Purpose

• The bill would appropriate money to create a Melissa Hortman Memorial statue at the State Office Building site, as part of implementing an updated Capitol Mall Design Framework. The statue would honor Hortman’s historic contributions to Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Funding: Allocates an amount of $800,000 within the appropriation to design and cast the statue and incorporate it into the memorial garden on the State Office Building site, under the Department of Administration.
• Design and placement: The statue will be designed and included in a memorial garden on the State Office Building site.
• Process for artist selection: The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board must select the statue artist through a competitive process and must consult with Melissa Hortman’s immediate family during the selection and design approval.
• Family involvement: The statue design must include the likeness of Hortman’s deceased family members.
• Use of remaining funds: Any unspent funds after casting the statue may be used for additional landscaping elements in the memorial garden.
• Time frame: The funds under this section are available until June 30, 2029.
• Legal/administrative exemption: Minnesota Rules part 2400.2703 shall not apply to the activities funded under this section.

Significance / Changes to existing law

• Establishes a dedicated capital investment project to create a memorial statue at a state site with a defined funding source and a specific design/selection process.
• Introduces a competitive artist selection and mandatory consultation with Hortman’s family, and requires inclusion of deceased family members in the statue’s likeness.
• Integrates the statue project into the updated Capitol Mall Design Framework, and allows remaining funds to support related landscaping.
• Creates an exemption from a Minnesota Rules provision for the activities funded by this section.

Potential impacts

• Creates a lasting physical commemorative element at a state government site tied to a specific public figure.
• Sets a formal process for artist selection and family involvement, potentially affecting how memorials are designed in the Capitol area.

Relevant Terms - Melissa Hortman - memorial - statue - memorial garden - State Office Building site - Department of Administration - Capitol Mall Design Framework - Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board - competitive process - immediate family - likeness of deceased family members - unspent funds - landscaping elements - June 30, 2029 - Minnesota Rules part 2400.2703 - Laws 2023 ch 62 art 1 sec 11 subdivision 2 - Laws 2025 ch 39 art 1 sec 39