Maddy summarySF 1016 modifies Minnesota's traffic violation laws to increase penalties for repeat or dangerous offenses. It makes violations that endanger people or property automatically misdemeanors (requiring court appearances) instead of petty misdemeanors, and adds a surcharge equal to the fine amount for drivers with two or more petty misdemeanor traffic violations within the past year. The bill directly affects drivers who commit dangerous driving acts or have recent repeat traffic offenses. These changes take effect August 1, 2025, applying to violations occurring on or after that date. The law does not alter the definition of dangerous violations but changes their legal classification and adds financial penalties for repeat offenders.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $5.7 million from state bonds to fund sewer main improvements in St. Joseph, Minnesota. The funds will support expanding the city's wastewater collection system and related infrastructure to advance economic development and workforce housing projects. The state will issue bonds under Minnesota law to cover the cost, with the money granted to the city for property acquisition, design, construction, and equipment. The bill directly affects St. Joseph residents and local economic planning.
Maddy summarySF 1020 establishes a standardized 7- to 10-day filing period (excluding holidays) for candidates seeking to fill legislative vacancies through special elections in Minnesota. This bill directly affects voters and candidates in special elections for state legislative seats, applying to all vacancy scenarios covered under current law. The key change is replacing flexible filing period language with a fixed minimum and maximum window, ensuring consistency regardless of when the vacancy occurs or whether the legislature is in session. The policy takes effect for vacancies occurring on or after the bill's final enactment date.
Maddy summarySF 901 appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide equine-experiential mental health therapy to eligible first responders through Abijah's on the Backside. It directly affects active or retired peace officers, firefighters (full-time and volunteer), ambulance personnel, 911 telecommunicators, and correctional officers suffering from job-related trauma or PTSD. The bill requires the grant recipient to submit two reports detailing program budget, expenditures, participants served, and services provided - due January 2026 and January 2028. This is a one-time appropriation with no ongoing funding mechanism.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires meetings of the Minnesota Historical Society's executive council about state-owned historic sites (including those under MN Statutes 138.662, 138.663, and the National Register of Historic Places) to follow public meeting laws. It also mandates that all data the Society maintains about these specific properties be treated as public data under Minnesota law. The bill directly affects the Minnesota Historical Society and state agencies managing historic properties by requiring transparency in both meetings and data sharing. This change would make information about state-owned historic sites accessible to the public through standard public records channels.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $29.86 million from state bond proceeds to fund specific upgrades at Cold Spring's wastewater treatment facility. The funds will cover designing, constructing, and equipping the facility, including replacing the existing filter system with a new biological nutrient removal process and improving biosolids management infrastructure. The city of Cold Spring directly receives the grant to complete these upgrades, while the state will issue bonds to cover the cost. The bill authorizes the sale of state bonds up to the appropriation amount to finance these facility improvements.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3.6 million from state bonds to address PFAS contamination in Sauk Rapids' drinking water. The funds will directly support the city in designing and building infrastructure improvements, including three new wells, water main upgrades, and enhancements to existing treatment facilities. The money is sourced through a state bond sale authorized under Minnesota law, with the funds to be managed by the Pollution Control Agency. The project specifically targets PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the municipal water supply, affecting residents relying on Sauk Rapids' drinking water system.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's liquor licensing law to allow distilleries to operate cocktail rooms on their premises where customers can consume drinks made at the distillery. It permits municipalities to authorize Sunday sales at these cocktail rooms (previously restricted under some rules), while requiring distilleries to hold only one such license. The bill also prohibits a single entity from operating both a cocktail room and taproom at the same location, unless they held both licenses before August 20, 2014. These changes apply directly to microdistilleries and distilled spirits manufacturers seeking on-site sales licenses under Minnesota Statutes section 340A.22.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands Minnesota's tax subtraction for military retirement pay, allowing more types of military pensions to reduce taxable income. It directly affects Minnesota taxpayers who receive military retirement benefits by adding specific federal pension types to the eligible subtraction list. Key provisions include expanding the subtraction to include federal employee retirement system pensions (5 U.S.C. Chapter 84) and civil service retirement system pensions (5 U.S.C. Chapter 83), both multiplied by the taxpayer's military service ratio. The change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and excludes taxpayers claiming the credit under Minnesota Statutes section 290.0677.
Maddy summarySF 1021 would repeal Minnesota's current authorization for absentee ballot drop boxes. The bill amends statute 203B.08 to remove the option for voters to deposit ballots in drop boxes and repeals statute 203B.082, which established security requirements for those drop boxes (like 24-hour recording and weatherproofing). This change directly affects voters who use drop boxes and election officials who manage them, eliminating a method for returning absentee ballots. The bill makes no new provisions for ballot return; it simply removes the existing drop box authorization.