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Minnesota House of Representatives

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

TWENTY-SECOND MEETING

2025-2026 Regular Session - Tuesday, April 1, 2025

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-SECOND 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 Tuesday, April 1st, 2025, in the G3 Room of the Capitol.

Chair Baker moved the minutes for Thursday March 27th, 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

Presentation on Child Care and Workforce in Minnesota.
• Ericca Maas, Minnesota Business for Early Learning
• Scott Marquardt, President, Southwest Initiative Foundation
• Darielle Dannen, Economic Development Association of Minnesota
HF 2582 (Lee, K) Child care improvement grants funding provided.

Vice Chair Greenman moved that HF 2582 be brought before the committee.

Vice Chair Greenman moved the H2582A1 amendment to HF 2582. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Lee presented HF 2582 as amended.

Testifying on the bill:
• Suzanne Pearl, Minnesota Director, First Children’s Finance
• Darielle Dannen, Economic Development Association of Minnesota
Chair Pinto laid HF 2582 as amended over for future consideration.

HF 2518 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) WomenVenture grant funding provided, report required, and money appropriated.

Vice Chair Greenman moved that HF 2518 be brought before the committee.

Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn presented HF 2582.

Testifying on the bill:
• LeeAnn Rasachak, CEO, WomenVenture
Chair Pinto laid HF 2518 as amended over for future consideration.

Informational Hearing on bill Language for HF XXXX (Revisor Code: AS068) (Kotyza-Witthuhn) relating to workforce development; requiring a report; appropriating money for a grant to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office for a child care pilot program to assist with retention of law enforcement and first responders.

Representative Kotyza-Witthuhn presented HF XXXX (Revisor Code: AS068).

Testifying on the bill language:
• Dawanna S. Witt, Sheriff, Hennepin County
HF 2266 (Sencer-Mura) YWCA Minneapolis grant funding provided.

Vice Chair Greenman moved that HF 2266 be brought before the committee.

Representative Sencer-Mura presented HF 2266.

Testifying on the bill:
• Stephanie Thomas, Vice President of Early Childhood Education, YWCA Minneapolis
• Lauryn Spencer, Assistant Director of South Early Childhood Education, YWCA Minneapolis
Vice Chair Greenman moved the H2266A1 amendment to HF 2266. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Sencer-Mura presented HF 2266 as amended.

Testifying on the bill:
• Debra Messenger, Kids Count on Us
• Tiffany Behrends, Kids Count on Us
Chair Pinto laid HF 2266 as amended over for future consideration.

HF 2039 (Sencer-Mura) Minnesota youth program funding provided.

Vice Chair Greenman moved that HF 2039 be brought before the committee.

Vice Chair Greenman moved the H2039A1 amendment to HF 2039. THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on the bill:
• Nicole Swanson, Director, Anoka County Job Training Center
• Aiden John Grabau, Participant, Minnesota Youth Program
Chair Pinto laid HF 2266 as amended over for future consideration.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00AM.



Representative Dave Pinto, Chair




Carl Kaase, Committee Legislative Assistant



More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF2039 (Sencer-Mura) - Minnesota youth program funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF2266 (Sencer-Mura) - YWCA Minneapolis grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF2518 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) - WomenVenture grant funding provided, report required, and money appropriated.
  • HF2582 (Lee) - Child care improvement grants funding provided, and money appropriated.
Documents:
Audio:
Listen Now
House TV Video:
View Archive

04:11 - Child Care and Workforce in Minnesota presentation.
25:20 - HF2582 (Lee, K.) Child care improvement grants funding provided, and money appropriated.
1:10:17 - HF2266 (Sencer-Mura) YWCA Minneapolis grant funding provided, and money appropriated.
41:45 - HF2518 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) WomenVenture grant funding provided, report required, and money appropriated.
51:30 - HFXXXX (Kotyza-Witthuhn) Appropriating money for a grant to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office for a child care pilot program to assist with retention of law enforcement and first responders.
1:36:42 - HF2039 (Sencer-Mura) Minnesota youth program funding provided, and money appropriated.
Runs 1 hour, 45 minutes.

Presentation on Child Care and Workforce in Minnesota
Ericca Maas, Minnesota Business for Early Learning
Scott Marquardt, Southwest Initiative Foundation
Darielle Dannen, Economic Development Association of Minnesota

HF 2582 (Lee, K) Child care improvement grants funding provided
Darielle Dannen, Economic Development Association of Minnesota
Suzanne Pearl, First Children’s Finance

HF 2266 (Sencer-Mura) YWCA Minneapolis grant funding provided
Stephanie Thomas, YWCA Minneapolis Vice President, Early Childhood Education
Lauryn Spencer, YWCA Minneapolis Assistant Director, South Early Childhood Education
Tiffany Behrends

HF 2518 (Kotyza-Witthuhn) WomenVenture grant funding provided, report required, and money appropriated
LeeAnn Rasachak, CEO, WomenVenture
Tyra Payer, CanIHaveSome

Informational Hearing on bill Language for HF XXXX (Kotyza-Witthuhn) relating to workforce development; requiring a report; appropriating money for a grant to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office for a child care pilot program to assist with retention of law enforcement and first responders.
Dawanna S. Witt, Hennepin County Sheriff

HF 2039 (Sencer-Mura) Minnesota youth program funding provided
Nicole Swanson, Minnesota Association of Workforce Boards, Director of the Anoka County Job Training Center
Aiden John Grabau, Minnesota Youth Program Participant
Kris Chisholm, Minnesota Youth Program Employer, Car Care Program

If you would like to testify or provide materials to the committee, please contact Travis Reese at travis.reese@house.mn.gov by 1pm on Monday, March 31