Rep. Drew Roach

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Secretary of State to share voter and election data with federal agencies upon request. It applies to all individuals in the statewide voter registration system, including those who attempted to register but were not approved, had outdated registrations, or registered but never voted. The Secretary of State must provide the requested data within 180 days of the request or by 90 days before the next scheduled election, whichever comes first. The law takes effect immediately after final passage and covers requests made on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the expiration date on Minnesota's current rule that allows hunters to use crossbows during archery seasons for deer, bear, turkey, common carp, and native rough fish. By repealing the sunset provision, the legislation makes this crossbow hunting authority permanent rather than temporary, ensuring it remains in effect beyond June 30, 2026. The law requires hunters to maintain a valid license for the specific game they pursue and must still follow existing transportation and equipment requirements for crossbows. Hunters and fishing enthusiasts directly affected by this change will see their ability to use crossbows during designated archery seasons continue without interruption.

Maddy summaryHF 3146 prohibits all Minnesota state and local government entities, including law enforcement agencies, from acquiring, using, or contracting with private companies for facial recognition technology. The bill defines "face surveillance" as automated systems identifying individuals based on facial features and bans government entities from obtaining, retaining, or accessing such systems or data. Violations would make evidence from facial recognition inadmissible in court, require deletion of unlawfully collected data, and allow affected individuals to sue for $1,000 per violation or $100 per incident (whichever is greater), plus attorney fees. The law takes effect on August 1, 2025, and applies broadly across all government functions.

Maddy summaryHF 1618 shortens the timeframe for county auditors and the secretary of state to provide voter list copies to registered Minnesota voters from 10 to two business days after a written or electronic request. Registered voters must pay reproduction costs for copies, but public access to voter lists remains free without cost. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 201.091, aims to improve timely access to voter information while maintaining existing restrictions on using voter list data for non-election purposes.

Maddy summaryHF 1617 requires Minnesota election officials to test voting systems at least 10 days before absentee ballots are used. The bill mandates specific testing procedures to verify systems correctly mark ballots (including with assistive technology) and count votes for all candidates and questions, including testing for invalid votes. Public notice of test times must be given 5 days in advance, tests must be observed by two election judges from different major parties, and results must be available for public inspection within 24 hours. This bill directly affects county election officials and ensures transparency in pre-election voting system verification for Minnesota elections.

Maddy summaryHF 1619 amends Minnesota law to improve how voter registration status is maintained. It requires county auditors to post voting history within six weeks ten days after each election, and the secretary of state to change registration status to "inactive" for voters who haven’t voted in four years. This directly affects voters whose status changes, requiring them to re-register before voting in future elections. The bill clarifies that late or rejected mail ballots count for maintaining registration but not for public voting history lists. It ensures voter lists remain accurate by removing inactive voters while maintaining eligibility for those who re-register.

Maddy summaryHF 3724 prohibits all Minnesota counties, cities, townships, school districts, and other local governments from adopting or using ranked-choice voting for local elections. The bill defines ranked-choice voting as any system where voters rank candidates by preference, and bans its use for local offices like mayor or city council. It also explicitly prohibits this voting method for all federal and state offices. The law prevents local governments from establishing such systems through rules, resolutions, or ordinances.

Maddy summaryHF 3723 requires voters applying for absentee ballots to verify their identity using either a Minnesota driver's license number, state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number before the ballot is mailed. County auditors and municipal clerks must electronically submit these applications to the secretary of state for verification against government databases, with unverifiable applications forwarded to law enforcement. The bill directly affects voters seeking absentee ballots and county/municipal election officials processing applications. Key provisions include mandatory verification before mail delivery, a secure website for submission, and a requirement for the secretary of state to validate permanent absentee voters 60-75 days before elections. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 3689 lowers the minimum age for candidates running for county, municipal, school district, and special district offices in Minnesota from 21 to 18 years old. The bill amends state law to require that candidates for these positions be at least 18 years old when they take office, while maintaining the 21-year-old requirement for other local offices. This change directly affects 18- to 20-year-olds who would now be eligible to run for these specific local elected positions. The legislation is currently under consideration by the Minnesota legislature.

Maddy summaryHF 1301 authorizes hunters with a Federal Aviation Administration remote pilot certificate to use small drones to locate and recover deceased big game (like deer or elk) after hunting, effective January 1, 2027. It amends Minnesota Statutes § 97B.115 to permit this drone use while maintaining the existing ban on remote-controlled hunting. The bill requires the Commissioner of Natural Resources to submit a report by January 1, 2026, with recommendations on licensing, insurance, equipment rules, property rights protections, and potential fees for implementing the drone program. This directly affects hunters, wildlife managers, and landowners in Minnesota. The bill focuses on practical logistics for drone-assisted game recovery, not on changing hunting regulations.