Sen. Foung Hawj

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million for fiscal year 2026 and $2 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES). The funds are specifically for addressing employment, economic, and technology access disparities among low-income unemployed or underemployed individuals. The grant must support short-term certifications in high-demand fields, workforce readiness, financial capability training, and employment assistance. At least half of the total funding must be used for programs in greater Minnesota (outside Minneapolis-St. Paul).

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $103.3 million from Minnesota's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for specific conservation and research projects in fiscal year 2026. It directly funds 9 targeted initiatives, including university research on deer populations, walleye adaptation to warming waters, wolf-deer dynamics, and wood turtle conservation, as well as digitizing museum collections and marsh bird surveys. The projects are administered by state agencies (like the Department of Natural Resources), universities (Bemidji State and University of Minnesota), the Science Museum of Minnesota, and conservation groups like the Minnesota Zoological Society. All funding is one-time and designated for specific research goals with defined deliverables, such as baseline data collection or decision-support tools for wildlife management.

Maddy summarySF 2070 appropriates $750,000 for fiscal year 2026 and another $750,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES). The funding directs CLUES to expand art-making programs and cultural events celebrating Latino heritage in Minnesota. It specifically supports local Latino artists through professional development, networking, and opportunities to showcase their work in galleries and public presentations. This bill directly provides financial resources to CLUES for its existing mission of cultural programming and artist support.

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 summarySF 1593 establishes a $50 million grant program to help Minnesota arts and cultural facilities meet accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The program provides capital grants through intermediary organizations (like community development groups or tribal governments) to eligible nonprofit facilities - such as theaters, galleries, or cultural centers - that meet specific criteria, including deriving at least 33% of revenue from live events, employing no more than 60 full-time equivalent staff, and being located in Minnesota. Grants can fund ADA compliance renovations or capital projects, with priority given to ADA-related work and geographic diversity across the state, and the maximum grant per facility is $2 million. The commissioner of employment and economic development must report on program use and outcomes to the legislature by 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $11.05 million for fiscal year 2026 and $21.5 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Metropolitan Council. The funds are designated for grants to operate and maintain metropolitan area regional parks under Minnesota Statutes section 473.351. The bill directly affects the Metropolitan Council and regional parks in the metropolitan area by providing specific annual funding for their operations and upkeep.

Maddy summarySF 2047 appropriates $1.25 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1.25 million for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to support community cultural festivals across Minnesota. The Minnesota Humanities Center will distribute these funds as grants to community organizations, cities, and counties for event programming, staffing, outreach, transportation, facilities, and signage. The bill specifically requires priority funding for designated festivals including the Somali Museum Annual Celebration, Twin Cities Jazz Fest, Hmong Festival, and Rondo Days, and sets aside up to $200,000 for public safety reimbursements to sheriff departments. This legislation directly affects local cultural groups and communities hosting these events by providing dedicated state funding for their operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $150,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund two cultural events. The funds will be granted to the Asian Economic Development Association (AEDA) to plan and produce a Southeast Asian American film festival and a Hmong music festival. The direct recipient is AEDA, and the primary beneficiaries are Minnesota's Southeast Asian American and Hmong communities through these cultural programming opportunities. The key provision is a specific grant for festival planning and production, not ongoing operational funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2.35 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). It directs MPR to use these funds for creating original programming, live events, and arts education; partnering with artists and cultural creators; increasing representation of communities of color and Indigenous communities in its content; and preserving Minnesota's historical audio archives. The funding directly supports MPR's operations and programming efforts across the state. This is a straightforward funding allocation, not a policy change affecting broader legislation.

Maddy summarySF 1783 prohibits websites, apps, software, or programs from allowing users to access, download, or use "nudification technology" that alters images or videos to reveal intimate body parts of identifiable individuals or creates realistic depictions of such parts. The bill directly affects platform owners and operators who host such technology, banning them from enabling this process. Key provisions include civil penalties of at least $500,000 per violation, plus triple damages for victims, and allow injured individuals to sue for mental anguish, attorney fees, and injunctions. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, applying to violations occurring on or after that date.