Rep. Ben Bakeberg

Maddy summaryHF 701 appropriates funds from Minnesota's renewable development account to construct an anaerobic digestor energy system in Louisville Township. The bill specifically provides money for Recycling and Energy, in partnership with Dem-Con HZI Bioenergy, LLC, to build a facility that converts food and organic waste into renewable natural gas and biochar. This funding applies to fiscal years 2025 and 2026, with the system designed to process local organic waste streams. The bill directly affects Louisville Township residents and the designated companies by enabling this specific renewable energy project. The funding mechanism is a grant from the renewable development account to support the construction of the facility.

Maddy summaryHF 1589 establishes a three-year pilot program (2026-2027 to 2028-2029) in six Minnesota school districts or charter schools to increase access to advanced coursework. It requires participating schools to automatically enroll students who meet state assessment benchmarks or earn top grades in language arts, math, or science into advanced courses (like AP, dual credit, or honors), while allowing parents to opt their child out. The bill appropriates funds to cover AP exam fees, teacher training, textbooks, tutoring, and bonuses for teachers based on student AP exam pass rates. Participating districts must collect and report disaggregated data on student enrollment, retention, and outcomes, with a final report due to lawmakers by January 2030.

Maddy summaryHF 202 modifies funding for the U.S. Highway 169 and Trunk Highway 282 interchange project in Scott County, specifically in the city of Jordan. It appropriates $4.9 million from the general fund for Scott County to cover design and construction of the interchange, including bike/pedestrian accommodations, rail grade separation, and utility relocations. This is a one-time appropriation available until June 30, 2027, and updates an existing 2023 law. The bill directly affects Scott County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation by changing the funding allocation for this specific road project.

Maddy summaryHF 2388 replaces Minnesota's three-tier local optional aid system (with rates of $100, $300, and $424 per adjusted pupil unit) with a single, higher basic supplemental revenue amount for school districts. It affects all public school districts and charter schools by changing how supplemental education funding is calculated and distributed. The bill increases the basic supplemental aid level while adjusting local levy formulas based on property values, using new thresholds for fiscal years 2026 and beyond. This simplifies the previous structure but maintains the requirement for districts to fund supplemental revenue through local property taxes.

Maddy summaryHF 1096 allocates $2 million for fiscal year 2026 and $2 million for fiscal year 2027 from Minnesota's workforce development fund to Summit Academy OIC. The funding directly supports Summit Academy OIC in expanding student enrollment, employment placement, GED preparation, STEM programming, and launching a dental assistant training program in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota. It requires the organization to collaborate with employers to place students after they complete the dental assistant program. This bill provides concrete financial support for specific workforce development initiatives at Summit Academy OIC.

Maddy summaryHF 2192 eliminates Minnesota's North Star Promise scholarship program and redirects any unspent funds from its special revenue account to the state grant program. The bill repeals the program's funding statute (Minnesota Statutes §136A.1465) and requires transferring unencumbered balances to the state grant program by July 2025, with the account closed by August 2025. This affects future scholarship recipients who would have qualified for North Star Promise, as the program will no longer provide aid starting fall 2025. The state grant program will now receive these redirected funds, though the bill does not create new scholarship eligibility or funding.

Maddy summaryHF 1120 establishes Minnesota's "Keep it Clean" program to prevent water pollution from garbage and human waste left on ice during winter activities on state waters. The bill directly affects local governments and nonprofit organizations by creating a grant program to fund projects like installing winter-ready waste stations, providing seasonal waste disposal services, increasing winter patrols, and running education campaigns. Key provisions include funding for infrastructure (e.g., dumping stations), enforcement support, and community outreach to promote responsible winter use. The bill appropriates state funds for the program's administration and grants, with at least a portion dedicated to local projects.

Maddy summaryHF 1538 provides state funding from the workforce development fund for teacher apprenticeship programs in Minnesota for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It requires school districts to develop programs meeting five specific standards: school district involvement, mentorship, approved training, wage increases tied to skill levels, and a pathway to a Tier 3 teaching license. School districts, higher education institutions, and charter schools can partner to create these programs and use the funds to reimburse costs. The bill also mandates a report to legislative committees on how the funds were used and recommendations for improving the program as a pathway to teacher licensure, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 961 appropriates $250,000 for each of the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years to fund the Hospitality Minnesota Education Foundation's ProStart program. This program provides high school students with culinary and hospitality management education, including curriculum, tools, skills training, professional development, and scholarships. The funds directly support addressing workforce shortages in Minnesota's hospitality industry by enhancing career pathways for students. This is a one-time appropriation specifically designated for these educational services in participating high schools.

Maddy summaryHF 1989 increases funding for Minnesota school districts by raising the "local optional revenue" allowances used to calculate state aid. It sets the first-tier allowance at $550 for fiscal year 2027 (up from $300) and maintains the second-tier allowance at $424 through 2027, with future increases tied to the general education funding formula. School districts receive more state aid when they levy less than the maximum allowed under these new formulas, which include specific "equalizing factors" for different fiscal years (e.g., $626,450 for second-tier in 2025). The bill appropriates funds to cover this increased aid, effective for fiscal year 2027 and later.