Helping Paws to breed, train, and place service dogs appropriation

This bill allocates $200,000 from Minnesota's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to provide a grant to Helping Paws, Inc. The funding supports the organization's work in breeding, training, and placing service dogs for individuals with physical disabilities, veterans and first responders with service-related PTSD, and professionals in courthouse, educational, and mental health settings. The appropriation is designated as a one-time honorarium in memory of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. The bill also allows the commissioner of health to accept private donations to supplement the state funding, with all such donations deposited in a dedicated account that expires on July 1, 2028.