HF 4842 allocates $2 million from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to Build Wealth MN. This one-time appropriation is intended to expand and administer a special purpose credit loan program that provides affordable mortgage financing to underserved borrowers in communities of color. The funds will be managed by the commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency to create a revolving loan pool for these specific lending activities.
This bill requires employees and officers of the state, the University of Minnesota, and certain other organizations to immediately report in writing to the legislative auditor if they discover theft, embezzlement, or unauthorized use of public funds. The law includes an exception for situations where reporting would knowingly hinder an active criminal investigation. Failure to comply with this reporting requirement when necessary is classified as a gross misdemeanor. The new penalties will take effect on August 1, 2026, and apply to crimes committed on or after that date.
This bill removes the automatic revocation of a driver's license for failing to pay child support in Minnesota. It repeals specific state laws that previously mandated this penalty, allowing individuals to retain their driving privileges regardless of child support arrears. The legislation directly affects parents who owe child support and removes a mechanism that previously tied their ability to drive to their payment status. By eliminating these statutes, the bill changes how the Department of Public Safety handles license sanctions related to family law obligations.
This bill creates the Minnesota Board of Early Care and Education to improve the quality of child care and early learning programs for children from birth to kindergarten. The new board will be made up of representatives from child care centers, family homes, schools, tribal organizations, Head Start programs, and parents, with members selected to ensure geographic diversity across the state. Its main duties include setting program quality standards, improving educator qualifications, and consolidating existing state support systems. The legislation also gives the board authority to create rules, requires it to submit reports, and provides funding to get the board up and running.
SF 5030 clarifies how electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in Minnesota can charge customers for fixed costs related to small solar and other net metered facilities. The bill allows these utilities to bill customers for net energy used while charging a separate, reasonable fee to cover fixed costs not already paid through existing rates, provided the fee is based on a recent cost of service study. Additionally, the legislation permits meter aggregation, enabling customers to combine multiple meters on contiguous property for billing purposes, and requires utilities to process these requests within 90 days.
This bill grants Direct Care and Treatment the authority to accept gifts on behalf of patients and clients, provided the funds benefit them directly. It also modifies regulations regarding fees for x-ray and security screening equipment, establishing specific charges for different types of radiation-producing devices used in medical, dental, and correctional settings. Additionally, the legislation extends the availability of funding for a pilot program designed to improve county correctional facilities' ability to provide involuntary psychiatric medications. These changes aim to clarify administrative procedures, standardize equipment registration costs, and support mental health treatment services in state and county facilities.
This bill exempts the municipal electric utility in Hibbing, Minnesota, from specific reporting requirements related to waste-derived fuel. The exemption applies only to facilities that were operating before a specific regulatory decision and removes the need to submit life-cycle analyses, fuel mix reports, or undergo certain reevaluations. Despite these exemptions, electricity generated from waste-derived fuel at the utility must still count toward meeting the state's eligible energy technology standards. The legislation directly affects the Hibbing utility by reducing its administrative burdens while maintaining its eligibility for state energy programs.
This bill authorizes the state of Minnesota to issue up to $9,344,000 in bonds to fund stormwater system improvements for the city of Comfrey. The funds will be used to design, engineer, and construct new or replacement pipes and other infrastructure upgrades to address flooding throughout the city. Once approved, the state will sell these bonds to generate the necessary capital for the project, which is intended to resolve ongoing community-wide flooding issues.
This bill prohibits property tax assessments from increasing for Minnesota homesteads owned and occupied by individuals aged 65 or older, with the freeze applying to the house, garage, and surrounding acreage. To qualify, owners must apply to their county assessor by July 1 and provide proof of age, ensuring that both spouses are at least 65 for married couples. While the bill caps the taxable value based on the previous year's estimate, it explicitly allows property values to rise if improvements are made to the home. The legislation also requires assessors to notify eligible homeowners of this valuation freeze in their annual tax notices and is set to take effect starting with the 2026 assessment year.
HF 4827 appropriates $20,000 from the state's general fund to help the city of Eagan create a memorial honoring women who served in the U.S. military since the nation's founding. The money will be given as a one-time grant to the commissioner of employment and economic development, who will then provide it to Eagan for designing and building the monument. This legislation is a procedural funding measure that does not change existing laws or create new programs beyond this specific allocation.
This bill increases the number of covered physical therapy visits for children under Minnesota's medical assistance program. Currently, the limit is 14 visits per year, but the bill raises this to 30 visits for children recovering from hospital-based surgeries while keeping the 14-visit limit for other situations. The new higher limit takes effect on January 1, 2027, or later if federal approval is required. Additionally, the bill clarifies reimbursement rates for physical therapy assistants, paying them the full rate when working on-site with a therapist and 65% of that rate when working remotely under a therapist's direction.
This bill appropriates $5 million from the state's general fund to support capital improvements at the nursing home operated by the Red Lake Band of Chippewa. The money is designated for fiscal year 2027 and will be distributed through the commissioner of human services as a grant to the tribe. The funding is a one-time allocation intended to be used for physical upgrades or repairs at the facility until the funds are fully spent.
