Sen. Tou Xiong

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $100,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to grant History Theatre a payment to produce a play celebrating Hmong arts and culture. It directly affects History Theatre as the recipient of the state funding for this specific cultural performance. The bill establishes a concrete funding mechanism for a single artistic project without altering broader policy or creating new regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million from the general fund to the Hmong Cultural Center of Minnesota, Inc. (a nonprofit organization) for the predesign, construction, and equipping of a facility in St. Paul. The funds will support a physical space dedicated to celebrating Hmong culture and fostering cross-cultural awareness through programming. The appropriation is one-time and available until project completion, directly benefiting the Hmong community and broader public in St. Paul.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2.25 million from Minnesota's renewable development account for fiscal year 2026 to fund a geothermal energy system at Como Zoo in St. Paul. The grant, administered through the commissioner of commerce, will specifically construct a system providing space heating and cooling for the zoo's large cats building. The geothermal system uses underground piping and heat pumps to leverage the earth's constant temperature, as defined in the bill. This directly affects Como Zoo's operations by funding a specific infrastructure upgrade at one of its facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $4 million for fiscal year 2026 and $4 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to support Minnesota's food shelf programs. The funds are directed to the commissioner of children, youth, and families for use under Minnesota Statutes section 142F.14, which governs community food shelf operations. The appropriation adds to the existing base funding for these programs, which provide emergency food assistance to Minnesotans facing food insecurity. This is a straightforward funding measure with no new policy requirements for the programs themselves.

Maddy summarySF 2129 imposes a 50% gross revenue tax on Minnesota-based manufacturers and retailers selling products containing PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances), defined as fluorinated chemicals with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. Manufacturers pay tax on revenue from PFAS products sold to distributors, while retailers pay tax on retail sales within Minnesota. Revenue from this tax will fund a dedicated cleanup account in the special revenue fund, managed by a newly established XX Advisory Commission, to support statewide environmental remediation. The bill requires monthly reporting but no immediate tax payments, with annual filings due by the same schedule as other Minnesota taxes.

Maddy summarySF 2045, the "Equal Access to Broadband Act establishment provision," defines key terms and creates a framework for improving broadband access in Minnesota. It establishes the Office of Broadband Development and clarifies definitions including "broadband" (100 Mbps download/20 Mbps upload), "underserved areas" (lacking minimum speeds), and "broadband infrastructure." The bill preserves local government authority over right-of-way management for providers while requiring coordination with municipalities to minimize future relocations of infrastructure. This legislation primarily sets the groundwork for future broadband initiatives by standardizing terminology and governance structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the city of Oakdale to use tax increment financing (TIF) funds collected from TIF Districts No. 1-4 and No. 1-6 through December 31, 2027, instead of the standard timeline. It requires Oakdale to detail these funds in a written spending plan and return any unused funds - including interest or investment earnings - to the TIF district by the deadline. The bill specifically applies to Oakdale’s existing TIF program and does not alter general TIF rules for other cities. It provides a temporary extension for how Oakdale may allocate these locally generated funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to preserve the oral histories of Hmong veterans who served in the U.S.-sponsored Secret War in Laos during the Vietnam War era. The funds will support Special Guerrilla Units Veterans and Families of USA, Inc. in collecting, documenting, archiving, and preserving these personal accounts. The bill also requires creating educational resources to teach the public and future generations about the history, legacy, and cultural heritage of Hmong communities in Minnesota. This directly affects Hmong veterans and Minnesota's Hmong population by ensuring their wartime experiences are preserved and shared.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funds from the arts and cultural heritage fund to create competitive grants for developing cultural studies materials. It directly supports schools and communities that lack adequate resources for underrepresented groups, including Hmong, Karen, Somali, Oromo, and oral-based cultures without formal writing systems. Recipients must collaborate with school districts planning to use the materials. The funding targets fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for creating high-quality academic materials to address current gaps.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 to fund a community center for Hnub Tshiab: Hmong Women Achieving Together in Ramsey County. The grant will cover acquiring property, predesigning, constructing, and equipping the center to host educational and leadership programs. These programs specifically aim to strengthen cultural knowledge and identity, promote social change, and improve outcomes for Hmong women and girls. The funding is a one-time allocation available until project completion, as specified in Minnesota Statutes section 16A.642.