Rep. Esther Agbaje

Maddy summaryHF 1585 allocates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to provide a grant to Art From the Inside. The grant funds arts programs - including visual art, poetry, theater, dance, and music - to support incarcerated individuals and people on supervised release. These programs aim to address rehabilitation needs and promote safer correctional facilities and communities. The bill directly affects those in Minnesota correctional facilities and under community supervision through this specific funding mechanism.

Maddy summaryHF 297 appropriates $2 million from Minnesota's general fund for a one-time grant to the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency. The funding must be used as a reusable fund to acquire and rehabilitate tax-forfeited properties (properties seized due to unpaid taxes) for owner occupancy. The housing funded through this grant must be affordable to the local workforce, directly benefiting residents seeking homeownership in Arrowhead region communities.

Maddy summaryHF 1424 modifies foster care rules for relatives in Minnesota. It expands the definition of "related" caregivers to include important friends with significant relationships to the child or family, requiring these relatives to obtain foster care licenses (unless they're parents or legal guardians). The bill also mandates that all foster care providers - both related and unrelated - complete annual training on preventing sudden infant death and abusive head trauma for children under five. Additionally, it updates background check procedures for domestic partners of relative caregivers and modifies the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) funding structure. These changes aim to strengthen safety standards while providing clearer pathways for relatives and trusted community members to care for children in foster care.

Maddy summaryHF 383 appropriates $5.7 million from state bond proceeds to fund planning, design, engineering, environmental work, and construction of a new water distribution facility in Minneapolis, located in Hennepin or Anoka County. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $5.7 million to cover these costs, with funds administered through the Public Facilities Authority to the city of Minneapolis. This directly affects Minneapolis by providing capital for critical water infrastructure upgrades. The legislation enables the city to advance a specific water system project without immediate state budget expenditure.

Maddy summaryHF 1273 exempts the Minnesota Board of Pardons from public meeting requirements when reviewing waiver requests for pardons or commutations. Specifically, it removes the obligation for the Board and its Commission to hold public meetings under state open meeting laws when considering requests to waive waiting periods for pardon or commutation eligibility. This change applies only to waiver requests (based on "unusual circumstances and special need") and does not alter eligibility rules for pardons or commutations themselves. The bill modifies Minnesota Statutes 638.12, subdivisions 2 and 3, to clarify this procedural exemption.

Maddy summaryHF 1107 appropriates $1,000,000 from the workforce development fund for a one-time grant to the Black Women's Wealth Alliance. The grant will fund job skills training, career counseling, and career placement assistance specifically for Black women. This is a single-year allocation for fiscal year 2026 with no ongoing funding provided. The bill directly affects the Black Women's Wealth Alliance as the recipient organization and Black women seeking workforce development services.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies two definitions in Minnesota law related to the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board. It clarifies that "nursing home" includes facilities licensed under Chapter 144A (with Medicaid reimbursement under Chapter 256R) and boarding care homes licensed under Sections 144.50-144.56 that receive Medicaid reimbursement. It also defines "nursing home employer" as any employer of nursing home workers in licensed, Medicaid-certified facilities meeting these criteria. These changes directly affect nursing home workers and their employers in specific Medicaid-reimbursed facilities by updating the legal scope of the Standards Board.

Maddy summaryHF 497 appropriates $2.2 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund a statewide housing mediation program run by Community Mediation Minnesota. The program directly serves renters, residential property owners, and homeowners facing housing disputes, including eviction threats. Key provisions require the program to provide free dispute resolution services (like eviction prevention and mediation), increase access for seniors and renters with disabilities, partner with culturally specific organizations, and integrate with legal and resource services. The funding also mandates expanding mediator diversity and evaluating program effectiveness. This bill creates a structured state-funded system to resolve housing conflicts before they reach court.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $7.5 million from the general fund for a one-time grant to Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts, a nonprofit organization in North Minneapolis. The funds are designated for the predesign, design, and construction of new teaching spaces and a theater to serve youth and community members in North Minneapolis and surrounding areas. The appropriation is available until project completion or abandonment, as specified under Minnesota Statutes section 16A.642. The bill directly affects the Lundstrum Center by providing capital funding for facility expansion.

Maddy summaryHF 1009 appropriates $20 million from state bond proceeds to fund flood mitigation infrastructure in North Minneapolis' Cleveland neighborhood. The funds will be granted to the city of Minneapolis through the Public Facilities Authority to replace aging stormwater systems and prevent recurring flooding along 34th, 35th, and Washburn Avenues. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $20 million in bonds to cover this project cost, including associated street reconstruction. This directly affects residents of the Cleveland neighborhood who experience frequent flooding and the city government responsible for implementing the infrastructure work.