Sen. Foung Hawj

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $275,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for a veterans memorial in Forest Lake. The funds will be granted to the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee to construct a memorial honoring U.S. armed forces veterans at Lakeside Memorial Park. The bill directly affects the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee and the city of Forest Lake, providing specific funding for this project in fiscal year 2026. It is a procedural appropriation bill with no new policy requirements beyond the funding allocation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $550,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $550,000 for fiscal year 2027 from Minnesota's workforce development fund to the International Institute of Minnesota. The funds will support workforce training programs for immigrants and refugees (referred to as "New Americans" in the bill) in industries facing labor shortages. The training aims to connect these individuals with job opportunities in high-demand sectors. This is a one-time funding allocation, not an ongoing program.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million for fiscal year 2026 and $3 million for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to Youthprise. The funds will support economic development services aimed at improving long-term economic self-sufficiency in Minnesota communities with concentrated populations from the African diaspora. At least half of the money must be used for subgrants to organizations serving communities outside the seven-county metropolitan area. This is a one-time funding allocation with no ongoing obligations.

Maddy summarySF 2292 appropriates $400,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $400,000 for fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to provide a grant to the nonprofit organization 30,000 Feet. The funds are designated for youth apprenticeship jobs, wraparound services, after-school programming, and summer learning loss prevention efforts specifically targeting African American youth in Minnesota. This bill directly provides financial support to 30,000 Feet to implement these targeted youth development programs.

Maddy summarySF 2295 appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to Twin Cities R!SE for its Empowerment Institute. The funding supports specific programs including personal empowerment training, employer partnerships, and statewide implementation of a youth personal empowerment curriculum. This is a one-time appropriation, with funds available until June 30, 2028. The bill directly affects Twin Cities R!SE and the participants in its workforce development programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $100,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund for a grant to Hong De Wu Guan. The funds will support the organization in creating youth-focused cultural arts projects, specifically including Lion Dance programs for after-school settings. The bill directly affects Hong De Wu Guan as the recipient and Minnesota youth participating in these after-school cultural activities. It does not change laws but allocates existing state funds for cultural preservation and community programming.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.5 million from the general fund and $500,000 from the workforce development fund for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota. The funds are for a one-time grant to the Games organizers through Explore Minnesota and a separate grant to support employment activities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the event. The bill directly affects the Special Olympics USA Games organizers and participants with disabilities by providing financial support for the event and related job training initiatives.

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 modifies several natural resources laws in Minnesota. It updates reporting requirements for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), changes off-road vehicle trail pass rules (including fees and exemptions), and adjusts invasive species regulations. A key provision allows commercial burbot fishing on Lake Superior, which was previously restricted. These changes primarily affect recreational off-road vehicle users, commercial fishers, and DNR land management operations. The bill focuses on administrative updates and specific access provisions without creating new programs.