Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn

Kotyza-Witthuhn grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and attended the University of St. Thomas, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in entrepreneurship. She is an operations analyst.^[2][4]

Kotyza-Witthuhn was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018 and has been reelected every two years since. She defeated five-term Republican incumbent Jenifer Loon.^[2]

Kotyza-Witthuhn has served as vice chair of the Commerce Finance and Policy Committee since 2021. She also sits on the Children and Families Finance and Policy, Economic Development Finance and Policy, and Human Services Finance Committees.^[2]

Kotyza-Witthuhn is pro-choice, criticized the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and was a founding member of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus.^[4][5] In 2023, she authored the Minnesota House's H.F. 1, also known as the Protect Reproductive Options Act, or PRO Act.^[6] The bill added a "fundamental right" to "continue the pregnancy and give birth, or obtain an abortion" in state law. It also protects rights to contraception, sterilization, family planning, and counseling. The bill passed the House on January 19 and was signed by Governor Tim Walz on January 31, 2023.^[7][8][9]

Kotyza-Witthuhn has spoken about the challenges of being a mother to a young child while in the legislature, and about the benefits of remote work for legislators with children at home.^[10][11][12] She authored legislation to significantly increase Parent Aware funding, which funds day care and early-learning providers.^[13][14] She has supported proposals to increase prenatal and early childhood education.^[15][16]

In December 2024, Kotyza-Witthuhn was selected to join the Future Caucus 2025-2026 Prenatal-to-Three Innovation Fellowship cohort, recognizing her efforts as a young legislator in creating and advocating for innovative healthcare policies.^[17][18]

Kotyza-Witthuhn authored a bill to reinstate the angel tax credit program, giving tax breaks to investors who help start businesses in Minnesota.^[19][20] She also introduced legislation to ban nonessential PFAS chemicals in children's products.^[21][22]