This bill appropriates $500,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to support programming that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. The funding is directed to the Minnesota Humanities Center to ensure equitable recognition of the Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese Minnesotan communities in the commemoration.

Key Provisions:

1. Addressing Historical Inequities – The appropriation seeks to rectify past underrepresentation of these communities in commemorative initiatives.
2. Funds Administration – The Minnesota Humanities Center, working with the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, must:
   • Distribute funds through an equitable process.
   • Ensure a minimum allocation to each community.
   • Conduct outreach to increase awareness.
   • Provide technical assistance and capacity-building support for nonprofits with limited resources.
3. Distribution Methods – Funding can be provided through:
   • A grantmaking process.
   • Direct allocations to nonprofit organizations for community-specific programming.
   • Collaborative projects between nonprofits and the Minnesota Humanities Center.
4. Community-Led Decision Making – The Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese communities must lead programming decisions to ensure cultural and historical alignment.
5. Administrative Costs – The Humanities Center may retain a portion of funds for technical and capacity-building support.
6. Reporting & Accountability – The Humanities Center must provide a detailed report on:
   • How funds were allocated (broken down by community).
   • Organizations and projects funded.
   • Methods used to ensure equity.
   • Recommendations for future funding.
7. Reallocation of Remaining Funds – Any leftover funds must be distributed equitably among the Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese communities for additional programming.

Availability:

• The appropriation remains available until fully expended.

This bill ensures fair representation and support for Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese communities in observing the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, recognizing their historical and cultural contributions in Minnesota.