House committee forwards Iron Range unemployment-extension bill to Ways and Means
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Summary
The Minnesota House Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee voted to refer House File 3393, which proposes a six‑month unemployment‑insurance extension for miners laid off at Hibbing Taconite and other Iron Range operations, to the Ways and Means Committee as amended.
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota House Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee on its first day of the special session voted to send House File 3393, an unemployment‑insurance extension for affected Iron Range workers, to the Ways and Means Committee.
Representative Spencer Igoe, the bill’s author, told the committee the measure would extend benefits for workers affected by recent layoffs at taconite operations, citing a new round of 45 layoffs at Cleveland‑Cliffs’ Hibbing Taconite and noting that roughly 600 layoffs had been addressed late last session. “These jobs … they’re our friends. They’re our family. They’re our community,” Igoe said, urging support.
The committee adopted a technical A1 amendment, moved by Representative Pete Johnson, that removes a charging provision (Subdivision 5) to match last year’s language and keep employer experience‑rating calculations consistent. Megan Mullenbach, a nonpartisan committee researcher, told members that deleting Subdivision 5 preserves the prior approach to computing employers’ future unemployment tax rates.
Testimony emphasized local and regional consequences if workers leave the Iron Range. John Harbogast, staff representative for United Steelworkers District 11, testified that the extension serves as a temporary bridge while permitting and market conditions improve; Harbogast said the measure helps prevent families from selling houses or leaving the region. Mayor Pete Hajduk of Hibbing called the extension “practical” and said a six‑month bridge would help preserve the local tax base and workforce. Saint Louis County Commissioner Mike Djukovich, a retired Local 2705 member, said the layoffs have spillover effects beyond steelworkers and urged members to act.
Members asked whether tariffs or other national policy factors were driving layoffs. Testifiers pointed chiefly to weak auto demand, high interest rates and an oversupply of pellets at Cleveland‑Cliffs rather than tariffs as the primary immediate causes. Committee members also discussed fiscal procedure: a fiscal note is pending and the measure will be routed to Ways and Means. Members clarified that the measure would affect the Unemployment Insurance premium fund rather than the state general fund.
By voice vote the committee approved the A1 amendment and then, without recorded roll call, voted to move House File 3393 as amended to the Ways and Means Committee. The committee chair said the bill will proceed with a fiscal note to follow.
The committee also announced upcoming hearings, including a briefing tomorrow on immigration and workforce impacts and a future DEED update on paid family and medical leave. The meeting adjourned.