Sen. Steve Drazkowski

Maddy summarySF 3894 modifies Minnesota law to restrict current legislators from taking jobs in lobbying-related fields after their term. It prohibits sitting lawmakers from accepting employment with businesses primarily engaged in lobbying, government relations, or facilitating such services, including roles involving direct or indirect consulting on these activities. The bill also covers public employers that use lobbyists, if the legislator's duties include lobbying or related work. These restrictions apply regardless of where the work is conducted and take effect January 1, 2027. The change aims to prevent conflicts of interest by limiting post-legislative employment opportunities tied to lobbying.

Maddy summarySF 3933 modifies Minnesota's rules for spending from the "emerging issues account," which funds unexpected environmental projects aligning with the commission's strategic plan. The bill requires that any expenditure from this account must now receive approval from both the governor and the chairs/ranking members of the legislative committees overseeing environment and natural resources finance, in addition to the commission's recommendation. Previously, the commission only needed a 15-member affirmative vote to recommend such spending. This change adds a layer of legislative oversight before funds can be used for unforeseen environmental needs. The bill directly affects the environmental commission when accessing these emergency funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies milk offering requirements for Minnesota schools participating in the federal National School Lunch Program. It requires schools to provide various fluid milk options (including flavored/unflavored whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk, plus nutritionally equivalent nondairy beverages) and mandates that schools must offer lactose-reduced milk or lactase-fortified milk for students with documented lactose intolerance upon parental request. The bill also permits schools to serve these products directly from large containers during meal service. These provisions apply to all public and nonpublic schools receiving school lunch aid or participating in the breakfast program.

Maddy summarySF 4034 establishes a new legal process for property owners in Minnesota to request sheriff assistance in removing unauthorized occupants from residential property. It allows owners or their agents to submit a sworn complaint to the sheriff if someone entered without permission, isn't a tenant or family member, the owner has already demanded they leave, and no related lawsuits are pending. The bill requires a specific complaint form verifying these conditions under penalty of perjury. This applies directly to residential property owners facing unlawful occupation, not to tenants, family members, or current leaseholders. The bill creates a streamlined remedy but does not change tenant rights or eviction procedures for legal occupants.

Maddy summarySF 3926 amends Minnesota law to protect hospital and clinic security officers by adding them to the list of individuals who are legally shielded from physical assault. The bill makes assaulting a security officer working in a hospital or clinic a gross misdemeanor, and if the assault causes demonstrable bodily harm, it becomes a felony punishable by up to three years in prison or a $6,000 fine. This directly affects security personnel in these facilities, extending the same legal protections previously granted to firefighters, emergency medical staff, and health care workers in emergency departments. The law will take effect on August 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySF 3952 modifies Minnesota's SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) eligibility rules by clarifying income and asset requirements. It specifies that SNAP households must have gross income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines and must meet personal property asset limits under state law, with a key change: vehicles valued at $100,000 or more must now count toward asset limits (previously excluded). This bill directly affects Minnesota households applying for or receiving SNAP benefits, particularly those with high-value vehicles. The changes align state rules with federal SNAP requirements while updating asset calculation rules. The bill was introduced on February 26, 2026, and referred to the Health and Human Services committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires inmates to pay all court-ordered restitution before becoming eligible for "supervision abatement status," which is a reduced supervision level after serving time. It directly affects individuals on supervised release who have restitution obligations, as they cannot transition to this lower supervision tier until payments are fully completed. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 244.46 to add this requirement, overriding previous eligibility rules that considered time served and public safety factors. This change applies to all supervised release terms, including conditional release for life sentences. The policy does not alter existing public safety risk assessments or time-served calculations.

Maddy summarySF 3927 reduces Minnesota's watercraft licensing fees across multiple categories, directly affecting boat owners, renters, dealers, and nonprofits. Key changes include lowering the standard fee for small watercraft (19 feet or less) from $59 to $27, cutting personal watercraft fees from $85 to $37.50, and reducing fees for sailboats ($23 to $10.50) and larger commercial vessels. The bill repeals a definition of "other commercial operation" and takes effect July 1, 2026, lowering costs for all license holders under the revised fee structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 169) would make a veteran's official discharge papers (DD214) legally equivalent to a permit to carry a pistol in Minnesota. It directly affects veterans who possess their original or certified DD214, allowing them to carry pistols without needing a separate permit, paying fees, or proving firearm training. The key provision requires veterans to carry their DD214 while carrying a pistol in locations where a permit would otherwise be required, but other permit-related laws still apply. This change specifically covers pistol carrying under Minnesota's permit-to-carry statutes, not broader firearm regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3739) adds a new provision to Minnesota's tax code, allowing taxpayers to deduct qualified overtime compensation that is already deductible under federal law (specifically Section 225 of the Internal Revenue Code). It directly affects Minnesota taxpayers who earn overtime compensation qualifying under federal rules, enabling them to reduce their state taxable income by the same amount they deduct federally. The key mechanism aligns Minnesota's tax deduction with the federal standard, effective retroactively for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024 (starting with 2025 filings). The bill does not create new federal rules but adopts existing federal treatment for state tax purposes.