Sen. Rich Draheim

Maddy summarySF 1650 establishes a grant program to fund nonprofit women's pregnancy centers and maternity homes that support pregnant women and new mothers. Eligible organizations must provide free housing and services (like medical care, mental health support, and parenting education) without promoting or referring for abortions - except in life-threatening cases. The commissioner of health will administer the program, requiring strict privacy protections for client information and monitoring to ensure compliance with eligibility rules. This program directly affects community-based organizations serving pregnant women facing crisis situations, such as homelessness.

Maddy summarySF 2178 creates a refundable tax exemption for construction materials used in new duplexes and triplexes intended for first-time homebuyers. Developers pay sales tax upfront on construction costs but receive a refund for taxes paid on the first $460,000 of qualifying construction expenses. To qualify, the first-time homebuyer must own and occupy at least one unit in the building. The exemption applies to sales/purchases after June 30, 2025, and expires July 1, 2033. It directly affects developers building qualifying multifamily housing and first-time homebuyers who occupy the units.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local governments (cities, counties, or towns) to approve Department of Transportation (DOT) land acquisitions for specific road projects before the DOT can use certain funds. It defines "easement" as land rights for road infrastructure like shoulders, ditches, and culverts, and "local approval" as either a local governing body resolution or a majority vote in a general election. The requirement applies only to projects involving "roadway project elements" (construction, maintenance, or improvements to trunk highway infrastructure), not all road projects. The rule takes effect July 1, 2025, for new easements. This changes the process for acquiring land on state highway projects by adding a local consent step.

Maddy summarySF 2237 authorizes the state to issue up to $4 million in bonds to fund housing infrastructure projects in Greater Minnesota (areas outside the Twin Cities metro). The bill appropriates $4 million from the bond proceeds fund to the housing development fund, then transfers it to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for its Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure grant program. This program provides funding for housing infrastructure improvements in communities across rural and suburban Minnesota. The funds will be used to support local housing development projects under existing state law, with the bond sale process following standard state procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's unintentional murder statute to include violations of protective orders from other jurisdictions as a factor in determining second-degree unintentional murder. It expands the definition of "order for protection" to cover orders from other U.S. states, federal courts, the District of Columbia, tribal lands, U.S. territories, Canada, and Canadian provinces. The change applies when someone violates such an order and unintentionally causes the death of a protected person. The amendment takes effect on August 1, 2025, and directly affects individuals who violate these expanded protective orders.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3,450,000 from state bond proceeds to fund a recycling, reuse, and waste recovery facility in Blue Earth County. The funds will be used to design, construct, or improve a dedicated customer service facility at the county's landfill for waste services. The state will issue bonds under Minnesota law to cover this cost, with the money going directly to Blue Earth County through a state grant. The project aims to enhance local recycling and waste management operations for county residents.

Maddy summarySF 2192 would require all towns in Minnesota to comply with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA), which governs how government entities handle personal data. Currently, the MGDPA only applied to towns within the metropolitan area; this bill removes that geographic restriction, extending coverage to every town statewide. The law directly affects all towns exercising powers under Chapter 368 (Minnesota’s standard town governance law) that collect personal data for government operations. This change ensures consistent data privacy standards for towns, aligning them with counties, cities, and school districts under the MGDPA.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases reimbursement limits for property owners who obtain their own appraisals during eminent domain proceedings in Minnesota. It raises the maximum reimbursement to $3,000 for single-family residential properties and minimum damage acquisitions (under $25,000), and $10,000 for other property types. Owners must submit their appraisal and reimbursement request at least five days before a condemnation hearing. The change amends Minnesota Statutes section 117.036, ensuring owners receive timely reimbursement within 30 days of submitting required documentation.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 12.31, subdivision 2, to require a **supermajority (three-fifths) vote in both the Senate and House** to extend a peacetime emergency beyond 14 days. Currently, a simple majority suffices for such extensions. It directly affects **governors** who declare emergencies and the **legislature** responsible for approving extensions. The key change strengthens legislative oversight by raising the voting threshold for extensions beyond the initial 14-day period. This policy shift applies to all emergencies declared under the statute, including those triggered by natural disasters, cyberattacks, or civil disturbances.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a prohibition on cadmium in artist paint by amending Minnesota law. It specifically eliminates the ban for cadmium-containing paints that are not otherwise restricted under other rules (subdivision 2). The change directly affects artists, art supply manufacturers, and retailers who sell these paints. The key mechanism is updating the statute to exclude cadmium paint from the list of restricted "covered products" under Minnesota's chemical safety rules. This allows the use of cadmium-based paints in art supplies without violating the statute.