Purpose

This bill would authorize state funding from the general fund to the Department of Education for grants to museums and education centers. The goal is to provide ongoing financial support to a set of specified institutions so they can operate and offer programs to the public.

Main Provisions

• Funding source and recipient
  • Money appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education for grants to museums and education centers.
• Specific grants and recipients
  • The following museums and education centers receive annual grants (amounts listed):
  • The Works Bloomington: $125,000 per year
  • WonderTrek Children's Museum (Brainerd/Baxter): $82,500 per year
  • Duluth Children's Museum (Duluth): $82,500 per year
  • Otter Cove Children's Museum (Fergus Falls): $75,000 per year
  • Children's Discovery Museum (Grand Rapids): $75,000 per year
  • Wheel and Cog Children's Museum (Hutchinson): $75,000 per year
  • Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota (Mankato): $125,000 per year
  • Great River Children's Museum (St. Cloud): $125,000 per year
  • Village Children's Museum (Willmar): $75,000 per year
  • Children’s Discovery Museum (Breckenridge): $75,000 per year
  • SPARK Children's Museum (Rochester): $100,000 per year
  • Mini Sota Ag Museum (Benson): $75,000 per year
• Overall funding base and future years
  • The base appropriation for fiscal year 2028 and later is $1,090,000 per year.
• Carryover provision
  • Any balance remaining in fiscal year 2026 is available in fiscal year 2027, allowing some funds to roll into the next year.

Funding Details and Structure

• Section establishes the Department of Education as the recipient of the funds for grants.
• The listed grants are annual and expire or reset each year, subject to the base amount set for future years.
• No changes to other programs are described; this is an targeted appropriation to support specific museums and education centers.

Significance and Changes to Law

• This bill enacts a focused funding program to support a defined group of museums and education centers through annual grants.
• It sets a dedicated annual total (1,090,000) for 2028 and beyond, and it creates a carryover mechanism from 2026 to 2027.
• There are no broad policy changes described; the primary change is establishing and funding these grants through the Department of Education.

Notable Provisions

• Explicitly named recipients and their annual grant amounts.
• Long-term funding baseline (2028+) and the carryover provision to manage surplus funds.

Practical Impact

• These museums and education centers would receive stable annual support from the state, enabling ongoing programs, exhibits, and community education activities.
• The carryover provision could affect planning if prior-year balances exist.

Relevant Terms general fund; Department of Education; grants; museums and education centers; The Works Bloomington; WonderTrek Children's Museum; Brainerd/Baxter; Duluth Children's Museum; Otter Cove Children's Museum; Fergus Falls; Children's Discovery Museum; Grand Rapids; Wheel and Cog Children's Museum; Hutchinson; Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota; Mankato; Great River Children's Museum; St. Cloud; Village Children's Museum; Willmar; Breckenridge; SPARK Children's Museum; Rochester; Mini Sota Ag Museum; Benson; fiscal year 2026; fiscal year 2027; fiscal year 2028; base; balance remaining; carryover.