Rep. Matt Norris

Maddy summaryHF 1770 creates a grant program to fund infrastructure for cooperative manufactured housing developments in Minnesota. Counties and cities can receive grants covering up to 50% of infrastructure costs (like sewers, water systems, and streets) for projects serving manufactured housing cooperatives, with a maximum of $60,000 per housing lot. Applicants must provide local matching funds (cash or in-kind, such as site value) and demonstrate the project will increase workforce housing and attract additional private investment. The bill appropriates $10 million from state bond proceeds to fund these grants, with returned funds recycled for future grants if projects stall beyond five years.

Maddy summaryHF 2841 appropriates $800,000 from the general fund to the Department of Education for a one-time grant to Cultural Connections. The funds must create and distribute translated videos explaining Minnesota's school system to immigrant students and parents at 320 public middle and high schools, with translations into parents' first languages. The videos aim to accelerate immigrant student integration, promote parental involvement, and address achievement gaps. This is a targeted funding measure for school system outreach, not a broad policy change.

Maddy summaryHF 515 increases Minnesota's annual funding for public schools by guaranteeing a minimum 3% raise to the general education basic formula allowance starting in fiscal year 2026. This directly affects all public school districts receiving state education funding, as it changes how their base funding amount is calculated each year. The bill requires the state education commissioner to calculate the allowance using either a 3% increase or the current inflation rate (whichever is higher), but never exceeding a 3% annual increase. The change ensures schools receive predictable, inflation-adjusted funding growth while maintaining a minimum 3% annual increase in state support.

Maddy summaryHF 2645 provides $5 million in state funds to help small businesses affected by Trunk Highway 65 construction in Blaine, Minnesota. It establishes grants for "qualified businesses" (those with up to 40 employees experiencing impaired access, parking, or visibility for at least one month during the project) to cover payroll, operating, or facility costs. Grants are prioritized based on revenue decline, construction duration, and traffic disruption severity, with the commissioner required to submit annual reports listing all recipients and award amounts. The program is effective July 2025 and funds are available until June 2029.

Maddy summaryHF 2548 creates the Outdoor School for All grant program to fund immersive, multiday outdoor educational experiences for Minnesota students in grades 4-8. The program provides grants to accredited overnight outdoor schools and nonprofit learning centers meeting specific criteria, including research-based curricula, integration with school standards, skill development (like leadership and critical thinking), and accessibility for underserved students. It appropriates $2.5 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the general fund. The bill directly affects public school students and providers offering equitable outdoor education, aiming to address declining outdoor engagement and access disparities.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.5 million from Minnesota's general fund and $500,000 from the workforce development fund to support the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. The funds will directly support the Games' operations and specifically target employment initiatives for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The $500,000 grant from the workforce fund is earmarked for activities aimed at increasing job opportunities for this community during the Games. These are one-time appropriations for fiscal year 2026, with no ongoing funding commitment.

Maddy summaryHF 487 appropriates $600,000 total ($300,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027) from the state general fund to provide a grant to Wellness in the Woods. The funding supports daily peer support and special sessions for three specific groups: individuals in substance use recovery, people transitioning out of incarceration, and those who have experienced trauma. The grant is administered through the commissioner of human services. This is a direct funding mechanism for community-based mental health and recovery services.

Maddy summaryHF 2843 appropriates $4.7 million from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026 to support a nonprofit organization in Roseville, Minnesota, to build a regional emergency disaster services center in Ramsey County. The center will provide facilities for strategic stockpiling of emergency supplies, multiagency disaster response coordination, and training for natural disasters, pandemics, and other emergencies. The state funds are contingent on securing at least 67% of the project costs from nonstate sources before disbursement. This bill directly affects Roseville residents and regional emergency response capabilities by enabling a dedicated facility for large-scale disaster management.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies two key aspects of Minnesota's housing stabilization program. It requires the state commissioner to process provider applications within two weeks (up from previous timelines) and reduces payments to housing stabilization service providers by half over two years, with a one-year suspension of this reduction starting July 1, 2025. These changes directly affect housing stabilization service providers and the individuals receiving these services, particularly those also eligible for supplemental housing support under other programs. The bill aims to streamline provider enrollment while adjusting payment structures, with the rate reduction applying only to non-duplicative services.

Maddy summaryHF 2618 requires Minnesota condo associations and homeowners associations (HOAs) to provide plain-language explanations of governing laws to unit owners upon request. The bill mandates that board members review these explanations when elected and share them with owners seeking help understanding their rights or responsibilities. It appropriates funding to create a statewide guide explaining laws governing common interest communities, including key provisions in Minnesota Statutes sections 515B.4-102, 515B.4-1021, and 515B.4-107. The requirements become effective August 1, 2026.