Rep. Bianca Virnig

Maddy summaryHF 1176 appropriates $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund the ActivEd Walkabouts program. The program provides a physical activity-based learning platform teaching math, English, language arts, and literacy for students in prekindergarten through grade 5. Regional centers of excellence receive the funding to offer the program at no cost to schools, with priority given to schools identified for state accountability support and selected for geographic distribution across Minnesota. This bill directly affects Minnesota's K-5 schools and regional education centers through this specific grant program.

Maddy summaryHF 846 allocates $3 million annually for 2026 and 2027 to fund registered special education apprenticeship programs. It provides $740,000 grants each year to four specific intermediate school districts (287, 288, 916, and 917) for these programs. The funds must cover program administration, apprentice stipends/tuition, mentor teacher stipends, and substitute teacher costs. This directly supports special education apprentices and their training partnerships with higher education institutions. The bill does not change existing laws but provides dedicated funding for these specific programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a refundable sales and use tax exemption for building materials used in Apple Valley's Central Maintenance Facility project. It exempts purchases made between February 28, 2025, and August 1, 2028, from state sales tax, with taxes collected first and then refunded per standard procedures. The state will appropriate funds from the general revenue fund to cover these refunds, which cannot be paid before July 1, 2025. The exemption applies retroactively to eligible purchases starting February 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 179 provides a refundable sales tax exemption for construction materials purchased by Browerville Public Schools (ISD 787) for specific projects. It covers materials used in renovating the existing K-12 school building and constructing a new gymnasium, classrooms, locker rooms, wrestling/weight room, offices, and stage. Purchases made between December 1, 2023, and January 1, 2026, qualify for this exemption, meaning schools pay the tax upfront but receive a refund from the state. The refund process begins after June 30, 2025, and applies retroactively to purchases made after December 31, 2023. This directly benefits Browerville Public Schools and their contractors by reducing construction costs for these specific projects.

Maddy summaryHF 265, also known as "Brent's Law," requires Minnesota 911 call centers to identify mental health crisis calls and prioritize mental health crisis teams as primary responders when available. It mandates that 911 telecommunicators receive specific training or mental health staff screen calls to recognize crises, and establishes protocols for public safety answering points to comply. The bill also creates a civil lawsuit option for individuals or families harmed by violations, allowing claims for damages, attorney fees, and up to $15,000 in punitive damages for willful violations. This directly affects all Minnesota public safety answering points and the government entities operating them.

Maddy summaryHF 243 appropriates $3 million from Minnesota's general fund for a one-time grant to the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, a nonprofit organization. The funding is specifically for renovating, constructing, furnishing, and equipping the White Bear Armory in White Bear Lake to create a history museum. This bill directly affects the historical society and the local community by enabling the repurposing of a public building into a cultural facility. The appropriation is available until the project is completed or abandoned, as specified in Minnesota Statutes section 16A.642.

Maddy summaryHF 207 provides $6.3 million in state funding for Phase II of a new fire station in Golden Valley, directly benefiting the city of Golden Valley. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds to cover this amount, appropriating the funds from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of public safety for a grant to Golden Valley. The funds will be used to construct, equip, and furnish the fire station, including space for regional response, training, and site improvements, building on prior funding from 2023.

Maddy summaryHF 229 appropriates $1,050,000 in state bond funds to create a 12-unit youth transitional facility in Perham, Otter Tail County. The facility will provide transitional housing with comprehensive supportive services for young people transitioning from foster care or other systems. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds to cover the cost, with funds directed to Otter Tail County for design, construction, and equipment. This directly affects youth in Perham needing housing support and Otter Tail County as the recipient of the grant.

Maddy summaryHF 1020 establishes a working group within Minnesota's Department of Education to review the current age limit for children receiving special education services for developmental delay. The group, composed of specified education and disability advocacy representatives, will assess the impact of raising eligibility from age six to age seven and submit findings to the legislature by February 1, 2026. This bill directly affects children with developmental delays who may lose services at age six under current rules, though it does not change eligibility itself - only mandates a review of the policy. The working group will operate until its report is submitted, with no compensation for members.

Maddy summaryHF 155 provides a refundable sales and use tax exemption for construction materials used in building a new city hall in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. It exempts materials purchased between September 1, 2021, and March 31, 2024, from state sales and use tax, with the tax collected first and then refunded. The refund process requires claims to be filed by December 31, 2025, and funds for refunds are appropriated from the state general fund. This bill directly affects Columbia Heights by reducing costs for its new city hall construction project.