Assistant