Cadmium Stays. Legacy Wins. Session = Success

The 2025 legislative session was one of the most complex and unpredictable in state history—but it closed with a clear win for the arts. 

Thanks to the strength of our advocacy coalition and the engagement of our members, MCA successfully secured the full 47% allocation of Legacy funding for the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils before the special session was even called. While many major bills were left unresolved until June, the Legacy bill was signed into law in May—a testament to the influence, credibility, and persistence of MCA and our partners at the Capitol. We were there early, stayed focused, and made sure legislators heard directly from their constituents about the impact of arts funding in every corner of the state.

In addition to the Legacy victory, several other legislative developments may be of interest to the arts and cultural community:

Cadmium Paint Ban Lifted for Artists:

The Legislature passed language exempting professional artist materials from Minnesota’s cadmium ban, ensuring access to essential pigments for visual artists while maintaining safety standards for children’s products.

Youth Arts Programming Supported:

The final state budget included General Fund appropriations for arts education and engagement, including youth literary programs and a new Youth Poet Laureate initiative. 

Expanded Tax Levy for Free Public Music:

A decades-old cap on city spending for free music events has been updated. Cities of the third class can now allocate up to $10,000 annually (up from $3,000) to provide free public concerts and musical programming.

Free Water at Ticketed Events:
Newly passed legislation requires ticketed entertainment venues to provide access to free potable water—either through drinking fountains, complimentary bottled water, or refillable stations. This change is intended to improve public health and event accessibility.

Policy Proposals to Watch:
While not passed this year, MCA is tracking proposals that would require sensory-friendly accommodations at public events and expand public safety training for venue security staff. These conversations are expected to continue in 2026.

Spotlight: Jose M. Palmas, Our Capitol Pathways Intern

This session, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts was honored to host Jose M. Palmas as our Capitol Pathways Intern, a talented and driven student placed with us through the Citizens League’s Capitol Pathways program.

Capitol Pathways is a groundbreaking initiative designed to open access to Minnesota’s Capitol for the next generation of leaders. By creating paid internship opportunities in government and public policy spaces, the program builds intentional pipelines for young people of color to gain firsthand experience in policy, advocacy, and civic leadership—fields where they have been historically underrepresented.

During his time with us, Jose brought curiosity, thoughtfulness, and a clear commitment to public service. Whether helping us track legislation, support arts advocacy efforts, or navigate the fast pace of the session, Jose contributed meaningful insights and energy to our team and mission.

Programs like Capitol Pathways don’t just support students—they strengthen the future of our democracy by making it more representative, inclusive, and informed.

Thank you, Jose, for your great work—and thank you to the Citizens League for leading this important effort to shape a more equitable future in Minnesota politics.

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