Today is the third committee deadline for the Minnesota Legislature. By 5:00pm today, committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills. Lawmakers spent the week working to meet this deadline. However, some committees in the tied House of Representatives struggled to advance their finance bills.

 

The House Agriculture Committee heard a modest omnibus finance proposal sponsored by Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck), who co-chairs the committee. The bill received a cold reception from Democrats on the committee, including Co-Chair Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul). They stated they would only agree to advance the bill if it included a ban on paraquat, an herbicide sometimes used to terminate cover crops or weeds in a no-till system. Ultimately, the evenly-divided committee did not produce enough votes to advance Rep. Anderson’s bill.

 

In the Senate, the Agriculture Committee advanced their omnibus finance bill on a bipartisan basis. This bill initially included a provision banning the sale and use of paraquat, but the provision was amended out of the bill on a 5-4 vote with Senator Rob Kupec (DFL-Moorhead) voting with Republicans to support the amendment. The omnibus agriculture finance bill is expected to receive a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee next week.

 

Bills This Week:

 

HF 3548 (Anderson, P.H.)/SF 4313 (Westrom) – Supplemental agriculture finance omnibus bill.

Summary: As amended, contains a number of provisions including funding for wolf depredation payments, combines agency reports, makes changes to seed potato law, and broadens the agroforestry loan program.

Position: Support the provision appropriating dollars for wolf depredation payments.

To our members: While the bill did not pass the committee, MFBF is thankful for the effort to shore up funding for wolf depredation. It is disappointing that some lawmakers are unwilling to put aside their personal agenda to help farmers and ranchers during a difficult time.

Status: Failed to pass the House Agriculture Committee as amended on 04/15/2026. Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Agriculture Committee on 03/11/2026.

 

HF 3466 (Vang)/SF XXXX - Mandatory environmental assessment worksheet requirements for drainage projects established, and rulemaking required.

Summary: Requires public drainage projects located in the Minnesota River Basin draining five square miles or more to prepare an environmental assessment worksheet (EAW).

Position: Oppose as amended.

To our members: This bill adds process, but it does not drive better environmental outcomes. It will make drainage projects slower, more expensive, and harder to get done.

Action taken by MFBF: Provided verbal testimony in opposition to the bill.

Status: Laid over as amended in the House Environment Committee on 04/16/2026. Not yet introduced in the Senate.

 

SF 1312 (Rest)/HF 1669 (Davids) - Allocation increase for the credit for sustainable aviation fuel.

Summary: Increases Minnesota’s existing tax credit for production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and extends the credit through tax year 2036.

Position: Support as amended.

To our members: SAF provides a promising market for the crops and feedstocks that our farmers produce right here in Minnesota. Scaling and expanding SAF production has strong potential to foster additional demand for these commodities, strengthening farm income and rural economies.

Action taken by MFBF: Provided verbal testimony in support of the bill.

Status: Laid over as amended in the Senate Taxes Committee on 04/14/2026. Laid over as amended in the House Taxes Committee on 04/08/2026.

 

SF 3912 (Putnam)/HF 3474 (Hansen, R.) - Agricultural Utilization Research Institute appropriation.

Summary: Appropriates $50,000 to the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) for legal costs.

Position: Support as written.

To our members: Through no fault of their own, AURI finds themselves engaged in a legal dispute with another entity. Providing funds to cover these legal costs will hopefully lead to resolution of this dispute and allow them to return their full attention to the important work of helping farmers expand their businesses and markets.

Action taken by MFBF: Provided verbal testimony in support of the bill.

Status: Laid over in the Senate Agriculture Committee on 04/13/2026. Laid over as amended in the House Agriculture Committee on 02/25/2026.

 

SF 4479 (Kupec)/HF 4290 (Schultz) - Counties permission to designate certain agricultural lands as unsuitable for electric power facilities.

Summary: Allows counties to establish an agricultural land priority list that designates farmland with a CPI of 75 or greater as unsuitable for electric power facilities, including wind and solar. Also provides an opt-out for affected landowners.

Position: Support as written.

To our members: Productive agricultural land is one of Minnesota’s greatest natural resources. This bill recognizes the need to preserve that resource while also balancing energy generation needs, all while respecting private property rights.

Action taken by MFBF: Signed on to a letter of support with Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

Status: Heard on an informational basis in the Senate Agriculture Committee on 04/13/2026. Introduced in the House and referred to the Agriculture Committee on 03/16/2026.

 

SF 4504 (Frentz)/HF 4374 (Acomb) - Omnibus Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate policy and supplemental appropriations.

Summary: Among many provisions, includes an appropriation of $4,000,000 from the Renewable Development Account (RDA) to the commissioner of agriculture for a grant to TalusAg for the production and operation of at least two green fertilizer production systems in Minnesota.

Position: Support as amended.

To our members: Part of the bill invests in ammonia production, research, and the development of a certification and tracking system. Together, these components support the growth of in-state ammonia production capacity and strengthen local supply chains, helping reduce exposure to global market volatility.

Status: Passed the Senate Energy Committee as amended on 04/13/2026 and sent to the Finance Committee. Failed to pass the House Energy Committee as amended on 04/14/2026.

 

SF 5073 (Putnam)/HF 4885 (Hansen, R.) - Supplemental agriculture finance omnibus bill.

Summary: As amended, contains a number of provisions including funding for AURI’s legal costs, combines agency reports, makes changes to seed potato law, and broadens the agroforestry loan program.

Position: Support the provision for AURI’s legal costs.

To our members: MFBF is pleased to see the assistance for AURI move forward. We are also grateful that the paraquat ban was removed from the bill, which MFBF brought up in testimony.

Action taken by MFBF: Provided verbal testimony on the bill.

Status: Passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on 04/13/2026 and sent to the Finance Committee. Introduced in the House and referred to the Rules Committee on 04/09/2026.

 

The MFBF public policy team and leadership are keeping track of everything that happens at the Capitol. Throughout the session, we will continue to provide updates and insight into our work on behalf of our members.