Sen. Rob Farnsworth

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,950,000 from the state general fund to the Minnesota Forest Zone Trappers Association for a one-time project. The funds will cover land acquisition, design, construction, and site features to create a Sportsman's and Sportswoman's Outdoor Development Learning Center in Hibbing. The project is directly funded for the association's use to develop this specific facility. The appropriation is available until the center is completed or abandoned, as specified in state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes $8.15 million in state bonds to renovate and expand the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. The funds will cover specific physical upgrades, including window/door replacement, ADA accessibility improvements, infrastructure repairs, and energy efficiency enhancements. The project directly affects the Discovery Center facility and its visitors, with the state managing the bond issuance and appropriation under Minnesota law. No new policies or regulations are created - this is solely a funding mechanism for facility improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10.5 million from state bond proceeds to fund the Cloquet Area Fire District's project to acquire land, demolish old structures, and build or replace fire stations. The funds cover site preparation, planning, construction, and equipment for new fire stations identified by the district's board. The state will issue bonds to cover this cost, following Minnesota's bond issuance procedures under state law. This directly affects the Cloquet Area Fire District and its service area.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $7 million in state bond funds to construct a wastewater system in the unorganized area of Ash River, St. Louis County. The funds will be granted to the Voyageurs National Park Clean Water Joint Powers Board to cover predesign, design, and construction costs. The bond issuance process follows standard state procedures for capital investments. This directly affects residents in the unorganized Ash River area by enabling wastewater infrastructure improvements. The bill exempts the appropriation from certain statutory requirements under Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2026 for fiscal year 2026 and $2027 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota Department of Education for historic school building preservation grants. It provides funding to eligible school districts and the Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind to maintain historic school buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places that are currently serving elementary or secondary students. Grant recipients can receive up to $300,000 per eligible building, with funds required to prevent deterioration and properly maintain the buildings. Unused funds from the first year carry over to the second year.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million from state bonds to fund a new public works maintenance facility in Chisholm, Minnesota. The city of Chisholm will receive the full grant with no requirement for local matching funds. The state will issue bonds under existing law to cover the cost, and the funds will be used for designing, constructing, furnishing, and equipping the facility. The bill directly affects Chisholm by enabling this infrastructure project through state financing.

Maddy summarySF 493 prohibits Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency from banning the purchase or use of motor vehicles powered by internal combustion engines (gasoline/diesel vehicles). This bill directly affects vehicle owners and dealers by preventing the agency from restricting these vehicles, and it limits the agency's regulatory authority over vehicle emissions standards. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 116.07, adding a specific prohibition that prevents the agency from adopting rules that would ban internal combustion engine vehicles. The key mechanism is a statutory amendment explicitly blocking such a ban, ensuring the agency cannot implement this type of restriction. This is a procedural change to agency authority, not a new environmental standard.

Maddy summarySF 519 creates a $5,000 annual tax credit for Minnesota graduates of aerospace or aviation-related educational programs who work full-time for a qualified employer in the aviation/aerospace sector, for up to five consecutive years. It also provides a tax credit for employers who reimburse tuition for these graduates during their first five years of employment. The credit applies to graduates with degrees, certificates, or FAA-recognized certifications from accredited programs at eligible institutions (like those participating in federal Pell Grants). Employers must operate primarily in the aviation/aerospace industry, and the credit is limited to the individual's tax liability each year. The bill specifically targets workforce development in Minnesota's aerospace and aviation sectors.

Maddy summarySF 330 authorizes Minnesota to issue up to $6 million in state bonds to fund a new solid waste management campus in St. Louis County. The bill appropriates these bond proceeds to the Pollution Control Agency for a grant to St. Louis County, covering property acquisition, design, engineering, and construction costs. The campus will handle waste from all county landfills and closed sites, specifically aiming to prevent PFAS and other contaminants from entering Lake Superior. This funding directly supports St. Louis County's waste management infrastructure upgrade.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $12 million in state bonds to fund upgrades to Hibbing's drinking water infrastructure. The funds will support the Hibbing Public Utilities Commission in planning, designing, and constructing improvements to the city's clean water distribution system and water sources. The money comes from state bond sales authorized under Minnesota law, managed by the Management and Budget commissioner. The bill directly affects Hibbing residents by enabling critical repairs to their public water system.