Minneapolis; child and family services facility expansion and renovation funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Esther Agbaje and 11 co-sponsors

The bill authorizes a $10 million state bond-funded grant to Hennepin County to expand and renovate St. David’s Center in Minneapolis for enhanced early childhood education, child

Author added Youakim

Purpose and intent

The bill authorizes state funding and the issuance of bonds to support the expansion and renovation of a child and family services facility in Minneapolis, specifically the St. David’s Center located at 1130 Nicollet Mall.

The overarching goal is to promote public welfare by improving access to early childhood education, children’s mental health and pediatric therapy services, and family support services designed to stabilize families, build skills, increase independence, and improve educational and health outcomes for Minnesotans.

Key provisions and changes

Section 1 — Hennepin County; St. David's Center

Subdivision 1. Appropriation

The state would appropriate $10,000,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of human services.
The funds are for a grant to Hennepin County to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip the expansion and renovation of the St. David's Center facility in Minneapolis.
The facility’s mission, as tied to the appropriation, includes:
Early childhood education
Children’s mental health and pediatric therapy services
Support services that stabilize families, build skills, increase independence, and improve outcomes
The appropriation is available until the project is completed or abandoned, per applicable statutory provisions (availability through completion or abandonment).
Nonstate money already spent on the project since January 1, 2024 must be considered in determining any required nonstate commitments.

Subdivision 2. Bond sale

To fund the appropriation, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue state bonds up to $10,000,000.
Bond issuance would follow the terms and methods set forth in Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and Minnesota Constitution, Article XI, sections 4 to 7.

Effective date

This section becomes effective the day following final enactment.

Who would be affected

Primary recipient: Hennepin County, which would receive a state grant to advance the St. David's Center project.

St. David's Center (Minneapolis) and the populations it serves (children and families) would be directly impacted by the expansion and renovation.

State of Minnesota, through the Department of Human Services and the Budget/Management and Finance offices, would implement funding and bond issuance.

Procedural and timeline considerations

The bill is a capital investment measure, moving through the usual legislative process for bonding and appropriations.

If enacted, proceeds would come from the bond proceeds fund, and the project would proceed subject to standard statutory requirements for bond issuance and project accounting.

Availability of funds is project-based and continues until completion or abandonment, with inclusion of prior nonstate spending in determining nonstate commitments.

Summary assessment

HF 244 is a targeted capital investment bill authorizing a $10 million grant (via bond proceeds) to expand and renovate the St. David’s Center in Minneapolis to enhance services in early childhood education, mental health/therapy for children, and family stabilization supports. It directs the sale of state bonds and ties the project to nonstate funding considerations, with an emphasis on measurable public welfare outcomes for children and families in the area.

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