Rep. Roger Skraba

Maddy summaryHF 3561 appropriates $3,919,000 from state bond proceeds to fund water infrastructure upgrades in Ely, Minnesota. The bill directly affects the city of Ely by providing funds for specific projects including replacing raw water intake systems, rehabilitating water mains, installing new pumps and monitoring systems, and upgrading the Ely water treatment plant with solar energy. The state will issue bonds to cover these costs, following Minnesota's bond procedures. This legislation enables Ely to address deteriorating water infrastructure through targeted capital improvements.

Maddy summaryHF 2698 appropriates $20 million from state bond proceeds to fund a new wastewater filtration system at the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District's treatment facility in Duluth. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $20 million to cover this cost, with the funds provided as a grant to the sanitary district. This directly affects the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District and the residents of Duluth who rely on its wastewater services. The key mechanism is the bond issuance and appropriation specifically for constructing the new filtration system at the Duluth facility.

Maddy summaryHF 1066 increases annual funding for soil and water conservation districts in Minnesota. It amends state law to raise the annual appropriation from $15 million (for 2023-2024) to $20 million starting in 2025, paid from the general fund to the commissioner of revenue. This funding directly supports local soil and water conservation districts that provide technical assistance and cost-share programs for landowners. The bill takes effect for payments made in 2025 and subsequent years.

Maddy summaryHF 568 appropriates $6.5 million from state bonds to fund construction and renovation of education learning centers for two specific special education cooperatives in Minnesota: Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative No. 6096-52 and Area Special Education Cooperative No. 997. The funds will support centers housing regional programs for students with autism, cognitive disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, and other specific educational needs, including Level IV special education services. The money comes directly from state bond proceeds without requiring local matching funds. This bill provides concrete funding for physical infrastructure to expand specialized educational services for these student populations.

Maddy summaryHF 1161 creates a new funding mechanism for Minnesota school districts with significant seasonal property (like lakeshore areas). It establishes "seasonal tax base replacement aid" that adjusts a district's local tax levy based on the ratio of seasonal property value to total property value, with the adjustment capped between 50% and 100%. The bill appropriates funds to cover this aid, reducing districts' required tax levies without lowering them below zero, starting with taxes payable in 2026. This directly affects school districts that rely on seasonal property taxes for local funding.

Maddy summaryHF 1508 appropriates $15 million from state bond proceeds to fund predesign, design, and preconstruction work for a new Academic Health Center facility at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The facility will house the Duluth College of Pharmacy and Medical School, colocated in downtown Duluth's emerging Medical District. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $15 million in bonds to cover these costs, following Minnesota's bond issuance procedures. This funding directly supports the University of Minnesota-Duluth's planning for a new health-focused campus building.

Maddy summaryHF 3341 appropriates $5 million from state bond proceeds to fund wastewater treatment facility improvements in Grand Marais. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $5 million in bonds to provide this funding, which will be granted to the city through the Public Facilities Authority. The funds are specifically designated for designing, constructing, and equipping capital improvements to address risks from aging infrastructure at the city's existing wastewater facility. This bill directly affects the city of Grand Marais by providing capital funding for essential infrastructure upgrades.

Maddy summaryHF 724 modifies Minnesota's water infrastructure funding programs to increase support for local governments. It raises the maximum grant amount for wastewater and drinking water projects from $5 million to $10 million per project (or $20,000 per connection), while adding a new "emerging contaminants grant program" to address newer water quality threats. The bill authorizes the sale of state bonds to fund these clean water initiatives and adjusts eligibility rules to help communities where system costs exceed 1.4% of median household income for wastewater or 1.2% for drinking water. These changes directly affect cities, counties, and water utilities seeking funding for infrastructure upgrades under existing revolving fund programs.

Maddy summaryHF 1058 modifies the composition of the North Koochiching sanitary sewer board by increasing East Koochiching county sewer district's representation from one to two board members. The bill specifies that International Falls will appoint four members, South International Falls two, and Papermakers sewer district, Ranier, and an at-large position will each appoint one member. This change directly affects how local governments and sewer districts within the North Koochiching sanitary district are represented on the board. The bill does not alter the district's boundaries or the board's core responsibilities for wastewater management.

Maddy summaryHF 3229 requires the Prairie Island nuclear plant to move its spent nuclear fuel to a new storage site by January 1, 2028, and authorizes construction of additional storage at the Monticello nuclear plant for fuel transferred from Prairie Island. The bill allows the public utility owning Prairie Island to withdraw funds from the state's renewable development account to cover transportation costs, reducing annual payments to the account by $3.75 million. This directly affects the Prairie Island and Monticello nuclear plant operators and the renewable development fund. The law amends existing statutes to mandate the fuel transfer deadline, authorize new storage capacity at Monticello, and establish the funding mechanism for transport.