Sen. Bobby Joe Champion

Maddy summarySF 2759 establishes the "Great Start Affordability Scholarship" program to help Minnesota families with children from birth to kindergarten pay for child care. It provides scholarships to families earning under 150% of the state median income, capping child care costs at no more than 7% of their annual income. The program requires participating child care providers to meet quality standards and use scholarship funds to supplement, not replace, existing federal funding. It mandates transitioning eligible families from current child care assistance programs to this new system by July 1, 2028. The bill also requires the commissioner to create local input processes and develop funding mechanisms based on community needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to provide a one-time grant to Pillsbury United Communities. The funds will support job training and workforce development services specifically for unemployed or underemployed individuals in Minnesota. The grant is a direct funding mechanism to expand employment support programs through this community organization. The bill does not create new requirements or alter existing laws, only allocating existing state funds for a defined purpose. It directly affects job seekers in need of training services through Pillsbury United Communities' existing programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $500,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to support the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie organization. The funds will be administered by the Minnesota Humanities Center Board of Directors to provide programming that celebrates traditional food through culinary arts, storytelling, and cultural sharing. The initiative aims to educate communities about cultural history and traditions. This is a funding measure for an existing cultural organization, not a policy change affecting broader legislation.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill 2770 (SF 2770) modifies requirements for identifying and serving gifted and talented students in Minnesota public schools. It mandates universal screening for all students in targeted grades by the end of fifth grade, requires multiple objective criteria for program identification (including sensitivity to underrepresented groups), and sets a 2027 deadline for school districts to use commissioner-approved screening tools. The bill also requires school districts to report program expenditures and participation data to the commissioner, and increases revenue and appropriates funds for gifted and talented programs. These changes apply to all Minnesota school districts beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 2756) prohibits state-funded programs or activities from discriminating against people with disabilities by excluding them or denying equal access to benefits. It directly affects programs receiving state financial assistance, such as schools, healthcare services, or social programs, requiring state agencies to ensure compliance and adopt enforcement rules. The law explicitly states that these protections remain in effect regardless of changes to federal disability rights laws. It amends Minnesota Statutes to add a new section (363A.195) clarifying this prohibition.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the general fund to fund specific community violence reduction programs in Hennepin County. The funds are directly allocated to two organizations: $500,000 per year to 21 Days of Peace for social equity activities, and $500,000 per year to A Mother's Love for youth empowerment, employment services, and support services for middle schoolers through adults. The program focuses on reducing violence through job opportunities, community engagement, and addressing barriers to participation. It directly affects residents in Hennepin County who engage with these targeted community-based services.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames Minnesota's Office of Broadband Development to the Office of Broadband Development and Digital Equity and expands its mission to explicitly include digital equity. It establishes a new grant program to fund broadband installation in multifamily housing units, modifies the office's duties to better coordinate statewide broadband planning, and updates definitions related to broadband access. The office must now report annually on progress toward expanded state broadband goals that prioritize underserved communities. These changes directly affect local governments, broadband providers, and residents in areas lacking reliable high-speed internet access.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $250,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 and another $250,000 for fiscal year 2027. The funds are directed to the Minnesota Humanities Center Board of Directors to provide a grant to the Minnesota Urban Debate League. The grant will support improved professional development for staff and expand debate services to more youth in urban areas across Minnesota. This directly affects the Minnesota Urban Debate League and the young people it serves through expanded program access.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to Al Maa'uun, a program previously known as the North at Work initiative. The funds are designated for a one-time grant to support a strategic intervention program connecting participants to meaningful, sustainable living-wage employment. The grant is administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development. This bill directly affects Al Maa'uun's ability to provide targeted workforce services without altering existing program structure or creating new obligations.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 1719 creates a 11-member Task Force on Mandatory Minimum Sentences to study current sentencing practices. The task force will collect and analyze data on charges, convictions, and sentences involving mandatory minimums (like those in statutes 152.021, 152.022, and 609.11), including how often judges or prosecutors mitigate these sentences. It will assess whether current laws promote public safety and sentencing equity, and gather input from defense attorneys, victims' groups, and people impacted by mandatory minimums. The task force must report findings and recommendations to the legislature by August 2026, but the bill itself does not change sentencing laws.