Committee hears requests to double state funding for Diaper Bank of Minnesota; bill laid over

The Children and Families Committee on Oct. 12 heard testimony from providers and volunteers seeking an increased state appropriation for diaper distribution and related services and laid over House File 15,81 for further consideration.

Representative Hicks, who carried related legislation last biennium, framed diapers as a basic health and hygiene need and said a larger investment would reach more families. “The Diaper Bank makes an immediate impact on families,” she said during the committee’s discussion.

Witnesses described rapid growth in demand and the impact of the prior state allocation. Amy Smith, advocacy chair for the Diaper Bank of Minnesota, told the committee that a 2023 state allocation of $1.1 million helped the organization expand from 7 to 74 counties and increase distributed diapers from about 865,000 to 2.6 million by the end of 2024. Smith said the Diaper Bank had to decline requests from 76 partner agencies in 2024 because of supply limits. The organization requested $2.2 million to expand reach and meet partner needs.

Local partners described front-line experiences. Gina San Buenaventura, a board member at Way of the Lord Food Shelf in Blaine, said her food shelf’s diaper distributions had roughly doubled year over year and that increased funding would allow distribution sites to serve more families and avoid turning people away when sizes run out.

Questions and next steps: Committee members asked for follow-up data and scheduled additional member-level discussion. Sponsors moved to lay the bills over; staff said committee discussion on funding details and allocation strategy would continue in a subsequent meeting.

Ending: Supporters said the Diaper Bank had expanded efficiently with prior state money and that doubling the appropriation would allow more stable, state‑coordinated distribution to families and partner agencies across Minnesota.