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Environmental and Agriculture Committee 1st Meeting Minutes

2026 Environmental and Agriculture Committee

STATE OF MINNESOTA                                                                                                                                                                              1st MEETING 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                                                                                                                                                               62nd SESSION

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           MARCH 5th                                                                                                                           

ENVIRONMENTAL AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE MINUTES

Senator Anna Rott, Chair of the Environmental and Agriculture Committee, called the meeting to order at 10:30 AM on March 5, 2026, in Helble 251 of the Education Village, Winona State University.

The Committee Administrator noted the roll.

Members present:

Senator Rott, Chair

Senator Stout, Vice Chair

Representative Haththalla, Committee Administrator

Senator Blanquel, Legislative Assistant 

Representative Serleth

Representative Larsen

Representative Kellner

Representative Hass

Representative Thao

Representative Redalen

Senator Ploetz

Representative Manyok

A quorum was present 

 

Representative Serleth moved that HF2737 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Environmental and Agricultural Committee 

Representative Serleth presented HF2737, A bill for an act relating to higher education; appropriating money for the Hunger-Free Campus grant program.

Representative Serleth renewed the motion that HF2737 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Ways and Means and Taxes Committee

There are 7 yeas and 1 nay THE MOTION PREVAILED

 

Testimony on HF2737


Senator Mario Blanquel : Yea
Representative Venushi Haththalla : Yea
Representative Aruar Manyok : Yea
Senator Aaron Ploetz : Yea
Representative Lucas Redalen : Nay
Senator Anna Rott : Yea
Representative Pippa Serleth : Yea
Senator Elliot Stout : Yea

 

Representative Larsen moved that HF1207 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Environmental and Agricultural Committee

Representative Larsen presented HF1207, A bill for an act relating to environment; facilitating use of artificial aquifer recharge where appropriate; appropriating money for groundwater storage and recovery.

Representative Larsen renewed the motion that HF1207 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Ways and Means and Taxes Committee

There are 6 yeas and 2 nays THE MOTION PREVAILED

 

Testimony on HF1207


Senator Mario Blanquel : Yea
Representative Venushi Haththalla : Yea
Representative Aruar Manyok : Nay
Senator Aaron Ploetz : Yea
Representative Lucas Redalen : Nay
Senator Anna Rott : Yea
Representative Pippa Serleth : Yea
Senator Elliot Stout : Yea

 

 

Representative Thao moved that HF1150 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Environmental and Agricultural Committee 

Representative Thao presented HF1150, A bill for an act relating to environment; requiring study of environmental impacts of artificial intelligence; requiring a report; appropriating money.

Representative Thao renewed the motion that HF1150 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Ways and Means and Taxes Committee

There are 5 yeas and 1 nay THE MOTION PREVAILED

 

Testimony on HF1150

 

Senator Mario Blanquel : Yea
Representative Venushi Haththalla : Yea
Representative Aruar Manyok : Nay
Senator Aaron Ploetz : Not Voted
Representative Lucas Redalen : Yea
Senator Anna Rott : Yea
Representative Pippa Serleth : Not Voted
Senator Elliot Stout : Yea

 

Representative Vickerman moved that HF0413 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Environmental and Agricultural Committee 

Representative Vickerman presented HF0413, A bill for an act relating to natural resources, modifying age to angle without a license

Representative Vickerman amended HF0413, by adding: The fishing hours to be 30 hours indoor learning and 15 hours outdoor learning with the age of 10 or older and there will be a test required to pass this before acquiring lifetime permit 

Representative Vickerman renewed the motion that HF0413 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Rules Committee

There are 2 yeas and 6 nays THE MOTION FAILED, THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED

 

Testimony on HF0413: 

 

Senator Mario Blanquel : Nay
Representative Venushi Haththalla : Yea
Representative Aruar Manyok : Nay
Senator Aaron Ploetz : Nay
Representative Lucas Redalen : Nay
Senator Anna Rott : Nay
Representative Pippa Serleth : Nay
Senator Elliot Stout : Yea

 

 

Representative Redalen moved that HF3257 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Environmental and Agricultural Committee 

Representative Redalen presented HF3257 A bill for an act relating to agriculture; appropriating money for wolf-livestock conflict prevention grants.

Representative Redalen renewed the motion that HF3257 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Ways and Means and Taxes Committee

There are 3 yeas and 5 nays THE MOTION FAILED

 

Testimony on HF3257

 

Senator Mario Blanquel : Nay
Representative Venushi Haththalla : Nay
Representative Aruar Manyok : Nay
Senator Aaron Ploetz : Nay
Representative Lucas Redalen : Yea
Senator Anna Rott : Yea
Representative Pippa Serleth : Nay
Senator Elliot Stout : Yea

 

 

Senator Ploetz moved that SF1380 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Environmental and Agricultural Committee

Senator Ploetz presented SF1380, A bill for an act relating to environment; prohibiting certain chemicals in packaging; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116

Representative Ploetz renewed the motion that SF1380 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Health and Human Services Committee

There are 7 yeas and 1 nay THE MOTION PREVAILED

 

Testimony on SF1380

 

Senator Mario Blanquel : Yea
Representative Venushi Haththalla : Yea
Representative Aruar Manyok : Yea
Senator Aaron Ploetz : Yea
Representative Lucas Redalen : Nay
Senator Anna Rott : Yea
Representative Pippa Serleth : Yea
Senator Elliot Stout : Yea

 

Representative Manyok moved that HF1750 be moved and recommended to pass and re-referred to the Environmental and Agricultural Committee 

Representative Manyok presented HF1750, an act which establishes Minnesota Civic Fund, repeals contribution refunds, appropriates money, authorizes.

Representative Manyok renewed the motion that HF1750 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Judiciary Committee

There are 2 yeas and 6 nays THE MOTION FAILED

 

Testimony on HF1750

 

Senator Mario Blanquel : Nay
Representative Venushi Haththalla : Nay
Representative Aruar Manyok : Yea
Senator Aaron Ploetz : Yea
Representative Lucas Redalen : Nay
Senator Anna Rott : Nay
Representative Pippa Serleth : Nay
Senator Elliot Stout : Nay

 

 

Representative Hass moved that HF3649 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Environmental and Agricultural Committee

Representative Hass presented HF3649, A bill for an act relating to commerce, modifying requirements for entities offering biodegradable or compostable products.

Representative Hass renewed the motion that HF3649 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Rules Committee

There are 2 yeas and 4 nays THE MOTION FAILED

 

Testimony on HF3649

 

Senator Mario Blanquel : Nay
Representative Venushi Haththalla : Nay
Representative Aruar Manyok : Nay
Senator Aaron Ploetz : Not Voted
Representative Lucas Redalen : Nay
Senator Anna Rott : Yea
Representative Pippa Serleth : Not Voted
Senator Elliot Stout : Yea

 

MEETING RECESSED: 12:00 PM

MEETING CALL TO ORDER: 1:00 PM

 

Members present:

Senator Rott, Chair

Senator Stout, Vice Chair

Representative Haththalla, Committee Administrator

Senator Blanquel, Legislative Assistant 

Representative Serleth

Representative Kellner

Representative Hass

Representative Redalen

Senator Ploetz

Representative Manyok

A quorum was present

 

Committee Administrator, Representative Haththalla, presented the Meeting Minutes 

 

Senator Rott, Chair of the Environmental and Agriculture Committee moved that the minutes of March 5th, 2026, be approved, THE MOTION PREVAILED  

 

 

 

Representative Pasche moved that HF1857 be moved and recommended to pass and re-referred to the Environmental and Agriculture Committee

Representative Pasche presented the HF1857, an act relating to animal cruelty; prohibiting elective declawing of cats; providing for civil penalties

Representative Pasche renewed the motion that HF1857 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Ways and Means and Taxes Committee

There are 1 yea and 5 nays THE MOTION FAILED

 

Testimony on HF1857

 

Senator Mario Blanquel : Yea
Representative Venushi Haththalla : Nay
Representative Aruar Manyok : Nay
Senator Aaron Ploetz : Not Voted
Representative Lucas Redalen : Nay
Senator Anna Rott : Nay
Representative Pippa Serleth : Nay
Senator Elliot Stout : Not Voted

 

 

Representative Kellner moved that HF1024 be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Rules Committee

Representative Kellner presented HF1024, A bill for an act relating to environment, defining animal feedlots

Representative Kellner renewed the motion that HF1024 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Rules Committee

There are 7 yeas and 0 nays THE MOTION PREVAILED

 

Testimony on HF1024

 

Senator Mario Blanquel : Yea
Representative Venushi Haththalla : Yea
Representative Aruar Manyok : Not Voted
Senator Aaron Ploetz : Yea
Representative Lucas Redalen : Yea
Senator Anna Rott : Yea
Representative Pippa Serleth : Yea
Senator Elliot Stout : Yea

 

MEETING ADJOURNED: 2:05 PM