1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to human services; establishing a Minnesota basic income grant program; 
1.3 	requiring a report; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. MINNESOTA BASIC INCOME GRANT PROGRAM.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioner of human services must establish a 
1.7 	competitive grant program for local government entities, Tribal governments, and nonprofit 
1.8 	organizations to provide regular cash payments to eligible recipients to disrupt poverty, 
1.9 	build wealth, advance equity, and support a recipient's basic needs.
1.10 		Subd. 2.Eligible applicants. To be eligible for a grant under this section, applicants 
1.11 	must:
1.12 	(1) be a local government entity, a Tribal government, or a nonprofit organization;
1.13 	(2) have the capability to provide monthly payments to eligible recipients; and
1.14 	(3) meet the requirements under this section.
1.15 		Subd. 3.Applications. Entities seeking grants under this section must apply to the 
1.16 	commissioner. The grant application must include:
1.17 	(1) an initial basic income program design and proposal meeting the requirements under 
1.18 	subdivisions 4 and 6;
1.19 	(2) a plan to identify eligible recipients the applicant intends to serve under this section;
1.20 	(3) a rationale for identifying the specific eligible recipients;
2.1 	(4) a plan for involving impacted community members in the design of the program;
2.2 	(5) a commitment to participate in the basic income community of practice under 
2.3 	subdivision 7;
2.4 	(6) a commitment to cooperate with an evaluator selected by the commissioner; and
2.5 	(7) a plan for collecting the data required in the report under subdivision 8.
2.6 		Subd. 4.Grant activities. Grantees must use the grant money to:
2.7 	(1) design and implement a basic income grant program based on the needs of the 
2.8 	impacted community that meets the requirements under this section;
2.9 	(2) provide a monthly payment of at least $500 each month to eligible recipients under 
2.10 	this section for a period of at least 18 months; and
2.11 	(3) collect the information required for the report under subdivision 8.
2.12 		Subd. 5.Stipends not to be considered income. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the 
2.13 	contrary, cash stipends under this section must not be considered income, assets, or personal 
2.14 	property for purposes of determining eligibility or recertifying eligibility for:
2.15 	(1) child care assistance programs under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 119B;
2.16 	(2) general assistance, Minnesota supplemental aid, and food support under Minnesota 
2.17 	Statutes, chapter 256D;
2.18 	(3) housing support under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256I;
2.19 	(4) the Minnesota family investment program and diversionary work program under 
2.20 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256J; and
2.21 	(5) economic assistance programs under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256P.
2.22 	(b) The commissioner must not consider cash stipends under this section as income or 
2.23 	assets for medical assistance under Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.056, subdivision 1a, 
2.24 	paragraph (a); 3; or 3c.
2.25 		Subd. 6.Eligible recipients. (a) To be eligible to receive monthly payments under this 
2.26 	section, a recipient must attest to the recipient's need and must be receiving public benefits 
2.27 	or have a household income less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty guideline. 
2.28 	Once enrolled, recipients must not be required to recertify.
2.29 	(b) An eligible recipient may be an individual or a family.
3.1 	(c) Grantees may set other eligibility requirements for recipients but must not require 
3.2 	any other income, proof of residency or citizenship, or identifying documentation of any 
3.3 	recipient.
3.4 	(d) Grantees may identify priority populations, which may include families; individuals 
3.5 	or youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness; individuals with low-income wanting to 
3.6 	acquire more training, job skills, or education; or individuals and families who have recently 
3.7 	relocated to Minnesota from other states or countries.
3.8 		Subd. 7.Basic income community of practice. (a) The commissioner must establish 
3.9 	a basic income community of practice to provide regular training and technical assistance 
3.10 	to grantees.
3.11 	(b) The commissioner must identify at least one independent entity to lead the basic 
3.12 	income community of practice under this subdivision and to provide training and technical 
3.13 	assistance to grantees.
3.14 		Subd. 8.Reporting. (a) Each grantee must collect data from its recipients before and 
3.15 	after participation in the program on the following:
3.16 	(1) economic status;
3.17 	(2) employment status;
3.18 	(3) status of physical and mental health;
3.19 	(4) status of food and housing security;
3.20 	(5) ability to enroll in further education due to participation in the program; and
3.21 	(6) any other relevant information identified by the grantee.
3.22 	(b) Grantees must provide an annual report to the commissioner on the data collected 
3.23 	under paragraph (a) in a manner prescribed by the commissioner.
3.24 		Subd. 9.Evaluator. The commissioner must identify at least one independent, 
3.25 	research-based entity to evaluate the program under this section.
3.26 		Subd. 10.Report. The commissioner, in cooperation with grantees under this section, 
3.27 	shall submit a final report on findings regarding the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the 
3.28 	Minnesota basic income grant program to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
3.29 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over human services by January 15, 2027. The 
3.30 	report must maintain the anonymity of individuals who participate in the program.

4.1 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; MINNESOTA BASIC INCOME GRANT PROGRAM.
 4.2 	(a) $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
4.3 	commissioner of human services for the Minnesota basic income grant program. This is a 
4.4 	onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2028.
4.5 	(b) Of the amount appropriated in paragraph (a), the commissioner of human services 
4.6 	may use up to $3,000,000 for outreach, technical assistance, training, and evaluation.