STATE OF MINNESOTA TENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
PUBLIC SAFETY FINANCE & POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Paul Novotny, Chair of the Public Safety Finance & Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 3:01 PM on March 12, 2025, in Room 120 of the State Capitol Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
NOVOTNY, Paul, Chair
WITTE, Jeff, Vice Chair
MOLLER, Kelly, DFL Lead
BERG, Kaela
BLISS, Matt
CURRAN, Brion
DURAN JR, Bidal
ENGEN, Elliott
FEIST, Sandra
GREENMAN, Emma
HARDER, Bobbie
HOLLINS, Athena
HUDSON, Walter
JOHNSON, Pete
PINTO, Dave
REHM, Lucy
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHWARTZ, Erica
STIER, Terry
Non-voting members present:
TABKE, Brad
A quorum was present.
Representative Moller moved to approve the minutes of March 11, 2025. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 897 (Knudsen) Protection to children and vulnerable adults from exposure to fentanyl provided, and criminal penalties for violation imposed.
Chair Novotny moved HF 897 before the committee with a recommendation that the bill be re-referred to the Committee on Children and Families Finance and Policy.
Chair Novotny moved the DE 1 amendment to HF 897. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Knudsen presented HF 897, as amended.
Testifiers:
Sebastian Mesa, Assistant Aitkin County Attorney, testified in support of HF 897, as amended.
Jeff Potts, Executive Director, Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, testified in support of HF 897, as amended.
Paul Ostrow, Chairman, Fentanyl Free Communities, testified in support of HF 897, as amended.
Chair Novotny renewed the motion to re-refer HF 897, as amended, to the Committee on Children and Families Finance and Policy. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 772 (Swedzinski) Publicly funded state and local institutions ensured to provide notice to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement when a suspected undocumented person is being housed in a facility under the institution's control.
Chair Novotny moved HF 772 before the committee with a recommendation that the bill be re-referred to the Committee on Human Services Finance and Policy.
Chair Novotny moved the A1 amendment to HF 772. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Swedzinski presented HF 772, as amended.
Testifiers:
Julia Decker, Policy Director for Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, testified in opposition to HF772, as amended.
Eder Castillo, Immigration Policy Attorney for Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, testified in opposition to HF 772, as amended.
Chair Novotny renewed the motion to re-refer HF 772, as amended, to Human Services Finance and Policy. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 16 (Rymer) Immigration law enforcement noncooperation ordinances and policies prohibited, use of immigration-related data provided, and county attorneys required to notify federal immigration authorities when an undocumented person is arrested for a crime of violence.
Chair Novotny moved HF 16 before the committee with a recommendation that the bill be re-referred to the Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee.
Representative Rymer presented HF 16.
Testifiers:
Charles Thayer testified in support of HF 16.
David Zimmer, Public Safety Policy Fellow at the Center of the American Experiment, testified in support of HF 16.
Ben Gleekel, Legal Fellow at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, testified in opposition to HF 16.
Madeline Lohman, The Advocates for Human Rights, testified in opposition to HF 16.
Joshua Musikantow, SEIU Local 26, testified in opposition to HF 16.
Lilian Carcamo testified in opposition to HF 16.
David Campana, Legislative and Policy Director at the Council on Latino Affairs, testified in opposition to HF 16.
Sarah Silva, North STAR Alliance, testified in opposition to HF 16.
Montha Chum, Executive Director at MN8, testified in opposition to HF 16.
Commissioner Todd Barnette, Minneapolis Office of Community Safety, testified in opposition to HF 16.
Jess Palyan, Violence Free Minnesota, testified in opposition to HF 16.
Darcey McCampbell testified in opposition to HF 16.
Eder Castillo, Immigration Policy Attorney at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, testified in opposition to HF 16.
Ana Pottratz Acosta testified in opposition to HF 16.
Evan Hromada testified in opposition to HF 16.
Chair Novotny called for recess at 4:45 PM.
Chair Novotny reconvened the hearing at 7:00 PM.
Chair Novotny renewed the motion to re-refer HF16 to Elections Finance and Government Operations.
Representative Moller requested a roll call vote for HF 16.
AYES
NOVOTNY, Paul, Chair
WITTE, Jeff, Vice
BLISS, Matt
DURAN JR., Bidal
ENGEN, Elliott
HARDER, Bobbie
HUDSON, Walter
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHWARTZ, Erica
STIER, Terry
NAYS
MOLLER, Kelly, DFL Lead
BERG, Kaela
CURRAN, Brion
FEIST, Sandra
GREENMAN, Emma
HOLLINS, Athena
JOHNSON, Pete
PINTO, Dave
REHM, Lucy
On a vote of 10 AYES and 9 NAYS, THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 PM.
Representative Paul Novotny, Chair
Mary McNamara, Committee Legislative Assistant