Rep. Ben Davis

Maddy summaryHF 3562 modifies Minnesota's motor vehicle registration tax for passenger cars and hearses. It reduces the tax rate from 1.54-1.575% to 1.25-1.285% of a vehicle's manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), depending on whether the vehicle was first registered in Minnesota before or on/after November 16, 2020. The tax amount decreases each year based on the vehicle's age (e.g., 100% of MSRP in year one, dropping to 10% in year ten), then becomes a flat $20 annually after the 10th year. This bill directly affects Minnesota vehicle owners paying registration fees for passenger cars and hearses, effective for registrations starting January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Secretary of State to share voter and election data with federal agencies upon request. It applies to all individuals in the statewide voter registration system, including those who attempted to register but were not approved, had outdated registrations, or registered but never voted. The Secretary of State must provide the requested data within 180 days of the request or by 90 days before the next scheduled election, whichever comes first. The law takes effect immediately after final passage and covers requests made on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 21 would require a three-fifths supermajority vote in both the Minnesota House and Senate to extend a peacetime emergency declaration beyond 14 days. Currently, such extensions beyond 14 days could be approved by the Executive Council, but this bill would shift that authority to the legislature. The bill directly affects governors seeking to prolong emergency powers and the legislative process for reviewing those requests. It does not change the initial 14-day emergency declaration period or the governor's authority to declare emergencies under existing criteria. Note: This bill was introduced but not passed during the 2025 legislative session.

Maddy summaryHF 3724 prohibits all Minnesota counties, cities, townships, school districts, and other local governments from adopting or using ranked-choice voting for local elections. The bill defines ranked-choice voting as any system where voters rank candidates by preference, and bans its use for local offices like mayor or city council. It also explicitly prohibits this voting method for all federal and state offices. The law prevents local governments from establishing such systems through rules, resolutions, or ordinances.

Maddy summaryHF 3723 requires voters applying for absentee ballots to verify their identity using either a Minnesota driver's license number, state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number before the ballot is mailed. County auditors and municipal clerks must electronically submit these applications to the secretary of state for verification against government databases, with unverifiable applications forwarded to law enforcement. The bill directly affects voters seeking absentee ballots and county/municipal election officials processing applications. Key provisions include mandatory verification before mail delivery, a secure website for submission, and a requirement for the secretary of state to validate permanent absentee voters 60-75 days before elections. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 1301 authorizes hunters with a Federal Aviation Administration remote pilot certificate to use small drones to locate and recover deceased big game (like deer or elk) after hunting, effective January 1, 2027. It amends Minnesota Statutes § 97B.115 to permit this drone use while maintaining the existing ban on remote-controlled hunting. The bill requires the Commissioner of Natural Resources to submit a report by January 1, 2026, with recommendations on licensing, insurance, equipment rules, property rights protections, and potential fees for implementing the drone program. This directly affects hunters, wildlife managers, and landowners in Minnesota. The bill focuses on practical logistics for drone-assisted game recovery, not on changing hunting regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 3535 establishes a ten-year property tax exemption for primary residences in Minnesota, effective for assessment year 2027. It applies to homeowners who have owned and lived in the same property as their primary residence for at least 10 continuous years prior to applying, with no outstanding property tax delinquencies. Homeowners must apply to their county assessor with proof of ownership, occupancy, and tax compliance, and the exemption automatically ends if the property is sold, transferred, or no longer used as a primary residence. This bill directly affects qualifying homeowners by reducing their annual property tax burden for a decade, subject to specific eligibility and notification requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $25,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2027 to design and construct a statue of Charlie Kirk at the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus. The statue is intended to commemorate Kirk, who was assassinated in Utah on September 10, 2025. The funds are directed to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents for this specific purpose.

Maddy summaryHF 3591 modifies Minnesota's public voter information lists by removing a voter's date of birth from public access (replacing "year of birth" with a specific ban in subdivision 9) and adding stronger privacy protections. The bill prohibits publishing voter data online, selling or sharing the information, and restricts its use to elections, political activities, or law enforcement. County auditors must withhold voter names upon safety-related requests and require users to sign written agreements guaranteeing proper use. These changes directly affect county election officials, organizations accessing voter lists, and registered voters whose personal data is now more protected. The bill updates Minnesota Statutes § 201.091, subdivisions 4 and 9, effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 3607 requires all retail establishments (businesses selling goods or services to the public) to accept physical U.S. cash (paper money or coins) as payment for transactions. The bill defines "cash" and "retail establishment" to clarify the scope of the requirement. This law takes effect on August 1, 2026, applying to all sales occurring on or after that date. It directly affects businesses that currently decline cash payments, mandating acceptance without exception. The policy change is a straightforward consumer protection measure with no additional mechanisms or exemptions specified.