Sen. Grant Hauschild

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $96.565 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families for its Early Learning Scholarships program. The funding directly supports low-income families with young children by expanding access to subsidized early childhood education. It adds this amount to the program’s existing base funding, increasing resources available for scholarships under Minnesota Statutes section 142D.25. The bill does not change eligibility rules or program structure, only providing new funding for current operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,100,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund the restoration and renovation of the historic Zeitgeist Arts building in downtown Duluth. The funds will be provided as a grant to Zeitgeist Arts, a nonprofit arts organization, to improve community access to arts programming. The primary mechanism is a direct financial allocation for physical building repairs, specifically targeting the organization's downtown Duluth facility. This funding directly supports Zeitgeist Arts' operations and its ability to serve Duluth residents through arts access. The bill does not establish new policy or affect broader legislative matters beyond this specific funding allocation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a reduced 5% franchise tax rate for Minnesota corporations meeting a specific pay ratio standard. An "eligible corporation" must have a pay ratio (comparing average compensation of the top five executives to the lowest-paid 5% of employees) of 15:1 or less in the previous year. The reduced rate applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and amends sections of Minnesota's tax code to define key terms like "pay ratio" and "eligible corporation." It directly affects corporations that meet this pay equity threshold, offering a lower tax rate while maintaining other tax provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $42,000 from the workforce development fund for a grant to Aspirus Lake View Hospital (a nonprofit) to train certified nursing assistants (CNAs). The funds will cover training, certification testing, and retention bonuses to create up to 12 new CNAs for local employers. The grant is available until June 30, 2027, specifically targeting workforce development in healthcare. It directly affects the hospital, local healthcare employers needing CNAs, and trainees who receive the funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's wildlife commissioner to establish an annual open season for wolf hunting only after wolves are delisted under the federal Endangered Species Act. Before federal delisting, no open season would be permitted. After delisting, the commissioner must set seasons based on public input and align them with the state's wolf management plan. The commissioner must also annually consult with agriculture officials and the USDA about wolf conflicts with livestock and pets.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a refundable sales tax exemption for construction materials purchased between 2023 and 2025 for specific projects in Minnesota’s Lake Superior School District (ISD 381). It covers additions to Minnehaha Elementary and William Kelly Schools, improvements to Two Harbors High School and its bus garages, and athletic facility upgrades. Purchasers must pay the standard sales tax upfront and then receive a refund from the state, with refunds only available after January 2026. The exemption applies retroactively to purchases made after December 2022, directly benefiting the school district’s construction budget.

Maddy summarySF 775 establishes a new ombudsperson position within Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development to support agricultural and food processing workers. The ombudsperson will help workers address workplace safety, housing, and fair labor issues by taking complaints, connecting them to services, and analyzing systemic problems. They must post verified complaints online and submit annual reports to the legislature detailing their work. This bill directly affects Minnesota's agricultural and food processing workers, who often face challenges in these areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's child care licensing rules to allow family child care providers to count up to two of their own children toward their licensed capacity limit. It directly affects family child care providers who operate licensed homes, making it easier for them to care for their own children without exceeding capacity limits. The key change requires the Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to update Minnesota Rules (9502.0365) to exclude these two children from the capacity calculation. This adjustment simplifies compliance for providers without changing overall licensing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $25,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for Lake County in fiscal year 2026. The funds will support a woodworking program focused on seniors, providing materials and intergenerational arts activities. The grant is administered by the Minnesota State Arts Board and directly benefits Lake County residents through targeted senior programming. It is a straightforward funding measure with no policy changes beyond the allocation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.2 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1.2 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota STEM Ecosystem. The funds support STEM learning opportunities and workforce development in science and technology across Minnesota. The Minnesota STEM Ecosystem will distribute subgrants to eligible programs to ensure statewide coordination of STEM initiatives. This directly affects STEM education providers and workforce development programs statewide by providing dedicated funding for their activities.