Sen. Rich Draheim

Maddy summarySF 670 appropriates $2.5 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund evidence-based employment support programs for people with mental illness. The funds, drawn from the general state budget, are allocated to programs that help individuals with mental illness secure and maintain jobs. These grants are specifically intended to sustain existing programs, expand services to areas without current offerings, and support programs that currently lack state funding. The bill directly affects people with mental illness seeking employment assistance through these supported services.

Maddy summarySF 1231 would amend Minnesota's tax code to allow taxpayers to subtract the full amount of their Social Security benefits from their state taxable income, removing current income-based phaseout limits and maximum subtraction amounts. This change directly affects Minnesota residents who receive Social Security benefits (including retirement, survivor, or disability payments) and file state income tax returns. The bill eliminates previous caps (e.g., $5,840 for joint filers) and phaseout thresholds, making the subtraction "unlimited" for all qualifying benefit recipients. It becomes effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summarySF 1230 requires most state multimember agencies (like commissions or task forces, excluding licensing boards) to automatically expire two years after their creation unless their original law specifies a different end date. The bill also mandates that the Legislative Coordinating Commission submit a detailed report by February 1, 2026, listing all such agencies, their enabling laws, expiration dates, recent meeting history, and duties. The report must identify any redundant or unnecessary groups. This policy change directly affects how state agencies operate by creating a built-in review process and limiting the lifespan of temporary bodies.

Maddy summarySF 1227 establishes a grant program to help counties and cities in Greater Minnesota fund public infrastructure (like sewers, water systems, and streets) needed for senior housing projects. It provides grants covering up to 50% of capital costs for eligible projects, requiring nonstate matching funds (cash, other grants, or in-kind contributions like land value). The bill sets specific grant limits: $40,000 per lot for single-family homes, $60,000 for manufactured housing lots, and $180,000 for multifamily units. It appropriates a one-time sum from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to support this program, directly aiding senior housing developers and local governments in expanding housing options for Minnesotans aged 55+.

Maddy summarySF 1222 requires school districts and charter schools that mandate face coverings to allow parents to opt their children out without needing to provide a reason or evidence. Parents may notify school officials (such as the principal or school board) to request the opt-out, and schools cannot demand health or educational justification. The bill prohibits schools from disciplining or treating differently students whose parents have opted them out. This law becomes effective the day after it is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work in or around construction or building projects in Minnesota for the first time, removing a previous rule prohibition. It requires these young workers to complete OSHA 10 safety training before starting employment. The bill directs the Labor Commissioner to amend state rules (specifically Minnesota Rules 5200.0910 and 5200.0920) to remove the ban on 16- and 17-year-olds in construction while maintaining the prohibition for workers under 16. This change directly affects young workers seeking entry-level construction jobs and employers in the construction industry.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Labor and Industry to establish a standard cost-per-square-foot valuation for residential buildings. Municipalities would use this valuation to calculate building permit fees for new construction and additions to one- and two-family homes, townhouses, and accessory buildings. The bill directly affects local governments that set building permit fees, replacing their current methods with this standardized valuation. It amends Minnesota Statutes to add this specific requirement to the fee-setting process.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $450,000 from the workforce development fund for a one-time grant to the Jobs Foundation. The funds will support the "Repowered" workforce readiness program, directly assisting formerly incarcerated individuals facing employment barriers. The grant covers direct training, support services, safety enhancements, and economic support for participants. The appropriation is limited to fiscal year 2026 and cannot be carried forward.

Maddy summarySF 1023 requires health insurance plans in Minnesota to cover medically necessary treatments for inherited metabolic diseases, including medical foods and low-protein modified food products. This directly affects individuals diagnosed with conditions like phenylketonuria (PKU) and their health insurance providers. The bill mandates that coverage cannot include special limitations such as cost-sharing, prior authorization, or delays specific to these treatments, requiring them to be covered similarly to other plan benefits. It defines "inherited metabolic disease" as a condition caused by an inherited metabolic abnormality and specifies "medical foods" as specially formulated products for dietary treatment under physician direction. The law applies to all health plans and aligns Medicaid coverage for these treatments with the same requirements.

Maddy summarySF 1006 would exempt reported tip income from Minnesota's individual income tax. Specifically, it adds a new "tip income" subtraction to the tax code, meaning tips that workers already report to their employers (as required by federal law) won't be counted as taxable income. This directly affects tipped workers, such as servers and bartenders, who currently report tips to employers under federal rules. The exemption applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and does not change how tips are reported to employers or the IRS.