Sen. Steve Drazkowski

Maddy summarySF 657 allows minnow dealers, retailers, and private hatchery license holders in Minnesota to import live minnows from other states without a permit during emergencies when local supply is insufficient for at least one day. It requires these businesses to notify the state commissioner within 48 hours of importation and permits inspections to verify the minnows' quantity, source, species, and health. The bill exempts these emergency imports from standard permit requirements under Minnesota Statutes section 97C.341. This directly affects businesses that rely on minnows for fishing bait, ensuring they can maintain supply during shortages.

Maddy summarySF 538 establishes a new "Director of Grants Management" position within Minnesota's Department of Administration. This role requires specific expertise in auditing and legal compliance for grant programs and mandates standardized practices across all state agencies administering grants. The director will oversee grant processes, ensure compliance with laws, improve transparency, create central reporting systems for grant opportunities, and review agency practices - including the authority to suspend grantees for violations. The bill directly affects executive agencies managing state grants, grantees receiving funds, and the Department of Administration, which must create this position and implement the required standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces state aid to counties, cities, and towns for local government programs by the amount of lobbying expenses they report under Minnesota law. Specifically, it lowers certified aid payments (for counties under Minn. Stat. §477A.0124, cities under §477A.013, subd. 9, and towns under §477A.013, subd. 1) by the total lobbying costs reported directly or as part of dues paid to local government associations. The reduction cannot lower aid below zero, and the rule applies to aid payments starting in 2026. It directly affects all local governments receiving these specific state funds based on their lobbying expenditure reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a tax deduction for overtime pay in Minnesota's individual income tax code. It allows taxpayers to subtract the amount of overtime pay they earned from their taxable income, directly affecting Minnesota residents who receive overtime compensation. The deduction covers wages, salaries, tips, and other compensation for hours worked beyond standard limits under state or federal law. The change takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024. This is a straightforward tax policy adjustment with no new requirements or program funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota Statutes to redefine "agricultural land" for property tax classification purposes. It specifies that agricultural land must be at least 10 contiguous acres used for agriculture in the prior year, or land used for intensive livestock confinement (excluding land used solely for grazing). This change affects landowners seeking lower agricultural tax rates by clarifying eligibility criteria for property classification. The bill does not alter tax rates but adjusts which properties qualify for the agricultural classification under current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's property tax classification system for agricultural land. It clarifies what qualifies as "agricultural land" for Class 2a (farm property) and Class 2c (managed forest land) by including adjacent land features like sloughs, windbreaks, or land impractical to value separately. Class 2c managed forest land, requiring a forest management plan, now qualifies for a reduced tax rate of 0.65% (down from 1% for standard Class 2a). This primarily affects rural property owners, including farmers and forest landowners, who may qualify for lower tax rates by meeting the new classification criteria.

Maddy summarySF 3459 would repeal Minnesota's public campaign subsidy program, which previously provided state funds to qualifying candidates. The bill removes the legal basis for this program by repealing specific sections of Minnesota Statutes (including 10A.25, 10A.255, and others) that established the subsidy rules and funding. This change directly affects candidates who participated in the public subsidy program, ending their eligibility for these state funds. The bill does not create new campaign finance rules but eliminates the existing public subsidy mechanism.

Maddy summarySF 3458 repeals Minnesota's political contribution refund program, which allowed voters to get tax refunds for campaign contributions. The bill eliminates the refund process for contributions made after April 15, 2026, and prohibits the commissioner from issuing refunds after June 30, 2026. This directly affects voters who previously claimed refunds under sections 290.06, subdivision 23, and related statutes. The repeal removes the specific legal mechanisms for processing these refunds, ending the program without creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an exemption for members of religious orders from Minnesota's Paid Leave Law. It directly affects religious order members who perform duties required by their order, excluding them from the law's definition of "covered employment." The key provision amends Minnesota Statutes to explicitly state that such religious employment is not covered under the paid leave requirements. This change means religious organizations and their members in these roles would not be subject to the state's paid leave obligations.