House concurs with Senate amendments to HF1355 to tighten commercial-diving safety rules after two fatalities

The Minnesota House of Representatives on April 20, 2025, concurred with Senate amendments to House File 1355, an occupational-safety bill the House said closes a gap in commercial-diving rules after two young men died while removing aquatic weeds.

Representative Baker, the author on the House floor, said lawmakers worked with affected families and made changes that address equipment requirements and diver safety. “This is the bill that we worked on a lot with our families who lost tragically 2 young boys removing aquatic weeds, for hire. There was no training. We did a lot of good work here in the Minnesota House,” Baker said, summarizing the House approach and urging concurrence so the bill could proceed to the governor.

Representative Pinto, who rose in support during floor debate, said the measure “is gonna be a good step forward” and noted the House was thinking of the Ani and Anderson families while closing what she described as a legal loophole. Pinto thanked the bill’s author for leadership and urged members’ support.

After brief floor remarks, the clerk took the roll. The transcript records remote aye votes from several members including Representative Hill, Representative Knudsen, and Representative Swazinski. The clerk announced, “There being 130 ayes and 0 nays, the bill is repassed as amended by the Senate and its title is agreed to.”

Floor remarks focused on the intent to strengthen diver-safety requirements and close the gap cited by sponsors; the full text of the Senate amendments is not printed in the transcript provided.