Purpose

Provide funding from Minnesota’s arts and cultural heritage fund to support the reconstruction of the platform base and supporting structure for the Hermann the German statue in New Ulm. The bill also allows using the funds to demolish the old platform base and supporting structure as part of the project.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation: In fiscal year 2026, money from the arts and cultural heritage fund is allocated for this purpose.
• Administration: The appropriation is directed to the commissioner of administration, who will administer a grant to the city of New Ulm.
• Project scope: The grant funds are for reconstructing the platform base and supporting structure of the Hermann the German monument in New Ulm.
• Optional demolition: The funds may also be used to demolish the old platform base and supporting structure as part of the project.

Financial Details

• Source: arts and cultural heritage fund
• Recipient: city of New Ulm (via a grant from the commissioner of administration)
• Timeframe: fiscal year 2026
• Use of funds: reconstruction of the platform base and supporting structure; demolition of the old platform base and supporting structure if needed

Scope and Location

• Monument: Hermann the German statue
• Location: New Ulm, Minnesota

Significance and Impact

• Supports preservation and restoration of a local historic monument.
• Provides a formal funding mechanism to update or replace structural elements of the statue’s platform and base.

Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new appropriation and process for funding the reconstruction project; does not appear to alter other sections of law beyond creating the appropriation and grant pathway.

Effective Date

• The appropriation applies to fiscal year 2026; no other effective date is specified in the text provided.

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Relevant Terms arts and cultural heritage fund; commissioner of administration; grant; city of New Ulm; Hermann the German statue; platform base; supporting structure; reconstruct; demolish; old platform base; fiscal year 2026; appropriation; monument.