Sen. Bobby Joe Champion

Maddy summarySF 2046 appropriates $800,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the Minnesota Humanities Center and Soul Touch Productions. The funds will support an art installation and related programming celebrating the life and legacy of Gordon Parks. This bill directly affects the Minnesota Humanities Center and Soul Touch Productions as the recipients of the appropriation. It does not change existing law but allocates specific funding for a commemorative arts project.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $12 million from state bond proceeds to fund improvements at Minneapolis' North Commons Park. The funds will go to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to design, construct, and equip the park, including renovating a community building with indoor sports and arts spaces, upgrading sports fields, and relocating the water park. The state will sell bonds to cover this cost, following standard bond issuance procedures under Minnesota law. The project directly affects Minneapolis residents who use the park and the park board that manages it.

Maddy summarySF 928 modifies Minnesota's children's mental health grant program to expand funding for school-linked services. It allows grants to cover telehealth services (section 1.12), family support coordination (1.14-1.16), school staff training (1.19-1.21), and transportation for students outside school hours (1.17). The bill requires grantees to seek third-party reimbursement but prohibits billing public schools and mandates services regardless of a student's health coverage or ability to pay (2.3-2.6). It directly affects schools, community mental health providers, and students needing behavioral health support. The bill appropriates funds to implement these expanded services under existing statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires correctional authorities to notify crime victims when an offender submits a letter of apology, but only if the victim has previously requested this notification. Victims must submit a written or electronic request to the correctional facility or the Department of Corrections to be included in this notification process. Authorities must make a "good faith effort" to notify these victims within 90 days of the apology being filed. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to add this requirement to existing victim notification procedures, directly affecting victims who proactively opt-in and correctional facilities handling offender correspondence. It does not change the content of apologies or create new victim rights.

Maddy summarySF 1888 authorizes Minnesota to issue up to $1 million in state bonds to fund electric bus charging stations for school transportation. The bill appropriates $1 million from bond proceeds to the commissioner of commerce for grants to eligible school districts and public transit providers under Minnesota Statutes § 216C.374. These grants will support installing Level 2 and Level 3 charging infrastructure specifically for electric buses used to transport students. The funding mechanism relies on state bond sales, not general appropriations, and aligns with the existing electric school bus deployment program.

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 $1 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1 million for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to Twin Cities R!SE. The funds are designated for performance grants to provide job training to individuals facing barriers to employment. The appropriation is one-time and must be spent by June 30, 2028. It directly affects Twin Cities R!SE, which will use the funds to deliver workforce development services. The bill creates no new requirements but allocates existing state funds for a specific training program.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally acknowledges the strong historical and cultural ties between Norway and Minnesota, recognizing the significant contributions of Norwegian immigrants to the state's communities and traditions. The bill highlights shared values such as democratic governance and resilience in cold weather, while celebrating specific cultural events and organizations that preserve Norwegian heritage. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to create an official copy of the resolution and send it to the Norwegian Parliament delegation as a gesture of welcome and partnership. Because this is a ceremonial measure rather than a law with enforceable rules, it does not alter existing statutes or create new legal obligations for citizens or government agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $995,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026 to renovate the historic Como Congregational Church in Minneapolis into a community center, public meeting space, and auditorium. The funds will cover construction, furnishings, and equipment for the Como Community Center, with up to $100,000 available to reimburse costs incurred after October 1, 2024. The appropriation is one-time and expires upon project completion or abandonment, per state law. It directly affects the Como Community Center as the recipient of these state funds for facility improvements.

Maddy summarySF 1933 appropriates $1.25 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1.25 million for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to the Minnesota Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs. The funds will support a statewide youth job skills and career development program, including career guidance, STEM learning pathways, work-based learning, and job placement through community partnerships. The program requires a 25% match from nonstate resources and is designed to help youth develop early job-seeking skills and access career opportunities. This is a one-time funding appropriation for a specific grant to the Boys and Girls Clubs.