House concurs with Senate amendments to grants-management bill, passes 134-0

The Minnesota House of Representatives on the floor concurred with Senate amendments to House File 3629 and repassed the bill as amended by a voice vote followed by a roll call that produced 134 ayes and 0 nays.

Representative Bahner, the author, told members the measure is "a really simple but elegant, good government bill around grants management" that clarifies definitions to allow termination of grants for individuals and related parties convicted of fraud and to refine agency authority over requested exceptions. She said the bill "provides further whistleblower protections by keeping the name of the whistleblower private," and allows agencies to withhold payments permanently when there is a credible allegation of fraud.

Representative Klevorn, who led related work in 2023 according to the floor remarks, said the measure is part of an anti-fraud package and described the change in withholding authority: "Current law today allows for payment withholding for only 60 days. This allows a permanent withholding of payment to entities who have a credible allegation of fraud." Representative Nash noted the Senate approved the bill on an earlier vote, saying the Senate margin was "66 to nothing."

The bill also includes a requirement that agencies provide an annual program-integrity report to committee leadership; the transcript records this as a new reporting provision tied to licensing investigations and reviews with a five-year look-back period. The clerk read the roll for remote participants before the final tally was announced and the bill's title was agreed to as repassed.

The measure was presented as a package intended to strengthen protections for state funds and whistleblowers and to give agencies additional administrative tools to address suspected fraud. No amendments or defeats were recorded on the floor; the clerk announced final passage and the House recessed later in the session.