Sen. Steve Drazkowski

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to create a tax subtraction for income earned by Minnesota residents who are 65 years of age or older. It would allow eligible senior taxpayers to exclude certain income from their taxable income when calculating their individual income tax liability. The provision applies to single taxpayers aged 65 or older and to married couples filing jointly if at least one spouse meets the age requirement. The bill would take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows older hunters in southern Minnesota to use motorized boats for waterfowl hunting in specific wildlife management areas. It permits individuals aged 65 and older to operate these boats during the hunting season if they follow existing safety rules and stay within the designated region south of U.S. Highway 10. The legislation also requires the state's natural resources commissioner to inform the federal government about this new permission and ask for matching rules in federal hunting zones.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to designate the Quality Learning Center in Hennepin County as a historic place within Minnesota state law. It achieves this by amending an existing statute to add a new section that specifically names and recognizes the facility. The change is administrative in nature, as it updates the legal record to reflect the building's status without altering its operations or ownership.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Minnesota municipalities from signing nondisclosure agreements that prevent them from sharing information about land development, economic projects, or programs funded with public money. It applies to counties, cities, towns, school districts, and other local government entities, as well as their employees and representatives. Any such agreements that violate this rule would be automatically invalid and unenforceable, though the rest of the contract would remain in effect. Municipalities must also publicly disclose any contracts that attempt to restrict information sharing under these rules. The law takes effect immediately after final passage and applies to agreements entered into, renewed, or extended on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the governor's ability to appoint individuals to fill vacancies on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. It requires the governor to appoint only candidates recommended by the joint legislative committee if the legislature does not elect someone to fill the vacancy. The law affects the appointment process for board members and strengthens the role of the legislative committee in selecting candidates. This change ensures that when the legislature cannot fill a vacancy, the governor must choose from a pre-approved list rather than selecting any candidate independently.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Minnesota state agencies from entering into contracts with companies owned by individuals convicted of specific crimes including theft, perjury, or forgery, or those held liable for making false claims against the state or federal government. The law applies to sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations by disqualifying any owner with an ownership interest in the business if they meet the criteria. State agencies must screen potential vendors against these criminal and liability records before awarding contracts for goods or services. The legislation aims to prevent state funds from going to businesses with owners who have demonstrated dishonest behavior in legal or financial matters.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require local taxing authorities in Minnesota to send property tax notices to homeowners that include specific information about proposed tax increases. The key provision adds a statement to tax notices informing voters that if a county or city proposes a higher levy than the current year, residents may have the right to petition for a referendum under existing state law. The bill also mandates that tax notices clearly show the percentage increase or decrease between current and proposed taxes, along with detailed breakdowns of how much each taxing authority proposes to collect. This change directly affects property owners by providing clearer information about potential tax increases and their options to challenge them through the referendum process.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies prior appropriations to provide funding for a rail grade crossing separation project at Sturgeon Lake Road in the city of Red Wing. The legislation allocates $14,762,000 from one appropriation and $10,000,000 from bond proceeds to cover right-of-way acquisition, environmental analysis, design, engineering, and construction costs. Additionally, the bill allows any unspent funds from the Red Wing allocation to be used for capital improvements to Sturgeon Lake Road in the project area. The funding authorization for the project is extended until December 31, 2024, to ensure the project can be completed within the specified timeframe.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires money transmission companies in Minnesota to verify that senders of foreign remittance transfers are lawfully present in the United States before processing the transfer. To comply, senders must provide specific documentation such as a REAL ID, passport, birth certificate, or other government-issued identity documents that prove their legal status. The bill also mandates that companies keep detailed records of these verifications and transfer information for at least three years and allows the state commissioner to inspect these records. Failure to follow these verification and recordkeeping rules could result in civil or criminal penalties for the money transmission companies involved.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes liability limits for injuries or deaths related to inherent risks of motorized recreational vehicle activities in Minnesota. It applies to participants and organizers of events involving off-highway vehicles, snowmobiles, golf carts, motorcycles, and similar vehicles used in recreational, competitive, or instructional settings. The law states that participants cannot sue organizers for negligence when injuries result from normal risks like terrain hazards, collisions, or operator error, provided warning signs are posted at activity sites. However, liability is not limited if the injury was caused by gross negligence, intentional harm, or if organizers provided dangerously defective vehicles or equipment.