Sen. Rich Draheim

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games organization. The funding supports celebrating Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage during the 2026 event, including the design and construction of the Special Olympics Cauldron. It directly affects the Special Olympics USA Games organization by providing grant money for specific event-related activities. The bill is a straightforward funding measure with no policy changes beyond the allocation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Housing Finance Agency to allocate at least 25% of its Housing Affordability Fund (Pool 3) in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 specifically for grants supporting workforce and affordable homeownership development - such as single-family homes, townhomes, and manufactured homes - under Minnesota Statutes § 462A.38. Funds directed this way cannot be used for loans, administrative costs, or other financing programs. The agency must also report annually by June 30 on the number and amount of grants issued, broken down by home type, income category, and county. This directly affects the Housing Finance Agency's budget decisions and local housing programs receiving these targeted grants.

Maddy summarySF 2586 amends Minnesota's earned sick and safe time law to clarify that certain townships are excluded from the definition of "employer." Specifically, it modifies the statute to exclude townships meeting the revenue threshold under Minnesota Statutes section 367.36, subdivision 1, paragraph (c). This change means these townships will no longer be subject to the law's requirements regarding paid sick leave for their employees. The bill directly affects townships that meet the specified revenue criteria under state law.

Maddy summarySF 2231 requires cities in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington counties, and any city with 10,000+ residents, to create "mixed-use housing zones" by June 30, 2027. These zones permit residential developments with at least three units (within 1/2 mile of a municipal state-aid street) or four units (within 1/4 mile of such a street) on a single lot. The bill also exempts these zoning changes from needing comprehensive plan amendments until December 31, 2029, streamlining approval for multi-unit housing near transit corridors.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $627,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide technical assistance grants to small rural communities in Minnesota. The funds will go to Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) to offer economic development support to communities unable to afford such services, with up to $270,000 also allocated for implementing specific economic development projects alongside the technical assistance. The grant program is a one-time funding measure targeting rural areas needing help with economic planning and development initiatives.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's SF 2605 modifies the state's earned sick and safe time law, primarily delaying penalties for initial employer violations until January 1, 2026. The bill clarifies that employers with 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees must provide sick time at half the employee's hourly rate, while new businesses may choose to offer paid time off during their first year. It also refines who qualifies as an "employee" (excluding many part-time, seasonal, and farm workers) and expands the definition of "family member" for leave purposes. The core policy remains unchanged: employees accrue one hour of paid sick time for every 30-40 hours worked, up to a maximum of 48 hours annually. This bill directly affects Minnesota employers and their covered employees, with the main new provision being the delayed enforcement of penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10,892,000 from state bond proceeds to fund specific infrastructure improvements in the city of Good Thunder, Minnesota. It directly affects Good Thunder residents by financing a new water treatment facility, water supply well, water mains, sanitary sewer systems, stormwater infrastructure, and related demolition and street reconstruction. The key mechanism authorizes the state to sell bonds up to this amount under Minnesota law to cover these concrete project costs. The funds are designated exclusively for municipal infrastructure projects within Good Thunder, with no broader regional allocation. The appropriation includes all phases from planning through construction of these specific public facilities.

Maddy summarySF 2679 establishes a program connecting Minnesota educational institutions with private businesses that have specialized equipment needed for specific career training courses. It directly affects students in workforce programs, educational institutions (including high schools and colleges), and private businesses that provide equipment. The bill creates a tax credit for businesses equal to the private market rental cost of their equipment used for student training, with limits on the credit amount. Businesses must report participation, and the program requires annual reports to the legislature detailing student participation, courses, businesses involved, and tax credits used.

Maddy summarySF 1531 repeals Minnesota Statutes sections 181.211 through 181.217, which established the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board and related requirements. This bill removes the legal framework for the board, ending its authority to set workforce standards in nursing homes. Nursing home employers would no longer be subject to the board's oversight or compliance requirements under these repealed statutes. The bill does not create new policies but eliminates existing administrative structures related to nursing home staffing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota private colleges and universities receiving state student aid to disclose job placement rates and median earnings for each specific field of study in their catalogs and on websites. It mandates annual reporting of this employment data to the Office of Higher Education, using metrics developed by the office. Institutions failing to comply may face audits, and noncompliance could lead to termination of state aid eligibility. The bill directly affects private higher education institutions seeking state financial aid by adding transparency requirements about graduate employment outcomes.