April 8, 2025, Pension Commission Meeting

Agenda

Approval of April 1, 2025, meeting minutes.‑ Approved

SF 2640 (Maye Quade); HF 2367 (Nadeau): Implementing the labor agreement between the State and SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa for individual providers of direct support services; establishing the Minnesota Caregiver Retirement Fund Trust.
Testimony and discussion on this bill is limited to sections 1 and 14, the portion that relates to the Minnesota Caregiver Retirement Fund Trust . ‑ Amended, Laid over
- Amendment S2640-1A ‑ Adopted
- Staff Memo
- Testifiers:
  - Rick Varco, Political Director, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota (Handout 1), (Handout 2)
  - Phillip Cryan, Executive Vice President, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota
  - Jennifer Ziegler, Enterprise Director, Labor Relations, Minnesota Management and Budget

Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) Bills

Testimony will be limited to two minutes per testifier on the TRA bills.

SF 2000 (Gustafson); HF 1582 (Wolgamott): TRA; Providing an unreduced retirement annuity upon reaching age 60 with 30 years of service, modifying the early retirement reduction factors, increasing postretirement adjustments, increasing employer contribution rates, and appropriating money. ‑ Amended, Laid over
Note: The following bills are identical to SF 2000/HF 1582: SF 2523 (Cwodzinski)/HF 2341(Clardy) and HF 3052 (Gander)
- Amendment S2000-1A ‑ Adopted
- Amendment S2000-2A ‑ Adopted
- SF2000-HF1582 Summary
- In-Person Testifiers:
  - Tim Maurer, Executive Director, TRA
  - Holly Dayton, Legislative Liaison, TRA
  - Phill Tencick, Executive Director/CIO, St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Assoc.
  - Rodney Rowe, Secretary-Treasurer, Education Minnesota
  - Ryan Fiereck, President, Education Minnesota St. Francis, Co Chair of Education Minnesota's Pensions Advisory Group
  - Ternesha Burroughs, President, Education Minnesota Osseo
  - Dr. Marcia Wyatt, Teacher, Minneapolis Public Schools
  - Heidi Simons, Teacher, Member of the Education Minnesota's Pensions Advisory Group
  - Lisa Olson, Union President, Elk River Education Association President
  - Tim Moynihan, Vice-President, Retired Educators Association of Minnesota (REAM)
  - Lonnie Duberstein, Past President, REAM
  - Jason Savage, High School Principal, Pillager Schools ISD #116
  - Katie Dickerson, Art Educator, Hopkins
  - Vickie Penick, Minnesota Educator
  - Maggie Temple, Social Studies Teacher, 31 years
  - Jim Olson, Duluth Federation of Teachers (Handout)
  - Julie A. Seiler, MN Public School Educator, Band Teacher, Spring Lake Park School District #16
  - Steve Clouse, CTE Instructor, Nashwauk-Keewatin High School ISD 319
  - Jody Anderson, Education Minnesota Retired
  - David Kubes
  - Lora Larson, Math Teacher
  - Kara Bancroft, Kara Bancroft, 5th Grade Teacher, St. Louis Park
  - Stacy Bartlett, MN teacher of 29 years, Stillwater Area Schools
- Letters from organizations:
  - Joint letter from: MN Assoc. of School Administrators, MN Assoc. of Secondary School Principals, MN Elementary School Principals’ Assoc., and MN Rural Education Assoc.
  - Letter from East Central Minnesota Educational Cable Cooperative, submitted by Executive Director Marc Johnson
- Submitted testimony from individuals (combined into one document):
  1. Bob Laine, CTE Teacher/Coach, Baudette, MN
  2. Sue Erickson, Veteran Educator, Crookston, MN
  3. Rylan Hendrickson, 4th Grade Teacher, Lake of the Woods
  4. Bill Schultz, Plainview-Elgin Millville Schools, Plainview, MN
  5. Robin Knutson, District Media/K-12 Curriculum Support Specialist, Brainerd Public Schools
  6. Brad Thompson 5-12 Band and 7-12 CTE, Karlstad, MN
  7. Chris Sarkinen, Title I Teacher, Robbinsdale Area Schools
  8. Jeff Erdmann, Minnesota Teacher & Head Football Coach
  9. Meghan Fulton, Teacher, Bloomington, MN (resident) / Savage, MN (employed)
  10. Lisa Kulzer, Teacher, South Washington County Schools
  11. Kathie Nelson, Work Experience Coordinator, Shakopee High School
  12. Sara Miles, Elementary Education Teacher, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District
  13. Katy Bauernschmitt, 33-year MN teacher
  14. Jennifer Johnson, 31-year MN teacher
  15. Julie Yost-Minnich, 5th Grade Teacher, Plainview-Elgin Millville Schools
  16. Elizabeth Osborne, 2nd Grade Teacher, Robbinsdale Area Schools
  17. Darin Bourasa, 4th Grade Teacher, St. Francis Elementary School
  18. Seth Kelly, Educator, Morris Area Public Schools and MN State University-Moorhead
  19. Nancy Ethen, FACS / Math Instructor, Holdingford High School
  20. Steven Huesman, Social Studies teacher, Rochester
  21. Katharine McGraw, 7th Grade Mathematics Teacher, Litchfield Middle School
  22. Jim Reed, 34th year in a classroom
  23. Tina Beeler, Kindergarten Teacher, South St. Paul Public Schools
  24. Cindy Nordstrom, Elementary K-5 STEM Teacher, ISD 196 Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan
  25. Pete Kautto, Staples-Motley Career Educator, New York Mills
  26. Amy Swenson, Public School Teacher
  27. Steve Bliven, Teacher, Stillwater Area Schools
  28. Brian Tillmann, 5th Grade Teacher, Hutchinson
  29. Julianne Polsfut, Kindergarten Teacher, St. Francis Area Schools
  30. Roxanne Robinson, Teacher, Pillsbury Community Elementary School in Minneapolis
  31. Sherri Juenemann, Science Teacher, Bloomington
  32. Daniel Moddes, Social Studies Teacher, Pequot Lakes Public High School
  33. Melissa Bouc, 18 Years in Education, Nisswa
  34. Sarah Graham, Primary Age/Elementary School Teacher, Buffalo School District #877
  35. Angela Hutchins, School Counselor, Rochester Minnesota
  36. Ann Reed, Speech/Language Pathologist
  37. Diane Solberg, Teacher, North Branch ISD #138
  38. Sue Helberg, Minnesota Elementary Educator
  39. Judee Vesledahl, Teacher, Becker Public Schools
  40. Tony Vesledahl, Industrial Education Teacher, Milaca Public Schools
  41. Ann Millan, 5th Grade Teacher, Robbinsdale Area Schools
  42. Colleen Callender, 35-Year TRA Member
  43. Rhonda Alberts, Teacher, Austin High School
  44. Katy Polman, Science Teacher, Anoka Hennepin
  45. Jenny Linnell, English Language Arts Teacher, Grand Rapids
  46. Lisa-Marie Schrag, Minnesota Educator
  47. Melinda Wetteland, Teacher, St. Francis Area Schools
  48. Robin Kautto, 35-Year Career Educator, Staples-Motley
  49. Kadee Vesledahl, Teacher, Hibbing Public Schools
  50. Deb Hart
  51. Tim Peabody, Planetarium Director, Forestview Middle School
  52. Julie Martzke
  53. Kim Sonju-Zrust
  54. Carmen Briceño, Spanish instructor
  55. Steve and Jill O’Toole, Teachers, Eden Prairie Schools
  56. Cindy Palm
  57. Kari Heikkenen
  58. Eunice Peabody
  59. Sarah Graham
  60. Colleen Salay Elementary School Teacher, Centennial School District
  61. Wendy Graves, FLES Spanish Teacher, Hopkins Public Schools
  62. Shannon Burns, 4th Grade Teacher, Basswood Elementary
  63. Wendy Hintermeyer, First Grade Teacher, Zachary Lane Elementary
  64. David Gryte, Teacher, North Branch Area Public Schools
  65. Layne Danielson, Teacher, MN Public Schools
  66. Kathryn Almen, 5th Grade Reading/Language Arts Teacher, Forestview Middle School
  67. Holly Paschke, Speech-Language Pathologist, Clover Ridge Elementary School
  68. Jennifer Brunsberg, Spanish and French teacher since 1993
  69. Kent Christian, Greenbush-Middle River
  70. Marc Johnson, Executive Director, East Central Minnesota Educational Cable Cooperative
  71. Michael Sievert, 5th Grade Teacher, Frazee-Vergas School District
  72. Diane Schultz, Teacher, Cambridge, MN
  73. Craig J. Schlichting, Superintendent, Triton Public Schools
  74. Diana Regis, Social Studies Teacher, Lakeville South High School
  75. Deb Bradford, Teacher, Stanchfield, MN
  76. Molly Haspert, Teacher, Minneapolis Public Schools
  77. Bryan Barber, 5th Grade Math Teacher, ISD 181
  78. Amy Altenburg, Teacher, Minnetonka Public Schools
  79. Brian Stark, 5th Grade Science Teacher, Forestview Middle School, Brainerd Public Schools
  80. Wade Amundson, Science Teacher, Minnewaska Area Schools
  81. Brent Bovitz, Teacher, Eden Prairie
  82. Jacob Torgerson, Math Teacher, Morris Area High School
  83. Roxanne Murray, Science Teacher, Crossroads at Bar-None
  84. Lora Larson, Math Teacher
  85. Susan Hougen Lieberg, Minnesota Teacher since 1990
  86. Brian Wallace, Retired Professional Teacher
  87. Liz Hatfield, Teaching Specialist and Assessment Coordinator, Univ. of Minn., Morris
  88. Libby Gearey, Science Teacher, Forestview Middle School
  89. Kimberly Husfeldt, MN School Psychologist
  90. Jodi Prchal, Teacher, New Prague District
  91. Karl Kaufmann - COVID Amendment Request
  92. Lea Yager, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, Anoka-Hennepin School District
  93. Shelly Clausen, Learning Specialist, Lakeville ISD 194
  94. Lisa Yoerg, 1st Grade Teacher, Sauk Rapids-Rice ISD 47
  95. Jesse Johnson, Math Teacher, Minnewaska Area Schools
  96. Brenda Kellen, Business Teacher, Marshall High School
  97. Joyce Baumann, 3rd Grade Teacher, Cold Spring Elementary
  98. Kim Erdahl, Minnesota Educator
  99. Chad Gimbel, Business Education Teacher, Blooming Prairie
  100. Sue Currens, Special Education Teacher, Minnewaska Area Schools
  101. Bridget Peterson, K-12 Media Specialist, Esko Public Schools
  102. Jeff Kocur
  103. Jennifer Herrick, 12th year teacher
  104. Steve Clouse, CTE Teacher, Nashwauk-Keewatin ISD 319
  105. George Bruehl, Teacher, John Glenn Middle School ISD 622
  106. Chris Lence, English-Language Arts Teacher, Minnewaska Area High School
  107. Carla Korth, School Counselor, John Glenn Middle School ISD 622
  108. Anne Klug, Kindergarten Teacher, Zachary Lane Elementary
  109. Noelle Kratzke, Math Teacher, Minnewaska Area High School
  110. Greg Tikalsky, Social Studies Teacher, New Prague High School
  111. Elizabeth Windhorst, 1st Grade Teacher, Susan Lindgren Elementary
  112. Ruth Hovel, 7th & 9th English Teacher, Minnewaska Secondary School
  113. Susan Kane, Special Education Teacher, Anoka-Hennepin School District
  114. Cindy Blumer, Teacher, St. Louis Park Schools
  115. Chelsea Rudie, English Language Learners Teacher, Maple Grove
  116. Lisa Jepson, Math Teacher, Moorhead High School
  117. Karna Palmer, Business Education Teacher, Minnewaska Area Schools
  118. Jon Stolski, Geography Teacher, Forestview Middle School
  119. Darla Erickson, Teacher, Minnewaska Area Schools
  120. Steve Entzi, Trades and Industry Teacher, Minnewaska Area Schools
  121. Richelle Peterson, Teacher, Duluth Public Schools
  122. Tom Andresen, Science Teacher, Forestview Middle School
  123. Ethan Soland, Social Studies Teacher, Fergus Falls High School
  124. Jennifer Erickson, 2nd Grade Teacher, Minnewaska Area Elementary School
  125. Mary Johnsrud, 1st Grade Teacher, Minnewaska Area Schools
  126. Robert Hapka, Industrial Technology Teacher, East Grand Forks Senior High School
  127. Lenore Strouth, Vocal Music Teacher, Sibley East Schools
  128. Cate McDonald, Kindergarten Teacher, Susan Lindgren Elementary School
  129. Lois Zak, Speech Language Pathologist, Anoka Hennepin School District
  130. Denise Ver Steeg, Special Education Teacher, Minnewaska Area Schools
  131. Brett Thorfinnson, Teacher, Minnewaska Area Middle School
  132. Ali Dvorak, Teacher, St. Louis Park School District
  133. David Vinje, English Teacher, Minnewaska Area High School
  134. Charles Carlson, Band Director, Brainerd Public Schools
  135. Jean Barkeim, Elementary School Teacher, Minnewaska Area Schools
  136. Sheila Stolusky, Teacher, St. Louis Park Schools
  137. Lauren Pauley, Middle School English Teacher, Becker, MN
  138. Rita Scholten, Teacher, Alexandria Area High School
  139. Ann Millan, 5th Grade Teacher, Metro Area
  140. David Leom, Teacher, Milaca Public Schools
  141. Kara Bancroft, 5th Grade Teacher, St. Louis Park
  142. Christine Bistodeau, Kindergarten Teacher, Isanti Primary School
  143. Brian Weitz, Teacher, Gleason Lake Elementary, Wayzata
  144. Lanna Stahman, Physical Education Teacher
  145. Carrie Runke-Jones, Elementary School Teacher, St. Louis Park School District
  146. Maggie Temple, Social Studies Teacher, Hopkins High School

SF 3239 (Abeler); HF 2318 (Nadeau): TRA; Providing an unreduced retirement annuity upon reaching age 62 with 30 years of service, increasing employer contribution rates, and appropriating money. ‑ Amended, Laid over
- Amendment S3239-2A ‑ Adopted
- SF3239-HF2318 Summary
- Testifiers:
  - Dr. Jeff Ridlehoover, Superintendent, Rockford Area School District 883 (Handout)
  - Paul Peterson, Special Education Teacher, International Falls ISD #361
  - Kate Lynne Snyder, Education Minnesota, Lobbyist
  - Phill Tencick, Executive Director/CIO, St. Paul Teachers

SF 2992 (Pratt); HF 2329 (Nadeau): TRA; Lowering the age from 62 to 60 for the enhanced early retirement reduction. ‑ Amended, Laid over
- Amendment S2992-1A ‑ Adopted
- SF2992-HF2329 Summary
- Testifiers:
  - Kate Lynne Snyder, Education Minnesota, Lobbyist
  - Phill Tencick, Executive Director/CIO, St. Paul Teachers

PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Persons interested in testifying must email lisa.diesslin@lcpr.mn.gov by 5:00 PM on Monday, April 7, identifying the specific agenda item on which you would like to testify, your name, title and organization (if applicable), email address, and phone number. Testimony is limited to the items listed on the agenda.

PUBLIC VIEWING INFORMATION: This meeting will be streamed live by Senate Media Services. See www.senate.mn/schedule/webcast-schedule for the webcast schedule or the Senate Media YouTube page for YouTube streaming. Note that these links may not appear until the day of the meeting.

NOTE: To access the Minnesota Senate Building after 5:00, use the main entrance on the corner of University Avenue and Park Street. There will be a security guard at that entrance after hours to let you in.

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Meeting Details

Tuesday, April 8, 2025
5:30 PM
Room 1200, Minnesota Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Nick A. Frentz

Printable Agenda

See the end of the agenda for information
about testifying and
accessibility/accommodation

2025-2026 Commission Members

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