Sen. Foung Hawj

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers $371,000 from the general fund to Minnesota's agricultural research account for fiscal year 2026. The funds will specifically support University of Minnesota research on how crops might become contaminated by chronic wasting disease (a fatal neurological disease in deer and elk). The legislation directs the commissioner of agriculture to allocate these funds to the University's Board of Regents for this purpose. It directly affects agricultural research efforts focused on mitigating risks to crops from animal disease exposure. The bill makes no new rules but changes funding allocation for a specific research project.

Maddy summarySF 2520 creates a $2.2 million grant program to provide financial assistance to small businesses in St. Paul affected by construction on Arcade Street and East 7th Street. Qualified businesses - those employing 25 or fewer people experiencing impaired access, parking, or visibility for at least one month during the project - may receive grants covering payroll, operating costs, or facility expenses. Grants will be distributed by St. Paul nonprofits and community development institutions using specific criteria like revenue decline and traffic disruption severity. The program requires annual reports on grant recipients and uses funds from the general fund through June 2029.

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 summarySF 1050 would create a state grant program to fund multi-day outdoor educational experiences for Minnesota students in grades 4-8. The program would provide funding to accredited outdoor schools and nonprofit learning centers meeting specific criteria, including connecting to school curriculum, developing skills like leadership and critical thinking, and ensuring equitable access for underserved students (including those with disabilities). Grants would support immersive, nature-based learning that integrates academic standards and addresses barriers to outdoor access based on race, income, or zip code. Funding would come from state general funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

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 3155 cancels $15 million in previously allocated funds for ALS research and appropriates $15 million from the general fund for a one-time collaborative research partnership between the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and the Mayo Clinic. This funding supports ongoing ALS research with the goal of improving lives for those affected and finding a cure, directly impacting researchers at these institutions. The bill requires the University of Minnesota to submit annual reports starting January 2026 detailing how funds are used until 2030 or when fully expended. It repeals the prior ALS research appropriation law (Laws 2022, chapter 42, section 2) that had managed smaller, multi-year grant programs.

Maddy summarySF 3142 appropriates $100,000 from the workforce development fund for a one-time grant to "Fight for Your Dreams" to provide business and life skills training to youth. The funds will support mentorship programs with SIR Boxing Club, targeting young people for skill development. The appropriation is limited to fiscal year 2026 and expires on June 30, 2027. This bill directly affects youth participants and the nonprofit organization administering the program.

Maddy summarySF 3144 extends the deadline for using $5 million in funds designated for replacing drought-killed seedlings from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2029. The funds support the Department of Natural Resources and are distributed as grants to tribes, counties, and private forestland owners to cover site preparation, replanting, and tending of seedlings. The bill also maintains the $300,000 appropriation for resolving well interferences from the 2021 drought, keeping it available until June 30, 2026. This extension ensures continued support for forest recovery efforts after drought events.

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 $900,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to preserve the Serbian Home in South St. Paul, a historic landmark listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites. The funds will support repairs and preservation efforts for this cultural site serving the Serbian community. The Minnesota Historical Society will administer the grant to maintain the building's cultural and historical significance. (3 sentences)