Sen. Steve Drazkowski

Maddy summarySF 3727 repeals a Minnesota law that automatically confirmed certain state appointments if the legislature didn't act within 60 days. This bill directly affects state appointments requiring legislative confirmation (like many executive branch positions), ending the current rule where inaction by the Senate or House automatically approved appointments. The key change removes the "automatic confirmation" provision in Minnesota Statutes § 15.066, requiring active legislative rejection instead of passive approval. This shifts the process so appointments no longer become effective without explicit legislative action.

Maddy summarySF 3775 prohibits abortion coverage in MinnesotaCare, medical assistance programs, and the State Employees Group Insurance Program. It eliminates abortion and abortion-related services as a mandatory benefit for all health plans except large group plans. The bill repeals existing provisions that previously required coverage of abortion services in medical assistance programs and created reimbursement mechanisms for health plans covering abortions. These changes directly affect state health programs for low-income residents, most individual and small-group health insurance plans, and state employee health coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3738) creates a Minnesota state income tax deduction for qualified tip income, aligning the state tax code with the federal Internal Revenue Code. It directly affects Minnesota taxpayers who earn tips, allowing them to deduct qualified tips on their state tax returns starting in 2025 (retroactively). The key provision adopts the federal deduction method for tips, as defined under Internal Revenue Code section 224, and applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. The deduction becomes effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2028, but applies retroactively to 2025. This change simplifies tax filing for tipped workers by matching state and federal treatment of tip income.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of state funds from the arts and cultural heritage fund for activities related to occult practices, divination, necromancy, soothsaying, Satanism, or demonology. It directly affects state-funded arts and cultural programs by restricting how these specific funds can be spent. The bill amends Minnesota law to add this explicit prohibition as a new provision in the fund's usage rules, effective upon enactment. The bill is currently in early legislative stages with no voting record yet.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $25,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents for a statue commemorating Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in Utah on September 10, 2025. The statue will be placed on the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus. As a procedural appropriation bill, it directly affects the University of Minnesota's campus design and the state's arts funding allocation.

Maddy summarySF 3363 requires the Prairie Island nuclear plant operator to move all spent nuclear fuel from its current dry cask storage to a new site outside Prairie Island or Monticello by January 1, 2028. The bill mandates that an additional spent fuel storage facility must be built at the Monticello nuclear plant to receive fuel transferred from Prairie Island. It authorizes the public utility to withhold funds from the renewable development account to cover transportation costs, with annual payments based on the number of dry casks storing spent fuel at each plant. The law amends Minnesota statutes to enforce these storage requirements and funding mechanisms, directly affecting the Prairie Island and Monticello nuclear plant operators.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution expresses the legislative body's disapproval of Department of Human Services employees who allegedly concealed fraud during an audit. The document formally condemns these actions as a breach of public trust and urges the department's leadership to investigate the conduct and impose disciplinary measures. Unlike laws that create new rules, this measure serves only as a symbolic statement of the Senate's stance on the issue. It does not establish new penalties or change existing statutes but highlights concerns regarding the integrity of state social service programs.

Maddy summarySF 3645 allows employees covered by Minnesota's paid family and medical leave program to formally opt out of participating. Employees would submit a form to the commissioner (available online and in print) to choose not to participate in either the family or medical benefit program, or both. The bill creates a simple administrative process for opting out but does not change the core benefits or eligibility requirements of the existing paid leave program. It is a procedural change requiring the state to provide an opt-out mechanism.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a process for refunding vehicle registration taxes when buyers return vehicles to dealers within 30 days. It directly affects buyers (transferees) who permanently return vehicles to the same dealer or manufacturer without keeping them. Dealers must notify the state within 10 days of a return, and the state must refund the buyer’s registration tax within 30 days of receiving that notice. The refund applies only to vehicles initially registered under Minnesota law that are returned under the defined conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases retirement contributions for Minnesota public school teachers in the Teachers Retirement Association (TRA). It raises employee contributions from 11.25% to 11.5% (basic program) and 7.75% to 8.0% (coordinated program) for 2025-2026, with further hikes to 12.5% and 9.0% after 2026. Employer contributions also rise, reaching 10.01% for coordinated members and 14.01% for basic members after 2026. Additionally, it provides an unreduced retirement annuity to members who reach age 62 with 30 years of service, allowing them to retire without penalty before the standard retirement age. The bill directly affects current and future TRA members employed by Minnesota public school districts.