HF3939

HF3939 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Provide a one-time appropriation to support a program that helps people by using service dogs and facility dogs. The funds are directed to Helping Paws to breed, train, and place these dogs with individuals who have physical disabilities, veterans, and first responders living with service-related PTSD, as well as professionals in courthouse, educational, and mental health settings. The appropriation is in memory of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman.

Funding source: A $200,000 general fund appropriation in fiscal year 2027 to the commissioner of health for a grant to Helping Paws Inc. to breed, train, and place service or facility dogs.
Target groups: People with physical disabilities, veterans, first responders with service-related PTSD, and professionals in courthouse, educational, and mental health settings.
Memorial designation: The appropriation is a one-time honorarium in memory of Melissa Hortman.
Private donations: The commissioner of health may accept private donations to supplement the state money. All private funds must be deposited into a dedicated account in the special revenue fund and are appropriated for the purposes of this section.

Administration: The commissioner of health administers the grant to Helping Paws Inc.
Dedicated account: Private donations are placed in a dedicated account in the special revenue fund for this purpose.
Sunset date: The dedicated account expires on July 1, 2028.

This bill provides a specific, one-time appropriation and creates a dedicated special revenue fund account for private donations to support Helping Paws. It does not enact broad changes to existing health or funding statutes beyond establishing this appropriation and account, and it introduces a sunset date for the account.

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 05, 2026	House		Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Health Finance and Policy
March 16, 2026	House		Action	Author added

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In Committee