Sen. Eric Pratt

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $7,300,000 from state bond proceeds to fund a 4.3-mile segment of the Merriam Junction Regional Trail in Scott County. The funds will be used by Scott County to acquire land, design, and build the Louisville Segment, connecting the Louisville Swamp Trailhead to the Big Woods Trail in Shakopee. The state will issue bonds up to $7.3 million to cover this cost, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. The project directly affects Scott County residents and trail users by expanding regional recreational infrastructure.

Maddy summarySF 752 requires transit councils to obtain written approval from affected cities, counties, and towns before proceeding with guideway projects (like bus rapid transit or streetcar infrastructure, excluding light rail). It mandates public hearings at both the transit council and local government levels, with municipalities having 45 days to approve or disapprove plans, and requiring specific change requests if disapproved. Crucially, the transit council cannot apply for federal funding until all local governments along the route have approved the plans. This bill directly affects local governments along transit routes and transit planning bodies like the Metropolitan Council, applying to all current and future guideway projects.

Maddy summarySF 76 clarifies and codifies Minnesota's self-defense laws, directly affecting residents who use force in defense of their home, person, or vehicle. The bill eliminates the requirement to retreat when facing a threat outside one's home, expands the definition of "dwelling" to include occupied vehicles and temporary living spaces like tents, and creates a presumption that a person using force in their dwelling or vehicle had a reasonable fear of imminent harm. It specifies that deadly force is justified to prevent a felony in one's dwelling, stop an immediate threat of serious harm or death, or stop a forcible felony. These changes apply to all Minnesotans using force in self-defense situations.

Maddy summarySF 623 amends Minnesota Statutes to allow licensed veterans organizations to use gross profits from lawful gambling (like raffles or bingo) for repairing, maintaining, or improving their real property. Specifically, it adds a new provision (subdivision 25(16)) permitting these organizations to cover utility costs (water, fuel, electricity, sewer) and facility upkeep for buildings they own or lease as their primary headquarters. This directly affects Minnesota-based veterans groups holding gambling licenses under state law. The change expands their allowable uses of gambling revenue beyond previous restrictions, focusing solely on facility maintenance without altering tax obligations or other existing rules.

Maddy summarySF 738 modifies Minnesota's education innovation zone and P-TECH school program rules. It adds "work-based schools" and "place-based learning" to the list of approved experiential learning programs under statute 124D.085. The bill requires school districts to publicly adopt and review innovation zone plans detailing program structure, enrollment, and evaluation methods, and to post these plans online. For P-TECH schools, it mandates specific application components like written agreements with partners, descriptions of regional economic support, and facility details. These changes clarify procedures but do not alter funding or grant approval authority for existing programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state agencies from spending any money on the ReConnect Rondo project, which proposes a land bridge or freeway cap over I-94 in St. Paul between Chatsworth and Grotto Streets. It specifically blocks the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council from using state or federal funds for any phase of the project - including studies, planning, engineering, design, construction, or grants. The prohibition applies to all current and previously allocated funds for this specific project. The bill takes effect immediately upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies a $4.9 million appropriation for the design and construction of a highway interchange at U.S. Highway 169 and Trunk Highway 282 in Jordan, Scott County. The funds, from the general fund, are allocated to Scott County for local road improvements, including bike/pedestrian accommodations, rail grade separation, and utility relocations. The one-time funding is available until June 30, 2027, and directly affects Scott County and Jordan residents by advancing infrastructure at this specific intersection.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands background checks for noncitizen applicants seeking a permit to carry a firearm in Minnesota. It requires noncitizen applicants to provide their country of birth and alien number or admission number on their application (added to Minnesota Statutes §624.714, subd. 3, cl. 7). Sheriffs must also perform an Immigration Alien Query (IAQ) check on noncitizen applicants, in addition to standard criminal record checks. The policy directly affects noncitizen residents applying for firearm permits, requiring them to disclose immigration status details during the background check process.

Maddy summarySF 484 amends Minnesota law to allow ranking minority members of standing legislative committees to request fiscal notes about proposed bills, expanding access previously limited to committee chairs. This directly affects minority committee members in both the House and Senate who now have equal standing to seek cost analysis for legislation. The bill updates Minnesota Statutes section 3.98 to require state departments to prepare fiscal notes upon request from either the committee chair or ranking minority member. It also specifies that completed notes must be distributed to the committee chair, ranking minority member, bill author, and budget officials. This change aims to improve transparency by giving minority committee members the same tools to evaluate fiscal impacts as majority leaders.

Maddy summarySF 252 requires local governments and transportation agencies to conduct a detailed cost-benefit analysis before selecting a transit guideway project. The analysis must compare the proposed guideway with alternatives like bus rapid transit, regular bus service, and road capacity expansion, including specific metrics such as ridership, vehicle traffic changes, maintenance costs, economic benefits, and environmental impacts. It applies to projects seeking state or federal funding in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties, excluding the Gold Line project. The findings must be publicly posted and submitted to state officials for transparency. This law aims to ensure decisions are based on comprehensive data about project costs, benefits, and alternatives.