Bill
HF 2589
Creates a Minnesota Volunteerism Innovation Board to coordinate, fund, and evaluate volunteer programs across the state.
Minnesota House File (HF) 2589 – Summary
Overview
HF 2589 would establish the Minnesota Volunteerism Innovation Board, require rulemaking, mandate grants, create reporting requirements, and appropriate funds for these purposes. The bill aims to promote and coordinate volunteer efforts across the state by creating an official board to guide policy, distribute grants, and monitor outcomes.
Purpose and intent
- To formally recognize and support volunteerism as a strategic public asset.
- To establish an official governance body (the Minnesota Volunteerism Innovation Board) to oversee volunteer initiatives, administer grants, and drive innovation in volunteer programs.
- To ensure ongoing evaluation and accountability through rulemaking and reporting.
Key provisions and changes
1) Minnesota Volunteerism Innovation Board
- Establishes a state-level board dedicated to advancing volunteerism and coordinating related activities.
- The board would have authority to develop policies, set priorities, and guide program design for volunteer initiatives.
- Likely composition: specified by the bill (e.g., members from state agencies, nonprofit sector, and community organizations). (Note: exact member composition would be defined in the bill text.)
2) Rulemaking
- Requires rulemaking to implement and operationalize the board’s authority.
- Rules would address program eligibility, grant administration, reporting requirements, and performance metrics.
3) Grants
- Creates or administers grant programs to support volunteer initiatives.
- Grants may be available to nonprofits, community organizations, local governments, schools, or other entities engaged in volunteer activities (precise eligibility criteria would be defined in the bill or subsequent rules).
- Purpose of grants likely includes funding for program development, training, recruitment, technology, and capacity building related to volunteerism.
4) Reporting requirements
- Requires annual or periodic reporting on the impact and outcomes of volunteer programs funded or overseen by the board.
- Reports would track metrics such as volunteer participation, hours contributed, outcomes achieved, and cost-effectiveness.
5) Appropriation and money appropriated
- The bill includes an appropriation to fund the board’s operations, grant programs, and related activities.
- Specifies the amount and any multi-year funding structure, if applicable.
6) Implementation timeline
- Provides a schedule for rulemaking, board establishment, grant rounds, and reporting milestones.
- May include startup deadlines for initial appointments, rule adoption, and first grant cycle.
Who is affected
- State government agencies and offices involved in volunteer policy or administration.
- Nonprofit organizations, community groups, schools, and local governments seeking grants or partnerships to advance volunteerism.
- Individuals participating in volunteer programs could benefit from enhanced opportunities and more coordinated initiatives.
- Residents of Minnesota who participate in public-service volunteer activities may see improved coordination and impact measurement.
Significant procedural/timeline aspects
- Introduction/first reading occurred March 20, 2025; author and co-sponsors were added (e.g., Cedrick Frazier, Mike Freiberg) by March 26, 2025.
- The bill will undergo committee referral (State Government Finance and Policy) for hearings and amendments.
- Final passage would require approval by both chambers and the governor, followed by any required rulemaking and implementation steps outlined in the bill and its accompanying fiscal notes.
Notes
- Specific details such as the board’s exact composition, grant eligibility criteria, funding amounts, and reporting metrics will be defined in the bill’s text and subsequent administrative rules.
- If you are tracking fiscal impact, the bill’s appropriations section will be the primary source for quantified funding and any potential sunset or continuation provisions.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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