Committee hears proposal to expand Better Futures program; bill laid over for possible inclusion

Representative Spencer Murrah presented House File 1469, a measure to support Better Futures Minnesota’s green‑jobs and re‑entry employment program, to the Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee. After brief testimony from program staff and a participant, the committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in future legislation.

Murrah said Better Futures, based in South Minneapolis, provides on‑the‑job training and employment for people reentering the workforce after incarceration and operates recycling and appliance‑processing businesses that aim to divert waste from landfills. Jason (last name not provided in the hearing) and other program staff told the committee Better Futures provides more than 2,000 hours of on‑the‑job training across multiple business lines and works with participants who, on average, have multiple felony convictions and extended incarceration histories.

Tino Jones, a program graduate who rose from participant to integrated care team manager, described his experience and said he has not returned to prison in seven years. Supporters said the program addresses both workforce and waste‑management problems and recommended continued state support. Representative Murrah said he will pursue inclusion of the program in omnibus negotiations and thanked members who visited the program’s facility.

Action recorded: House File 1469 was laid over for possible inclusion; no committee vote was recorded on final passage.

Votes and formal action recorded Motion: Lay over House File 1469 for possible inclusion — approved (laid over).