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Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, Minnesota House of Representatives
The Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee (formerly the Higher Education and Career Readiness Committee) is a standing committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Per Rule 6.01 of the House Rules, standing committees of the Minnesota House of Representatives are appointed by the speaker of the house.[1] Committees are appointed at the beginning of each biennial session. Up to 30 days before the session, the speaker-designate is to submit a list of proposed standing committees and divisions to all minority caucuses. Up to 15 days before the session's start, the minority leader may submit proposed minority assignments to the speaker-designate, who must comply in keeping with attaining proportionate representation. With the exception of the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration, one may not serve as chair of a committee or another with a similar jurisdiction for longer than three consecutive two-year sessions.[2]
See rules: House Rules
Function
| “ | The committee holds public hearings on bills to put each bill into its best form. During the bill's hearing, the committee can take testimony from the bill's sponsors, the general public and experts in the areas the bill affects.
The committee has several courses of action it can take: |
” |
| “ | (a) Except as provided in Rule 1.15, a House or Senate bill that directly, substantially, and specifically affects any present or future financial obligation, budget policy, or revenue of the State must be referred as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) to the appropriate Committee before the bill receives its second reading. A bill that negligibly affects any present or future financial obligation, budget policy, or revenue of the State is not subject to mandatory referral under this rule.
(b) A bill subject to paragraph (a) reported by a finance committee must, if recommended to pass, be subsequently referred to the Ways and Means Committee, unless the bill has a negligible fiscal impact and is subject to direct reference to the Floor under Rule 6.05.[5][4] |
” |
Membership
2025-2026 legislative session
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House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, 2025-2026 |
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|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (7) | Republican members (7) | Third-party members(0) |
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2023-2024 legislative session
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House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, 2023-2024 |
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|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (8) | Republican members (5) | Third-party members(0) |
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2021-2022 legislative session
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House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, 2021-2022 |
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|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (3) | Republican members (7) | Third-party members(0) |
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Connie Bernardy (D, Chair) left this committee on January 03, 2023.
Shelly Christensen (D, Vice Chair) left this committee on January 03, 2023.
John Thompson (Independent) left this committee on January 03, 2023.
Steve Sandell (D) left this committee on January 03, 2023.
Sandra Masin (D) left this committee on January 03, 2023.
Jon Koznick (R) left this committee on January 03, 2023.
Ginny Klevorn (D) left this committee on January 03, 2023.
Michael Howard (D) left this committee on January 03, 2023.
Jessica Hanson (D) left this committee on January 03, 2023.
Minnesota on 
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2017 legislative session
The following table describes committee membership at the beginning of the 2017 legislative session.
| Higher Education and Career Readiness Members, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (6) | Republican members (10) | |||
| • Gene Pelowski, Jr. | • Bud Nornes, Chair | |||
| • Connie Bernardy | • Drew Christensen, Vice chair | |||
| • Ben Lien | • Tony Albright | |||
| • Ilhan Omar | • Dario Anselmo | |||
| • Laurie Pryor | • Brian Daniels | |||
| • Jennifer Schultz | • Barb Haley | |||
| • Josh Heintzeman | ||||
| • Randy Jessup | ||||
| • Abigail Whelan | ||||
| • Nick Zerwas | ||||
2015 legislative session
The following table describes committee membership at the beginning of the 2015 legislative session.
| Higher Education Finance and Policy Members, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (7) | Republican members (11) | |||
| • Gene Pelowski, Jr., DFL Lead | • Bud Nornes, ex officio | |||
| • Connie Bernardy | • Marion O'Neill, Vice Chair | |||
| • Jason Isaacson | • Cindy Pugh | |||
| • Ben Lien | • Glenn Gruenhagen | |||
| • Kim Norton | • Bob Barrett | |||
| • Paul Rosenthal | • Drew Christensen | |||
| • Ryan Winkler | • Brian Daniels | |||
| • Josh Heintzeman | ||||
| • Joe McDonald | ||||
| • Abigail Whelan | ||||
| • Jim Knoblach | ||||
2013-2014
The following table describes committee membership at the beginning of the 2013 legislative session.
| Higher Education Finance and Policy Members, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (9) | Republican members (6) | |||
| • Gene Pelowski, Jr., Chair | • Bud Nornes | |||
| • Zach Dorholt, Vice chair | • David Fitzsimmons | |||
| • Kathy Brynaert | • Mary Franson | |||
| • Sheldon Johnson | • Glenn Gruenhagen | |||
| • Ben Lien | • Kathy Lohmer | |||
| • Kim Norton | • Chris Swedzinski | |||
| • Jeanne Poppe | ||||
| • Paul Rosenthal | ||||
| • Ryan Winkler | ||||
2011-2012
The following table describes committee membership for the 2011 legislative session.
| Higher Education Finance and Policy Members, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (7) | Republican members (8) | |||
| • John Benson | • David Hancock | |||
| • Kim Norton | • Connie Doepke | |||
| • Joe Atkins | • Pat Mazorol | |||
| • Tom Rukavina | • Kurt Daudt | |||
| • Gene Pelowski, Jr. | • Bud Nornes | |||
| • Jeanne Poppe | • King Banaian | |||
| • Terry Morrow | • Bob Dettmer | |||
| • Bruce Vogel | ||||
2009-2010
The following table describes committee membership for the 2009 legislative session.
| Higher Education Finance and Policy Members, 2009 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic members (6) | Republican members (9) | |||
| • Tom Rukavina | • Bud Nornes | |||
| • Joe Atkins | • Bob Dettmer | |||
| • Terry Morrow | • King Banaian | |||
| • Kim Norton | • Mike Benson | |||
| • Gene Pelowski, Jr. | • Kurt Daudt | |||
| • Jeanne Poppe | • Connie Doepke | |||
| • David Hancock | ||||
| • Pat Mazorol | ||||
| • Bruce Vogel | ||||
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota House of Representatives, "Permanent Rules of the House 2021 - 2022," February 24, 2021 (Rule 6.01)
- ↑ Minnesota House of Representatives, "Permanent Rules of the House 2021 - 2022," February 24, 2021 (Rule 6.02)
- ↑ Minnesota House of Representatives, "Committees," accessed February 24, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Minnesota House of Representatives, "Permanent Rules of the House 2013-2014," February 11, 2013. Accessed January 29, 2014 Rule 4.10
