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Committee adopts A2 amendment to House File 2783 and re-refers state government finance bill to Ways and Means
Summary
The House committee approved the A2 amendment to House File 2783, a state government finance bill, and voted to re-refer the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee. Testimony included a funding request from the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs for $272,000 over the biennium to cover staff salary increases.
The Minnesota House Committee on State Government Finance adopted an A2 amendment to House File 2783 on a voice vote and recommended the bill, as amended, be re‑referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.
House File 2783 is the state government finance bill that funds constitutional offices, the legislature and more than 30 state agencies, including Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), Minnesota IT (MNIT), the Department of Revenue and the Department of Administration. Committee members said the bill also includes a mix of policy riders and program changes, including provisions on Capitol Mall design and statutory updates tied to other bills.
The A2 amendment was described to the committee as a five‑part technical and policy correction. According to committee remarks, the amendment: fixed a typographical appropriation error affecting the Attorney General and the Minnesota Historical Society; restored an AMPERS (public radio network) rider that appeared in the 2024 bill; inserted two sections from House File 627 to allow minority members to request fiscal notes; moved the State Board of Investment (SBI) annual report deadline from Dec. 31 to no later than the end of the first quarter or the date of post audit; and corrected a faulty cross-reference related to provisions in House File 2354 on Medicaid fraud enforcement. The committee adopted the A2 amendment before proceeding with the underlying bill.
Rosa Tock, executive director of the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs, testified in support of a council budget change item. Tock asked the committee to approve an increase of $272,000 for the biennium to sustain higher staff salaries for five full‑time positions the council previously added, saying the increase would "generate a significant return on investment for the state." She said the council provides information about Latino Minnesotans to state government and serves as a liaison between constituents and agencies.
Committee members discussed the bill briefly on the record. Members and co‑chairs emphasized that the State Government Finance package combines appropriations with several policy provisions, naming an insulin repayment account, changes to certified public accountant standards, adjustments to state lottery retail provisions, integration of a transit assistance program into the Minnesota Business Web portal, and a provision to replace statues in Statuary Hall. Members also noted a change increasing the advance deposit wagering fee from 1% to 2% and included anti‑fraud and legislative oversight provisions originating from separate members' bills.
After the amendment was adopted by voice vote, the committee voted to re‑refer House File 2783, as amended, to the House Ways and Means Committee. Nonpartisan staff were directed to make technical corrections to the bill language as needed before it moves forward.
Committee members thanked nonpartisan staff, committee administrators and pages for assisting in the drafting and negotiation process. The committee recorded no roll‑call vote on either the amendment or the motion to re‑refer; the proceedings indicate both actions passed on voice votes ("the ayes have it").
