Sen. John Hoffman

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $300,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $300,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of human services. The funds are designated for a grant to Wellness in the Woods to provide daily peer support and special sessions. The program directly serves individuals in substance use recovery, those transitioning out of incarceration, and people who have experienced trauma. The bill creates a specific funding mechanism for these targeted services without altering eligibility or program requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the requirement for a license to sell scrap metal copper (previously under Minnesota Statutes §325E.21, subd. 2c) and modifies record-keeping rules for scrap metal dealers. It requires dealers to document transactions involving copper metal, including verifying sellers have a copper license (though the license itself is being eliminated). The bill directly affects scrap metal dealers who purchase copper scrap, mandating detailed transaction records like seller ID, vehicle details, and proof of copper license status. Key provisions include adding new record requirements (e.g., photocopy of license for copper sales) and updating inspection protocols for law enforcement. The bill does not create new licensing but adjusts administrative processes for copper scrap transactions.

Maddy summarySF 1393 creates an exemption for data centers in Minnesota's energy regulations. It adds a specific exemption (subdivision 12) to section 216B.243, stating that "a combination of emergency backup generators at a single site with a combined capacity of 50,000 kilowatts or more" is exempt from certain regulatory requirements. This directly affects data center operators installing large-scale backup power systems. The key mechanism is modifying existing statutes to explicitly exempt these large backup generator combinations from standard review processes for power generation projects. The bill does not mandate new requirements but clarifies regulatory treatment for significant data center backup infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies an existing $3 million grant appropriation for Isuroon, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit supporting immigrant women and providing mental health counseling. The funds are specifically for predesign, design, construction, and renovation of Isuroon's property at 1600 East Lake Street, with reimbursement allowed for costs incurred after June 1, 2023. Any unused portion of the appropriation may be redirected toward acquiring property and building a specialty care center in the Minneapolis metropolitan area. The bill amends prior legislation to adjust the grant amount and expand its allowable uses for this project.

Maddy summarySF 3423 amends Minnesota's water permit rules to require applicants seeking groundwater use permits to conduct new aquifer tests at their own cost. These tests must assess potential impacts on nearby wells and water resources at the requested pumping rate. The bill also tightens timelines, requiring the commissioner to act on complete applications within 150 days (or 120 days after test results), and mandates written justifications for requiring new tests. This directly affects businesses, farms, or municipalities applying for groundwater permits by adding testing costs and streamlining review processes.

Maddy summarySF 3401 expands Minnesota's unitary tax system to include foreign corporations, meaning foreign-owned corporate groups operating in Minnesota will now be treated as a single entity for state tax purposes. The bill adds a tax subtraction for global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI), which is income from foreign subsidiaries subject to a federal minimum tax under U.S. law. These changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. The bill directly affects foreign corporations with Minnesota operations that are part of multinational groups subject to unitary taxation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $800,000 from the general fund to the Department of Education for a one-time grant to Cultural Connections. The grant requires creating and distributing translated videos explaining Minnesota's school system to immigrant students and parents at 320 public middle and high schools. The videos must be in parents' first language and include distribution instructions to schools. The goal is to help immigrant families understand the school system, support student integration, and reduce achievement gaps through parental involvement. The bill directly affects immigrant students, their families, and participating schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to establish the University of Minnesota's Center for Nursing Equity and Excellence. The center will work with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to address nursing workforce needs, including creating education pathways, improving nursing education methods, expanding simulation training, promoting workforce equality across all Minnesota regions, and supporting the well-being of nursing students and professionals. It directly affects nursing students, current nurses, and healthcare institutions statewide by funding specific initiatives to strengthen the nursing workforce. The funding is targeted for concrete program development, not general operations.

Maddy summarySF 3390 appropriates $10 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund an expanded corporate tax compliance initiative by the Minnesota Department of Revenue. The initiative targets corporations with $25 million or more in Minnesota sales or gross receipts that may not be accurately reporting income or paying all owed taxes. It focuses on enhancing enforcement activities to identify and collect unpaid corporate franchise taxes, with funds available until July 1, 2029. This is a funding measure, not a new tax policy, and must supplement existing resources without replacing them.

Maddy summarySF 3406 appropriates $50,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund for the Legacy Coordination Network Education Fund. This funding supports programming focused on Minnesota African Diaspora Black History Month and educational outreach about the historical and cultural contributions of African-heritage communities in Minnesota. The money will be distributed by the Minnesota Humanities Center's Board of Directors to programs serving youth and the general public. The bill directly affects the Legacy Coordination Network Education Fund and its programming partners.