Rep. Dan Wolgamott

Maddy summaryHF 1522 modifies Minnesota's definition of "agricultural land" for property tax classification purposes. It specifies that agricultural land must consist of either contiguous acreage of 10+ acres used for farming last year, or land used for intensive livestock/poultry confinement (excluding grazing-only land). This change affects farmers and landowners who qualify for lower tax rates on agricultural property, ensuring only land meeting these criteria receives the reduced 0.5% or 1% classification rate. The bill clarifies how mixed-use parcels (like land with windbreaks or timber) are classified under existing tax categories.

Maddy summaryHF 2528 allocates $2.6 million annually for neighborhood partnership grants to support community programs focused on education, primarily benefiting historically underserved students in Minnesota. The bill specifically directs $1.3 million yearly to the Northside Achievement Zone and St. Paul Promise Neighborhood, while $1.4 million annually funds regional programs like the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative and Rochester Area Foundation. It also includes a $900,000 one-time grant for similar regional initiatives, with remaining funds available for carryover to the next fiscal year. The bill does not allocate funds for the proposed "emerging partnership grant" program listed in Section 3.

Maddy summaryHF 2822 appropriates $7 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to construct an outdoor waterpark at the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA. The funds will be granted to the city of St. Cloud to design, build, and equip the waterpark, which is intended to fulfill a long-standing community request. This one-time appropriation is available until project completion or abandonment. The bill directly affects the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA and the city of St. Cloud as the recipient of the grant.

Maddy summaryHF 1779 authorizes an unreduced early retirement annuity for probation agency employees in Minnesota who separate from service after reaching age 60 or with at least 35 years of service, meaning they receive their full pension amount without reduction starting January 1, 2028. It also increases the employee contribution rate for these workers, requiring a higher percentage of their salary toward retirement benefits beginning January 1, 2026. The bill defines "probation agency employees" as county or state employees who provide community supervision services or oversee probation programs, including probation officers, supervisory staff, and program managers. These changes specifically affect probation staff in Minnesota's county and state agencies.

Maddy summaryHF 2850 allocates $450,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from Minnesota's workforce development fund to provide grants for three organizations. The bill directs $150,000 each year to Ambassadors of Culture, Hooyo Hour, and United Way of Central Minnesota. These grants fund workforce development services targeting young adults, immigrant mothers, and East African youth through job training, coaching, and employer engagement. This is a one-time appropriation to support skills and employment opportunities in diverse communities.

Maddy summaryHF 2849 appropriates $600,000 from Minnesota's workforce development fund for a one-time grant to OneCommunity Alliance. The funding supports a program in Central Minnesota that provides workforce training, career readiness, job placement, and ongoing support to unemployed or underemployed residents, recent graduates, and career transitioners in manufacturing, food production, agriculture, and health care sectors. OneCommunity Alliance must launch this program by 2025 to help job seekers secure employment with local businesses. The bill directly affects Central Minnesota job seekers in specific industries and the nonprofit organization administering the services.

Maddy summaryHF 2366 appropriates $3.5 million from Minnesota's renewable development account for the city of St. Cloud to fund its Green Hydrogen Project. The funds are specifically designated for integrating a battery system and renewable energy components into the project during fiscal year 2026. This is a one-time payment, not a new policy or ongoing funding mechanism. The bill directly affects St. Cloud's project implementation by providing targeted financial support from existing renewable energy funds.

Maddy summaryHF 2061 appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide student loan debt counseling services in Minnesota. The funds are allocated to the Office of Higher Education to implement Minnesota Statutes section 136A.1788, which establishes counseling programs for residents with student loan debt. The bill permits up to 3% of the total appropriation to cover program administration costs. This legislation directly affects Minnesota residents seeking assistance managing their student loan obligations.

Maddy summaryHF 2737 appropriates funds from the state general fund to support Minnesota's Hunger-Free Campus grant program. The bill allocates unspecified amounts for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Office of Higher Education commissioner. This funding directly supports Minnesota colleges and universities participating in the program, which provides grants to help campuses address student hunger through initiatives like food pantries and meal programs. The program operates under Minnesota Statutes section 135A.137.

Maddy summaryHF 2639 establishes a Minnesota scholarship program providing up to 1,000 students with $5,000 scholarships each for education in specific allied health technician fields (medical lab tech, respiratory therapy, radiology, surgical tech) by 2028. It directly affects Minnesota residents enrolled in nationally accredited programs at eligible institutions who commit to working in those fields post-graduation. The bill appropriates $5.38 million for fiscal year 2026 to fund the scholarships ($5M), promotion ($230K), and administration ($150K), with the commissioner required to report annually on program participation, workforce placement, and demand data. The program expires June 30, 2028.