Sen. Susan Pha

Maddy summarySF 817 modifies Minnesota's transportation laws to clarify what qualifies as "highway purposes" and adjust project review processes. It expands eligible uses of highway funds to include multimodal infrastructure like transit and active transportation within highway rights-of-way, and requires new community input through local advisory committees for major highway projects. The bill also explicitly prohibits using highway funds for items like electric vehicle charging infrastructure, tourism kiosks, or event sponsorships. These changes primarily affect the Minnesota Department of Transportation and local communities involved in highway planning, ensuring project funding aligns with updated transportation priorities.

Maddy summarySF 1063 creates a new Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsperson within Minnesota's Department of Commerce. The ombudsperson, appointed by the governor, helps resolve disputes between unit owners (e.g., condo or townhome residents) and their community associations. Key duties include compiling complaints, providing dispute resolution services, publishing resources about rights under Minnesota law, and maintaining a public website with relevant information. The bill also appropriates funds for the office's operations starting in fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $6.75 million from the general fund for a one-time grant to Saint Paul Urban Tennis, a nonprofit organization. The funds will support the predesign, construction, and equipping of a new tennis and life learning community center in Saint Paul. The grant is available until the project is completed or abandoned, per Minnesota Statutes. This is a direct funding allocation for facility development, not a policy change affecting broader legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $75,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Hmong American Mediation Center. The grant will fund culturally specific dialog and outreach programs provided by the center. It directly affects the Hmong American Mediation Center, a nonprofit organization serving Minnesota's Hmong community. The funding mechanism is a one-time appropriation for the center's existing services, not a new program. This is a straightforward funding allocation with no policy changes beyond the specified grant.

Maddy summarySF 3101 modifies Minnesota's reintegration driver's license program. It extends the license's validity from 15 to 24 months (Section 1) and creates a clear path to a regular license after holding the reintegration license for one full year (Section 2). To qualify, individuals must not have canceled or expired their reintegration license beyond 90 days, meet standard application requirements, and pay applicable fees. The bill also requires the state to forgive outstanding reinstatement fees and surcharges when issuing a regular license under these conditions. This directly affects Minnesotans with suspended licenses who are working to regain full driving privileges.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1 million from the workforce development fund to create a child care pilot program for Hennepin County Sheriff's Office employees and other first responders. It funds a partnership with WomenVenture to recruit child care providers who can accommodate irregular shifts, covering startup costs, training subsidies, and family scholarships. The program aims to improve recruitment and retention by addressing child care challenges specific to law enforcement schedules. A report on the program's implementation and recommendations must be submitted to legislators by December 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires condo and homeowners associations in Minnesota to provide plain-language explanations of governing documents and applicable laws to unit owners upon request. It mandates that board members review these explanations during their term and share them electronically or in print when owners need help understanding their rights or responsibilities. The bill appropriates funds to create a comprehensive guide explaining laws for common interest communities, which associations must use to develop their plain-language materials. These requirements take effect on August 1, 2026, directly affecting all condo and homeowners associations governed under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 515B.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $250,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for a youth water safety grant program in fiscal year 2026. The funds will be distributed by the Commissioner of Education to nonprofit organizations and city/county parks and recreation programs that offer swimming lessons to youth. Grants must primarily cover scholarships for low-income and at-risk children to attend swimming lessons, with up to 15% of funds allowed for hiring or training water safety instructors. The program directly supports children in underserved communities by increasing access to lifesaving swimming education.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates a one-time state grant to the City of Maplewood for developing a community and cultural marketplace on the former Sears site at Maplewood Mall. The funds, available until June 30, 2027, require collaboration with the new property owner and HmongTown Connection. The grant specifically supports transforming the vacant retail space into a shared cultural and community hub. This is a funding measure directly affecting Maplewood's economic development efforts and the HmongTown Connection organization.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $250,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to support ethnic media organizations. It funds video content created in languages other than English, with recipients required to make this content available on public, educational, and government access television. The grant program is administered by the Minnesota Humanities Center Board of Directors. This directly affects ethnic media organizations producing non-English language content seeking funding for public access distribution.