Children's museums grant funding provided, and money appropriated.

HF 1623 appropriates $1.525 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from Minnesota’s arts fund to provide grants for interactive exhibits and outreach programs at 12 specific children’s museums across the state. The bill allocates exact annual amounts to each museum, including $175,000 each year for The Works (Bloomington) and the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota (Mankato), among others. Eligible museums must meet IRS criteria for children’s museums under code A52. This funding directly supports hands-on learning experiences focused on arts and cultural heritage for young visitors at these facilities.