Sen. Steve Drazkowski

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $5 per acre property tax credit for farmers who certify eligible agricultural land under Minnesota's water quality program. The credit applies only to class 2a or 2b farmland in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, or Winona County that meets specific water quality certification standards. Local governments receive reimbursement from the state for tax reductions granted through this credit, with payments made in two installments annually. The program begins for property taxes payable in 2026 and directly affects participating farmers in those eight counties.

Maddy summarySF 2609 modifies Minnesota's sales tax payment schedule for large retailers. It requires vendors with $250,000 or more in annual sales tax liability to pay 84.5% of their estimated June tax liability by June 30 each year (starting in 2022), with the remaining balance due by August 20. This bill directly affects large retailers, including construction material sellers (if 50%+ of sales are construction materials), by changing their payment timing. The bill references but does not alter the existing "vendor allowance" provision (allowing retailers to retain a portion of collected tax for collection costs), which remains unchanged under section 297A.816. The changes take effect for sales after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a centralized "Do Not Pay Database" in Minnesota that state agencies must use before issuing contracts or payments. It requires agencies to add individuals or businesses who have died, been convicted of state fraud, or owe money to the state to this database. Before making any payment or awarding a contract, agencies must check the database to confirm the recipient is eligible. The database will be maintained by the commissioner, with all state agencies required to report qualifying individuals. This directly affects vendors and individuals prohibited from receiving state funds due to specific legal or financial reasons.

Maddy summarySF 2583 requires Minnesota's Department of Transportation and county road authorities to publish a clear public report before acquiring land for road projects that exceed standard road widths. The report must explain why extra land is needed - citing safety, drainage, or environmental reasons - or state explicitly that no such reasons exist. It must be posted online with a 30-day public comment period, avoiding technical jargon. This affects property owners near rural or suburban road construction projects and applies to projects starting August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a geographic restriction on deer hunting in Minnesota. It repeals the existing "shotgun use area" (which required hunters to use shotguns only in specific zones during the regular firearms season) and replaces it with a statewide rule allowing all legal firearms during that season. The change directly affects deer hunters across Minnesota who previously had to follow zone-specific firearm rules. The key provision removes the detailed boundary description for the shotgun zone, making all legal firearms permitted statewide during the regular deer hunting season.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates Minnesota's designated "shotgun zone" for deer hunting. It amends state law to allow all legal firearms statewide during the regular firearms deer season, replacing the previous system that restricted certain areas to shotguns only. The bill repeals the existing statute (97B.318) that defined the shotgun use area and all legal firearms use area. It also requires the commissioner of natural resources to report by December 1, 2028, on the impact of this change on deer hunting and populations. This directly affects deer hunters across Minnesota by removing geographic firearm restrictions during the regular season.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Minnesota to return excess tax revenue to taxpayers. It would create a "Minnesota tax relief account" funded by revenues exceeding 105% of projected spending, as determined in the biennial budget forecast. Funds in the account must be used for tax refunds or rebates (non-taxable to recipients) or to offset costs of tax reductions. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2026 general election. It directly affects all Minnesota taxpayers by mandating a mechanism to return surplus state revenue.

Maddy summarySF 2445 exempts pens containing lead from Minnesota's general ban on manufacturing or selling lead-containing products, effective until January 1, 2028. The bill requires pen manufacturers benefiting from this exemption to submit six-month reports to the Pollution Control Agency detailing compliance barriers, progress toward meeting the ban, and updated timelines. This directly affects pen manufacturers using lead in their products, providing a temporary exception while mandating transparency about their compliance efforts. The exemption specifically applies to pens, not other lead-containing items covered by the broader statute.

Maddy summarySF 2399 exempts small local government employers with 50 or fewer employees from Minnesota's Paid Leave Law. This directly affects entities like cities, counties, school districts, townships, and local authorities (e.g., housing authorities, port commissions) that employ 50 or fewer workers. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to remove these small local government employers from the law's definitions of "covered employment" and "employer," meaning they would not be required to provide paid leave under this law. Entities excluded by this bill may choose to opt back into the law through a process determined by the commissioner. The bill does not change requirements for larger local governments or private employers.

Maddy summaryThis bill ends Minnesota's current renewable development account and sunsets the utility-run solar production incentive program by December 31, 2025. It establishes a new solar energy production incentive account to fund solar projects from 2026 through 2036, appropriating $5 million annually starting in 2026. The new account will support solar system owners (including low-income programs) while requiring utilities to transfer unspent funds from the old program to the new account. The bill directly affects utilities managing solar incentives, residential solar system owners, and low-income energy programs.