Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Present: Senator Aric Putnam - Chair, Senator Robert J. Kupec - Vice Chair, Senator Torrey N. Westrom - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Gary H. Dahms, Senator Gene Dornink, Senator Heather Gustafson, Senator Michael W. Holmstrom, Senator Mary K. Kunesh, Senator Judy Seeberger
Absent: No Members Absent
At the Call of the Chair, 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Minutes
Present: Senator Aric Putnam - Chair, Senator Robert J. Kupec - Vice Chair, Senator Torrey N. Westrom - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Gary H. Dahms, Senator Gene Dornink, Senator Heather Gustafson, Senator Michael W. Holmstrom, Senator Mary K. Kunesh, Senator Judy Seeberger
Absent: No Members Absent
Senator Aric Putnam called the meeting to order at 4:11pm
S.F. 3915: Senator Kunesh: Wild-rice water pesticide protection provisions modifications.
Testifiers: Dustin Roy – Divisional Director, White Earth Natural Resources, Steve White – District Two Representative, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Lucas Rhoads – Senior Advisor, NRDC Action Fund, Evan Mulholland – Healthy Communities Director, MCEA, Joshua Stamper – Director of Pesticide and Fertilizer division at MDA, Jean Skinaway - Sandy Lake, Chair for Sandy Lake Band Senator Kunesh moves A-1 amendment. Amendment adopted.
Senator Kunesh moved that S.F. 3915, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Dustin Roy – Divisional Director, White Earth Natural Resources, Steve White – District Two Representative, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Lucas Rhoads – Senior Advisor, NRDC Action Fund, Evan Mulholland – Healthy Communities Director, MCEA, Joshua Stamper – Director of Pesticide and Fertilizer division at MDA, Jean Skinaway - Sandy Lake, Chair for Sandy Lake Band Senator Kunesh moves A-1 amendment. Amendment adopted.
Senator Kunesh moved that S.F. 3915, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 3226: Senator Kunesh: Wolf-livestock conflict prevention grants appropriation.
Testifiers: Jill Fritz – Senior Managing Director, Wildlife Protection, Human World for Animals, Justin Stofferahn – Director, Minnesota Farmers Union Sen Kunesh moves A-2 amendment. Amendment adopted.
Senator Kunesh moved that S.F. 3226, as amended, laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Testifiers: Jill Fritz – Senior Managing Director, Wildlife Protection, Human World for Animals, Justin Stofferahn – Director, Minnesota Farmers Union Sen Kunesh moves A-2 amendment. Amendment adopted.
Senator Kunesh moved that S.F. 3226, as amended, laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 4099: Senator Rarick: Prior agriculture provisions modification.
Kaitlyn Root – Executive Director, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Miles Kuschel – Rancher, Minnesota Farm Bureau
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 4099, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Kaitlyn Root – Executive Director, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Miles Kuschel – Rancher, Minnesota Farm Bureau
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 4099, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 3949: Senator Johnson: Depredation compensation payments appropriation.
Kaitlyn Root – Executive Director, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Miles Kuschel – Rancher, Minnesota Farm Bureau, Peter Ripka – Minnesota Farmers Union
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 3949, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Kaitlyn Root – Executive Director, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Miles Kuschel – Rancher, Minnesota Farm Bureau, Peter Ripka – Minnesota Farmers Union
Senator Putnam moved that S.F. 3949, be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:19pm
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Senator Aric Putnam, Chair |
Keely Spens, Legislative Assistant |