Sen. Rich Draheim

Maddy summarySF 856 creates an independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in Minnesota to oversee state agencies and programs. The OIG will conduct audits and investigations into fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds, report findings publicly, and make recommendations for improvement. It requires the OIG to operate separately from executive agencies, with a qualified director appointed by an advisory council, and mandates annual public reports. The bill appropriates funding for the OIG and takes effect January 1, 2026. This directly affects all state agencies, programs, and entities receiving public funds by subjecting them to independent oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota workforce development funds are distributed, primarily affecting the Jobs Skills Partnership Board and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. It requires the Jobs Skills Partnership Board to recommend workforce training needs to the state college system, prioritizing programs run by colleges or existing employers before awarding funds to outside organizations. Additionally, the bill clarifies that special assessment money collected for employment and training must be used specifically for workforce development purposes, including incumbent worker training, rather than for general obligations of the Board of Trustees.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to select one university as the state's flagship institution by January 1, 2027. To qualify, the chosen campus must demonstrate a clear strategic plan, strong potential for economic and intellectual growth, consistent enrollment increases, and a commitment to receiving priority funding for capital projects. Once designated, the flagship university would gain the ability to request autonomy from certain system-wide rules and restrictions. The legislation directly impacts the state's higher education system by establishing specific criteria for this special status and altering how resources and authority are distributed among institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $4 million in bonds to fund clean water and wastewater infrastructure projects in the city of Granada. The funds will be used to build a new water treatment plant with gravity filtration, construct two new municipal water wells, replace a water main, and upgrade wastewater control structures and security fencing. By allocating these resources through a grant to the Public Facilities Authority, the legislation aims to improve the city's water and sewage systems without requiring immediate local payment.

Maddy summaryThis bill terminates the prior appropriation funding for the PROMISE grant program in Minnesota. It directly affects the state's budget for economic development by removing a specific funding line item. The legislation amends existing laws to adjust financial allocations for various business and community development initiatives, such as grants for small business centers and contaminated site cleanup. By ending the previous funding method, the bill shifts how these programs receive financial support, though it does not eliminate the programs themselves.

Maddy summarySF 3956 allows Minnesota's Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to direct available agency resources toward specific veterans' initiatives, including addressing food insecurity, homelessness, and suicide prevention. The bill directly affects veterans by enabling targeted support for these critical issues through state agency funding. Key provisions require the commissioner to annually report by October 15 to the governor and relevant legislative committees, detailing resources used and the specific initiatives supported in the previous year. This creates a formal mechanism for prioritizing veterans' needs while ensuring transparency in how state resources are allocated.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $3.5 million in state bonds to fund improvements for the City of Belle Plaine's public safety facility. The funds will be used to prepare the site and renovate, expand, furnish, and equip the existing building to address safety, security, and operational needs. The legislation directs the state commissioner of management and budget to sell these bonds and provide the money to the commissioner of public safety for distribution as a grant. Once enacted, the bill becomes effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota state law to modify requirements for issuing water aeration permits for shallow lakes. It mandates that the state commissioner must issue a permit to applicants using nonstate funds for aeration systems in lakes that are eight to 15 feet deep and between 100 and 750 acres in size. However, the law specifies that a permit is not required if the aeration system would be used more frequently than two out of every three years. These changes directly impact property owners and organizations planning to install aeration equipment in lakes within these specific dimensions and funding parameters.

Maddy summarySF 3650 would ban prescription drug manufacturers from advertising their products on television to consumers in Minnesota. The bill defines "television advertisement" to include over-the-air broadcasts and internet streams of those broadcasts, and specifies that the prohibition applies to ads promoting prescription drugs sold directly to consumers. If enacted, the law would require drug manufacturers to stop running such TV ads, with enforcement handled by the attorney general under existing law. The bill is currently in committee review after its introduction in February 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires cities in Minnesota to accept building project applications and documentation electronically, including through email, digital files, and electronic signatures. It applies to home rule charter cities and statutory cities of the first, second, or third class, while exempting smaller municipalities outside metropolitan counties. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not alter other existing building code enforcement rules or procedures.