Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Minnesota House of Representatives

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

TWENTIETH MEETING

2025-2026 Regular Session - Wednesday, March 26, 2025

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

WORKFORCE, LABOR, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

Representative Pinto, Chair of the Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 8:15 AM on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, in the G3 Room of the Capitol.

Chair Baker moved the minutes as amended for Tuesday March 25th, 2025, to be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

A quorum was present.

Members present:

BAKER, Dave Co-Chair
PINTO, Dave Co-Chair
MEKELAND, Shane Vice-Chair
GREENMAN, EMMA Vice-Chair
BAKEBERG, Ben
BERG, Kaela
FRAZIER, Cedrick
HUSSEIN, Samakab
JOHNSON, Pete
JOHNSON, Wayne
KOZLOWSKI, Liish
MUELLER, Patricia
SCHULTZ, Isaac
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie

HF 2146 (Greenman) Annual reports from partnership entities of the Intergovernmental Misclassification Enforcement and Education Partnership required, and money appropriated.

HF 2145 (Greenman) Employer misrepresentation and misconduct penalties increased.

Representative Berg moved that HF 2146 be brought before the committee.

Representative Greenman moved the H2146DE1 amendment to HF 2146 for adoption. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Greenman presented HF 2146 as amended and HF 2145.

Testifiers on HF 2416 and HF2415:
• Jake Schwitzer, Executive Director, North Star Policy Action
• Jesse Madison, Founder and CEO, Purple Tally Productions
• Allana Olson, Member, IATSE Local 13
• Tony McGarvey, Director of Government Affairs, IUPAT
Chair Pinto laid HF 2146 as amended over for future consideration.

Representative Berg moved that HF 2145 be brought before the committee.

Chair Pinto laid HF 2145 over for future consideration.

HF 2440 (Pinto) Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Explore Minnesota Budget Bill.

Representative Berg moved that HF 2440 be brought before the committee.

Representative Berg moved that the A25-0030 amendment to HF 2440 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Commissioner Matt Varilek presented HF 2440 as amended.

Testifiers:
• Matt Varilek, Commissioner, Department of Employment and Economic Development
• Lauren Bennett McGinty, Executive Director, Explore Minnesota
• Sarah Knispel, Public Policy Coordinator, NAMI Minnesota
• Peggy Darmody, Program Manager of Employment Services, Guild Services
Chair Pinto laid HF 2440 as amended over for future consideration.

HF 2441 (Pinto) Department of Labor and Industry, Workers Compensation Court of Appeals, and Bureau of Mediation Services Budget Bill.

Representative Berg moved that HF 2441 be brought before the committee.

Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach presented HF 2441.

Testifiers:
• Nicole Blissenbach, Commissioner, Department of Labor and Industry
• Kate Lynne Snyder, Lobbyist, Education Minnesota
• Mark Brunner, President, Manufactured & Modular Home Association of Minnesota
• Ryan SanCartier, Government Affairs Director, Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association
Chair Pinto laid HF 2441 over as amended for future consideration.

HF 2565 (Lee, K) Ramsey County grant funding provided for workforce development programming, and money appropriated.

Representative Berg moved that HF 2565 be brought before the committee.

Representative Berg moved the H2565DE1 amendment to HF 2565. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Lee presented HF 2565 as amended.

Testifiers:
• Gay Wah, Graduate, Tech Squad Program
Representative Berg moved that HF 2565 as amended be recommended to be referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 1506 (Kozlowski) - Entrepreneur Fund grant funding provided, and money appropriated.

Representative Kozlowski moved that HF 1506 be brought before the committee.

Representative Kozlowski presented HF 1506.

Testifier:
• Shawn Wellnitz, CEO and President, Entrepreneur Fund
Chair Pinto laid HF 1506 over for future consideration.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:04 AM.











Representative Dave Pinto, Chair




Carl Kaase, Committee Legislative Assistant




More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF2145 (Greenman) - Employer misrepresentation and misconduct penalties increased.
  • HF2146 (Greenman) - Annual reports from partnership entities of the Intergovernmental Misclassification Enforcement and Education Partnership required, and money appropriated.
  • HF2440 (Pinto) - Biennial budget for Department of Employment and Economic Development and Explore Minnesota established, various policy changes made, reports required, and money appropriated.
  • HF2441 (Pinto) - Biennial budget for Department of Labor and Industry, Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, and Bureau of Mediation Services established; various policy changes made; reports required; and money appropriated.
  • HF2565 (Lee) - Ramsey County grant funding provided for workforce development programming, and money appropriated.
  • HF1506 (Kozlowski) - Entrepreneur Fund grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
Documents:
Audio:
Listen Now
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:33 - Simultaneous discussion of:.
- HF2146 (Greenman) Annual reports from partnership entities of the Intergovernmental Misclassification Enforcement and Education Partnership required, and money appropriated.
- HF2145 (Greenman) Employer misrepresentation and misconduct penalties increased.
45:49 - HF2440 (Pinto) Biennial budget for Department of Employment and Economic Development and Explore Minnesota established, various policy changes made, reports required, and money appropriated.
1:13:08 - HF2441 (Pinto) Biennial budget for Department of Labor and Industry, Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals, and Bureau of Mediation Services established; various policy changes made; reports required; and money appropriated.
1:41:08 - HF2565 (Lee, K.) Ramsey County grant funding provided for workforce development programming, and money appropriated.
1:46:37 - HF1506 (Kozlowski) Entrepreneur Fund grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
Runs 1 hour, 50 minutes.

HF 2146 (Greenman) Annual reports from partnership entities of the Intergovernmental Misclassification Enforcement and Education Partnership required, and money appropriated.
Jake Schwitzer, Executive Director, North Star Policy Action
Jesse Madison, Purple Tally Productions
Allana Olson, IATSE Local 13
Tony McGarvey, IUPAT

HF 2145 (Greenman) Employer misrepresentation and misconduct penalties increased

HF 2440 (Pinto) Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Explore Minnesota Budget Bill
Matt Varilek, Commissioner, Department of Employment and Economic Development\
Lauren Bennett McGinty, Executive Director, Explore Minnesota
Sarah Knispel, NAMI Minnesota
Peggy Darmody, Program Manager of Employment Services at Guild Services

HF 2441 (Pinto) Department of Labor and Industry, Workers Compensation Court of Appeals, and Bureau of Mediation Services Budget Bill
Nicole Blissenbach, Commissioner, Department of Labor and Industry
Kate Lynne Snyder, Education Minnesota
Mark Brunner, President, Manufactured & Modular Home Association of Minnesota
Ryan SanCartier, MN Mechanical Contractors Association

HF 2565 (Lee, K) Ramsey County grant funding provided for workforce development programming, and money appropriated
Catrice O'Neal, Workforce Solutions Director, Ramsey County
Gay Wah, Tech Squad program graduate

HF 1506 (Kozlowski) Entrepreneur Fund grant funding provided, and money appropriated
Shawn Wellnitz, CEO and President, Entrepreneur Fund

If you would like to testify or submit materials to the committee, please send them to Travis Reese at travis.reese@house.mn.gov by 1pm on Tuesday, March 25.