Ways and Means approves omnibus agriculture bill with broadband provisions, sends it to general register

The Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee on April 16 adopted amendments and voted to send House File 2446, the omnibus agriculture and broadband appropriations bill, to the general register.

The committee approved three amendments — labeled A4, A6 and A5 — that nonpartisan staff described as technical or clarifying; the A5 amendment, offered by Chair Hansen, clarified that a broadband study grant would be awarded through a competitive request-for-proposals process. After adoption of the amendments, committee members voted by voice to place the bill on the general register.

The bill, presented by Chair Anderson and co-author Chair Hansen, carries a committee general‑fund target of $17 million and funds a mix of program increases, one‑time projects and transfers. Highlights identified by sponsors and nonpartisan analysts include full funding for the Board of…