Rep. Ethan Cha

Maddy summaryHF 2144 appropriates unspecified funds from the general fund for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program under Minnesota Statutes § 462A.204, for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The bill directly affects families in Minnesota at risk of homelessness by providing funding for prevention and assistance services. Key provisions include directing the Housing Finance Agency to administer the program using these allocated funds. This is a funding bill with no new policy requirements, solely authorizing budget resources for an existing state program.

Maddy summaryHF 1063 modifies Minnesota's financial reporting requirements for licensed grain buyers. It mandates that grain buyers submit annual financial statements - including a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement - prepared by an independent accountant. The required review level depends on annual grain purchases: buyers handling $7.5 million or more must undergo a review or audit, while those handling $20 million or more must have a full audit with an opinion statement. Small buyers purchasing under $1 million annually and paying with cash or certified checks are exempt from these reporting rules.

Maddy summaryHF 119 allocates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to support the Hmong Cultural Center of Minnesota. The funding covers museum programming, library services, and educational classes focused on Hmong Minnesotan history, culture, and folk arts. This directly benefits the Hmong community by preserving and sharing their heritage through public outreach. The Minnesota Humanities Center will administer these grants to the cultural center.

Maddy summaryHF 1761 appropriates $2 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund the Hmong Cultural Center of Minnesota, Inc., a nonprofit organization, for predesign, construction, and equipping a facility in St. Paul. The funds will directly support the development of a physical space dedicated to celebrating Hmong culture and promoting cross-cultural awareness through programming. This one-time appropriation is specifically for building-related costs and must be used in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642. The bill affects the Hmong Cultural Center nonprofit organization and the broader St. Paul community by enabling a dedicated cultural facility.

Maddy summaryHF 1757 requires anyone who owns, possesses, or controls a firearm to report a loss or theft to local law enforcement within 48 hours. Failure to report can result in escalating penalties, starting with a minor offense for the first violation and increasing to a gross misdemeanor for repeated failures. The bill also provides immunity from prosecution for storage-related offenses if the report is made on time and mandates that law enforcement agencies report lost or stolen firearms to the state commissioner within seven days. Additionally, the bill appropriates $36,000 for a one-time implementation of a reporting system to support these requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 1828 implements recommendations from the state auditor's fire relief association working group by requiring Minnesota firefighters' relief associations to prepare detailed annual financial statements. These statements must show all income, expenses, assets, and liabilities in a format set by the state auditor and be certified by an independent CPA with at least five years of public accounting experience (not affiliated with the association). The associations must submit these certified statements to the state auditor by June 30 each year, with the requirement effective January 1, 2026. The bill directly affects all firefighters' relief associations operating under Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryHF 1796 modifies Minnesota's Livestock Investment Grant Program to change how grants are calculated. Instead of awarding 10% of the first $500,000 in qualifying expenditures, the bill establishes a tiered system: 50% of the first $20,000 plus 20% of the next $220,000. The bill expands eligible expenses to include specific items like pasture development (fencing, watering systems), livestock housing equipment (freestall barns, milking parlors), and waste management facilities (digesters, manure storage). This directly affects Minnesota livestock producers raising eligible animals (beef cattle, dairy, swine, poultry, goats, etc.) who make qualifying capital investments in their operations.

Maddy summaryHF 1599 appropriates $3 million from the general fund for preliminary design work on a grade-separated interchange at the intersection of Trunk Highway 36 and Trunk Highway 120 in North St. Paul and Oakdale. The funding is specifically for planning and design phases, not construction, and is available until the project is completed or abandoned. This bill directly affects local residents and traffic in those communities by funding the initial planning for a safer, more efficient road connection. The appropriation is one-time and limited to fiscal year 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1683 appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to fund The Redemption Project. The program provides justice-impacted individuals and inmates with virtue-based education, mentoring, support services, and employment assistance to reduce recidivism and support community reintegration. Funds are administered through the Commissioner of Corrections to cover these specific services. The bill directly affects formerly incarcerated individuals and those impacted by the justice system by creating access to structured transition programming.

Maddy summaryHF 1687 creates a sales tax exemption in Minnesota for purchases made by nonprofit organizations focused on preserving specific bird habitats. It directly affects 501(c)(3) nonprofits whose primary work involves developing, preserving, restoring, or maintaining waterfowl, pheasant, or quail habitats in Minnesota. The exemption applies to qualifying items used for these habitat purposes, excluding building materials (under lump-sum contracts), lodging, prepared food, certain beverages, and motor vehicle leases. The law takes effect for sales after December 31, 2025.