The Minnesota House of Representatives held its first floor vote on a bill this week. HF 20 (Niska) proposed changes to data practices in the Office of the Attorney General. After 90 minutes of debate, the bill failed along party lines and was subsequently tabled. This highlights one of the major challenges of a split House where neither party alone has the full 68 votes necessary to pass legislation; any bill that passes the House this session will require bipartisan support.

The House Agriculture Committee heard bills funding the Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council and the Farm Business Management program, along with informational presentations on rural mental health, county fairs, and GreenSeam. The Senate Agriculture Committee received updates on federal funding interactions with state programs and considered legislation modifying financial reporting requirements for grain buyers, and funding for food shelf program and the farm-to-school program.

Bills this week:

HF 653 (Nelson)/SF 1178 (Kupec) - Money transferal into the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer (AGREETT) account.

Summary: Provides funding for the whole AGREETT program and increases funding for Farm Business Management (FBM) challenge grants.

Position: Support as written.

To our members: FBM instructors help farmers improve their business management skills and ultimately preserve family farms. Increased funding will help to hire more FBM instructors and ensure stability and longevity of existing faculty.

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

Status: Laid over in the House Agriculture Committee on 02/17/2025. Laid over in the Senate Agriculture Committee on 02/12/2025.

 

HF 711 (Anderson, P. H.)/SF 296 (Dahms) - Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council grants appropriation.

Summary: Appropriates money to the Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council (MAELC) to provide grants supporting of ag education including 4-H and FFA.

Position: Support as written.

To our members: MAELC’s support of agricultural educators, 4-H, and FFA has driven agriculture forward in a big way. Getting more ag educators in the classroom and students involved in ag education paves the way for the future of our industry.

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

Status: Laid over in the House Agriculture Committee on 02/17/2025. Laid over in the Senate Agriculture Committee on 02/03/2025.

 

SF 1559 (Gustafson)/HF XXXX - Farm to school and early care programs appropriation.

Summary: Appropriates money to the Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council (MAELC) to provide grants supporting of ag education including 4-H and FFA.

Position: Support as written.

To our members: The Farm-to-School program provides school children with healthy, local foods and teaches them about where their food comes from. It also provides farmers with opportunities for direct marketing and partnerships with school districts.

Status: Laid over in the Senate Agriculture Committee on 02/19/2025. Not yet introduced in the House.