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Committee hears broad testimony on hunger relief; several food bills advance or are laid over
Summary
The Children and Families Committee heard extensive testimony from food banks, food shelves and tribal leaders about rising hunger in Minnesota. The panel laid over or advanced several funding proposals — including House File 777, HF 841, HF 1,112 and HF 10 98 — to next steps or other committees for consideration.
Lawmakers in the Minnesota House Children and Families Committee heard extensive testimony from food banks, food shelves and tribal leaders about rising food insecurity, and moved several related bills forward for further consideration.
Representative Coulter, sponsor of House File 777, described a bipartisan $8 million, two-year proposal to support food shelves and moved the bill. Testifiers including Rev. Dr. Al Geraci and Dom Korbel described steep increases in demand: Geraci said his organization served “96,000 households, 298,000 people… 2,300,000 pounds of groceries” last year and asked legislators to “give us the ball with the food shelves. We will serve the people of Minnesota with dignity and give them hope.” After testimony and member discussion, the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a later omnibus bill.
Representative Myers moved House File 8 41 — presented as one-time emergency food-shelf funding — to the Committee on Ways and Means. The motion prevailed on a voice vote.
Representative Hemmingson Jaeger introduced House File 11 12, a proposal to establish a regional food bank grant program that would appropriate $10 million beginning in fiscal 2026 to be divided among six regional food banks that serve Minnesota. Allison O’Toole, chief executive of Second Harvest Heartland, said: “Minnesota is in a hunger crisis and we need your help,” and described statewide demand and Second Harvest Heartland’s purchasing power. The committee laid HF 11 12 over for possible inclusion in a later omnibus bill.
Representative Sensamura presented House File 10 98, a bill focused on food-shelf infrastructure; testifiers whose organizations had received earlier infrastructure grants described how renovated facilities increased capacity and reduced stigma. The committee laid HF 10 98 over for possible inclusion.
Several food-sector witnesses urged more state support, especially for purchasing fresh and protein-rich foods that are most costly for shoppers. Jessica Francis of Open Cupboard Food Shelf described a capital grant that allowed her group to open a second site and said the impact was “transformative.” Channel One Food Bank in Rochester reported a 35% year-over-year increase and said its inventory declined sharply this year, forcing hard choices about purchases and distribution.
Members and agency staff also discussed federal emergency food resources. Nick Demp of the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) explained TFAP (the Emergency Food Assistance Program) rules requiring food shelves not to deny service to people who present as in need; he also said the state’s most recent TFAP resources were about $5.6 million a year, with roughly $1.5 million for storage and distribution and $4.1 million for commodity purchases. Committee member Mr. Berg earlier cited a different figure for the administrative portion ($3.69 million) during discussion, prompting members to ask for clarified federal funding details.
Outcome and next steps: HF 777 was laid over for possible omnibus inclusion. HF 8 41 was re-referred to Ways and Means. HF 11 12 and HF 10 98 were both laid over for possible inclusion in a later omnibus bill. Members asked agencies and food banks to provide follow-up detail on federal TFAP funding and on how state funds would be distributed to reach rural and tribal areas.
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