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House File 10 clears State Government committee for Ways and Means after heated hearing on immigration-related eligibility limits
Summary
Representative Isaac Schultz's House File 10, which would restrict eligibility for state-funded programs to U.S. citizens and aliens lawfully present, drew pro and con testimony and multiple failed referral motions before the committee voted 7–6 to send the bill, as amended with A2, to the House Ways and Means Committee.
Representative Isaac Schultz introduced House File 10 on March 4, proposing that programs funded in whole or in part with state tax revenue require recipients to be U.S. citizens or aliens lawfully present. Schultz's office offered an A2 amendment clarifying the bill's scope; the committee adopted A2 before taking testimony.
Schultz framed the bill as a fiscal measure intended to ensure tax dollars "follow and support Minnesota citizens and those here legally," saying the change could cut roughly $100 million in spending in the next biennium by altering eligibility for programs including MinnesotaCare, the North Star Promise and certain tax credits. He cited an estimate of "over 82,000" people without lawful status he said are currently receiving benefits.
The committee heard two hours of public testimony from a mix of supporters and opponents. Supporters who testified included Paul Doten, a Foley resident, and Alicia Thuma, a registered nurse, who told the committee taxpayers should not fund benefits for people who entered the country unlawfully and urged passage. Roderick Barrows, a disabled Minnesota National Guard veteran, testified that funds should be prioritized for veterans.
Opponents included union janitor and security worker Joshua Musacanto (SIU Local 26), who said the bill would divide working people and harm families; John Benda of ISAIAH and the Minnesota Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, who noted immigrants' contributions in taxes and frontline work during the pandemic; Julia Decker, policy director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, who warned that immigration status is often in limbo and that lengthy legal processes would leave vulnerable people uninsured; and faith leaders Reverend Yerell Asorto and Reverend David Larson Martinez, who argued the bill was inconsistent with Christian teachings and recounted personal experiences of losing financial aid when state policies were changed.
Members debated multiple procedural motions during the hearing. Representative Freiburg moved to change the committee referral from Ways and Means to Elections and Government Operations; that motion failed on a roll call (6 ayes, 7 nays). Representative Bonner later moved to re-refer to Taxes; that motion also failed (6 ayes, 7 nays). Representative Howard moved to re-refer to Housing, and Representative Clardy moved to re-refer to Veterans; both motions failed on recorded votes (each 6 ayes, 7 nays). Representative Cleburne then moved to table the bill; the motion to table failed on a roll call (6 ayes, 7 nays).
After debate, Chair Nash renewed the motion to refer House File 10 as amended to the House Ways and Means Committee. The committee took a roll-call vote and referred the bill to Ways and Means by a 7–6 margin. The committee did not receive a fiscal note or local impact note in the hearing; Representative Schultz said he had requested a fiscal note that remained outstanding.
Ending: With the referral to Ways and Means, the bill will receive further scrutiny and any fiscal implications will be assessed in subsequent committee work. The committee did not take a final policy vote on the merits of the eligibility changes; members on both sides requested additional analysis and fiscal documentation before further action.
