Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura

Maddy summaryHF 1948 establishes Minnesota's Headwaters Community Food and Water Economic Resiliency Program to support sustainable local food systems. The program, administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development, directly assists urban and rural producers - especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color - engaged in regenerative food systems. Key provisions include providing financial and technical aid for infrastructure (like storage facilities, food commons, and weather-resilient water systems), operational support for food webs, training for new participants, and ensuring affordable fresh food access for all income levels. The bill also creates an advisory committee requiring diverse community representation to guide program implementation.

Maddy summaryHF 1223 appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities. The funds will support job-seeking skills, connections to job training/education, and career-focused mentorship for disadvantaged youth aged 12-21 in Twin Cities, central, and southern Minnesota chapters. This one-time appropriation directly affects youth in these regions through targeted youth development programming. The bill creates a specific grant mechanism to deliver these services via an existing nonprofit organization.

Maddy summaryHF 54 authorizes $375,000 annually for 2026 and 2027 to fund the Minnesota Youth Council's activities through the Minnesota Alliance With Youth. The bill appropriates these funds from the state general fund to support youth-led initiatives and programming. This funding directly affects the Minnesota Youth Council and its partner organization, enabling them to carry out their work with youth engagement. The bill creates no new policy requirements, only providing dedicated financial support for existing council operations.

Maddy summaryHF 745 modifies how Minnesota school districts calculate compensatory revenue eligibility for low-income students, requiring districts to count children eligible through both direct certification (like SNAP benefits) and education benefits (such as school meal programs) as of October 1 each year. It adjusts spending rules, requiring at least 80% of compensatory revenue to be spent at individual school sites (with a temporary 40% allowance for 2026-2027 if meal program data is incomplete) and mandates reporting for adjustments due to enrollment changes. The bill establishes a Compensatory Revenue Task Force, composed of education officials, school board representatives, and parent advocates, to analyze the funding formula and make recommendations. It appropriates funds for these changes and takes effect for fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 55 appropriates $1 million for each of the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years from the general fund to the Minnesota Alliance With Youth. This funding supports the "Promise Fellow" program, which partners with AmeriCorps, schools, and community organizations to provide attendance and academic engagement services for students. Key services include family outreach, academic support, mentoring, and connecting students to resources to help them return to and maintain consistent school attendance. The program directly affects students in Minnesota schools facing attendance challenges through these targeted interventions.

Maddy summaryHF 2430 appropriates $2,000 per school district (or $40 per student, based on fall 2024 enrollment) from the general fund to compensate teachers for completing required Read Act training. This funding directly affects school districts, charter schools, and cooperative units providing direct instruction in Minnesota. Payments must be distributed by October 15, 2025, and are designated for fiscal year 2026. The bill mandates that districts use these funds to compensate eligible teachers as specified in existing law or through teacher union agreements.

Maddy summaryHF 2502 modifies Minnesota's child tax credit to reduce the "marriage penalty" by raising the income level at which the credit begins to phase out for married couples filing jointly. The bill increases the phaseout threshold from $35,000 to $63,900 for joint filers (while slightly raising the threshold for other filers to $31,950), meaning married couples will retain more of their child credit at lower income levels. This change directly affects married Minnesota taxpayers filing jointly who currently lose credit benefits at lower incomes than single filers. The adjustment takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and includes automatic inflation adjustments starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 2327 protects students' access to culturally relevant learning materials in Minnesota schools. It prohibits school districts from banning or restricting noncurricular resources (like books or displays reflecting student diversity) solely based on viewpoint or the ideas they convey. The bill allows schools to make reasonable decisions about materials due to space, pedagogical concerns, or legal compliance, and does not affect parents' existing rights to review materials. This law applies to all school districts and charter schools, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1958 modifies Minnesota's individual income tax brackets for 2025 tax returns. It raises the income thresholds for each tax rate, meaning more income is taxed at lower rates before higher rates apply. For example, married couples filing jointly pay 5.35% on income up to $47,620 (up from $38,770), and 6.8% on income between $47,620 and $189,180 (up from $38,770-$154,020). The bill directly affects Minnesota residents who file state income tax returns, particularly middle-income earners whose taxable income falls within the revised brackets. The changes are effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

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.