After the Easter/Passover break, Minnesota lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Tuesday and began the final six-week push before the May 18 adjournment date. Committee agendas were full, with one of the biggest developments being a bipartisan proposal to use Hennepin County ballpark tax revenue to help stabilize the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), alongside renewed supplemental budget jockeying, and an increasingly tense political atmosphere marked by ethics complaints and floor fights between House Republicans and Democrats, who are tied 67-67.

 

Lawmakers also continued moving a wide mix of policy and tax bills ahead of the third committee deadline on Friday, April 17. Despite this, hearings in the House this week reflected the struggle between the two parties on what priorities to advance this session. Those hearings included proposals to impose a “wealth tax” on individuals worth over $10 million, to require environmental impact statements for large livestock projects, and to require financial assurances for feedlot permits over 1,000 animal units.

 

Bills This Week:

 

HF 1669 (Davids)/SF 1312 (Rest) - 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 House Taxes Committee on 04/08/2026. Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Taxes Committee on 02/13/2025.

 

HF 2103 (Anderson, P.H.)/SF 1710 (Putnam) - Ammonia, hydrogen, and renewable energy certification tracking system appropriation.

Summary: 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: This 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.

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

Status: Heard on an informational basis in the House Agriculture Committee on 04/08/2026. Laid over as amended in the Senate Energy Committee on 03/23/2026.

 

HF 3508 (Nelson)/SF 3832 (Kupec) - Eligibility for the Dairy Assistance, Investment, Relief Initiative (DAIRI) program modification.

Summary: Allows dairy farms with no or partial production history in 2022 to participate in the Dairy Assistance, Investment, Relief Initiative (DAIRI) program.

Position: Support as written.

To our members: The DAIRI program helps to incentivize and enhance the usage of the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program created at the federal level, leading to more farmers having protection in the event of low milk prices. When the legislature renewed the DAIRI program in 2023, payment amounts to farms were based off production history in 2022. Today, there are approximately 30 new dairy farms in the state that are ineligible for the program because they were not producing in 2022. This modification allows these new farms to participate in the program.

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

Status: Passed the House Ways and Means Committee on 04/07/2026 and sent to the House Floor. Passed off the Senate floor on a 66-0 vote on 03/17/2026 and sent to the House.

 

HF 3940 (Pursell)/SF 4275 (Kunesh) - Rulemaking to require environmental impact statement for large animal projects.

Summary: Requires an environmental impact statement (EIS) for livestock projects that are 10,000 animal units or larger.

Position: Oppose as amended.

To our members: The MPCA commissioner already can determine whether an EIS statement is necessary after reviewing submitted environmental assessment worksheets (EAW). All farms that wish to expand to over 1000 animal units are required to fill out an EAW. Setting a mandatory EIS precedent for specific farm sizes would deter future growth of family farms, which often look to expansion to help keep multiple generations in agriculture.

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

Status: Laid over as amended in the House Environment Committee on 04/09/2026. Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee on 03/07/2026.

 

HF 4740 (Hansen, R.)/SF 4976 (Hawj) - Financial assurance requirement for certain feedlot permits.

Summary: Requires owners of a feedlot with a capacity of at least 1,000 animal units to submit proof of financial assurance of the estimated cost to implement feedlot closure requirements to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) before a feedlot permit is issued or renewed.

Position: Oppose as written.

To our members: This legislation adds additional requirements on top of an existing regulatory system, increasing cost and complexity without a clear connection to better outcomes. At a time when farmers are facing tight margins, this would lead to more uncertainty and unnecessary expenses, which makes it more difficult for farmers to continue investing in improvements and keeping operations viable.

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

Status: Laid over in the House Environment Committee on 04/09/2026. Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee on 04/07/2026.

 

SF 3915 (Kunesh)/HF 3898 (Falconer) - Wild-rice water pesticide protection provisions modifications.

Summary: Adds specific consideration for the protection of wild rice waters in

pesticide enforcement, pesticide best management practices, pesticide

management plans, state use of pesticides, and pesticide education and training.

Position: Oppose as written and amended.

To our members: Minnesota already has robust laws in place to protect waters from pesticide contamination. This legislation would add further unnecessary regulations and risks complicating or narrowing farmers’ ability to use key crop protection tools.

Action taken by MFBF: Submitted written testimony in opposition to the bill.

Status: Laid over as amended in the Senate Agriculture Committee on 04/08/2026. Laid over as amended in the House Agriculture Committee on 03/25/2026.

 

SF 3949 (Johnson)/HF 3580 (Burkel); SF 4099 (Rarick)/HF 4329 (Nelson) - Depredation compensation payments appropriation.

Summary: Appropriates funds to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for wolf and elk depredation payments to farmers and ranchers.

Position: Support as written.

To our members: For the second year in a row, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has already depleted its funds for depredation payments before the end of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. While this issue is part of a broader conversation on how the state manages its wolf and elk populations, these bills would cover the funding shortfall and allow MDA to resume payments prior to July 1.

Action taken by MFBF: Provided verbal testimony in support of both bills.

Status (SF 3949): Laid over in the Senate Agriculture Committee on 04/08/2026. Laid over in the House Agriculture Committee on 03/02/2026.

Status (SF 4099): Laid over in the Senate Agriculture Committee on 04/08/2026. Introduced in the House on 03/16/2026 and referred to the Agriculture Committee.

 

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.