Committee approves bill to restore Positive Alternatives grant money and add maternity‑home funding

The House Health Finance Policy Committee on Feb. 12 recommended passage, as amended, of House File 25, a bill that would reestablish funding for the Positive Alternatives grant program and direct a $1 million portion of the grant appropriation to maternity homes.

The bill, introduced by Representative Zalesnikar, was approved on a roll call, 11–10, and will be referred to the House Judicial Committee for further consideration. Representative Zalesnikar moved adoption of an A2 author amendment before final action; the committee adopted the amendment prior to the final vote.

The bill’s author, Representative Zalesnikar, described HF25 as “a supporting women bill” that restores the prior Positive Alternatives grant stream and adds a housing component. She told the committee the bill reallocates $4,000,000 that had supported positive alternatives grants prior to 2023, directing $3,000,000 to pregnancy resource centers and $1,000,000 to maternity homes. “It’s taking the same allocation and…allowing safe housing for women,” Zalesnikar said.

Testimony at the hearing included multiple providers and former clients who said pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes help women facing homelessness or crisis. Amber Hornsby, executive director and cofounder of Esther Homes in Saint Paul, said her maternity home serves pregnant women who otherwise lack stable housing and described program requirements and outcomes, including multi‑month stays and staff support for education and employment. “Esther Homes provides maternity housing, resources and community so that the women can focus on creating a better and stable future for their family,” Hornsby said.

Several pregnancy‑center directors also urged passage. Jill King, executive director of Lakes Life Care Center in Forest Lake, said the prior Positive Alternatives grant enabled programs such as car seat distribution, prenatal education and expanded staff; she warned elimination of the grant “put life‑changing programs at risk.” Jennifer Meyer of Options for Women East, a nonprofit medical pregnancy clinic in St. Paul, said the clinic provides prenatal care, ultrasounds and other medical services and that state funding is essential to serve uninsured clients.

The Minnesota Department of Health testified in opposition. Wendy Underwood, Deputy Commissioner, said HF25, as introduced, substantially reduced funding for the state’s sexual and reproductive health (SRH) program and could force local public health offices and clinics to close or reduce services. Underwood told the committee that some pregnancy resource centers do not offer evidence‑based care and that many are not regulated under Minnesota law. “Without this funding, local public health offices and community clinics across the state would have to close programs or raise local dollars,” she said, adding concerns about increases in unintended pregnancies and disparities if SRH funding is reduced.

Committee members debated both policy and implementation. Representative Liebling and others urged stronger oversight language to ensure recipients provide medically accurate information and referrals when requested; Representative Bierman noted prior versions of Positive Alternatives funding included requirements that centers provide medically accurate information and abortion referrals. Representative Zalesnikar said the A2 amendment clarifies some program mechanics and reiterated that the bill restores prior funding levels while adding a housing component.

The committee recorded the final roll call on the motion to recommend HF25 as amended to pass and be referred to judicial. The recorded votes were: Aye — Chair Backer; Vice Chair Nadeau; Representative DePel; Franson; Gilman; Knutson; Perryman; Repinski; Schumacher; Van Vinsbergen; Zalesnikar. No — Biermann; Bonner; Carroll; Elkins; Hemmingson Yeager; Huot; Liebling; Mahamud; Purcell; Reyer.

The bill will proceed to the House Judicial Committee. If advanced there, it could return for additional committee stops and floor consideration.

Votes at a glance: HF25 (as amended) — recommended to pass and referred to Judicial, roll call 11–10.