Sen. Rich Draheim

Maddy summaryThis bill allows landlords to request criminal history background checks for nonresident tenant organizers before they enter rental properties or exercise organizing rights. Tenant organizers must consent to the check and pay the landlord the actual cost of the background check. Landlords may deny access if an organizer has a violent crime conviction (as defined in Minnesota law) or refuses to consent. The bill directly affects landlords and tenant organizers who are not residents of the specific property being organized.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires government entities (like cities, counties, or state agencies) to provide actual notice to private property owners before using an easement on their land. Owners must be notified via mail, email, or phone, and failure to do so results in a $500 civil penalty per violation. Affected property owners can sue for actual damages, penalties, court costs, and attorney fees if the notice requirement is violated. The law applies to all existing easements held by government entities and aims to ensure property owners are informed before government access or use.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Minnesota law enforcement agencies to use drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) under specific, defined circumstances. It permits drone use during emergencies involving risk of death or injury, to search for missing persons (including children or vulnerable adults), to locate individuals fleeing arrest, and to find escaped inmates from correctional facilities. The authorization is strictly limited to these scenarios and does not allow general surveillance. This directly affects the public during emergencies and missing persons cases, as well as incarcerated individuals in escape situations.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $700,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $700,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to provide a grant to the nonprofit organization Hired. The funding supports two specific programs: expanding job training and placement services for lower-skilled workers seeking entry-level jobs in high-growth industries, and creating ongoing employment coaching and support services for low-income Minnesotans to improve job retention. The grant is intended to help economically disadvantaged workers secure and maintain stable employment. This is a one-time funding allocation directly affecting Hired and the low-income job seekers they serve.

Maddy summarySF 238 requires Minnesota's state land commissioner to obtain legislative approval before selling, transferring, or conveying state-owned land exceeding certain acreage thresholds. For properties over 100 acres, it mandates specific authorization by law; for properties over 1,000 acres, it requires a three-fifths vote in both legislative chambers. The bill clarifies that general authority laws (without specific property details) do not satisfy these requirements, and it explicitly excludes leases from the new rules. This directly affects state land transactions handled by the commissioner of natural resources and the legislature's approval process.

Maddy summarySF 590 would amend Minnesota Statutes section 624.714, subdivision 2, to lower the minimum age for applying for a permit to carry a pistol from 21 to 18 years old. This change would directly affect Minnesota residents aged 18 or older who meet other eligibility requirements, such as completing firearm safety training and passing background checks. The bill maintains existing requirements, including citizenship/residency status, prohibitions under specific criminal statutes, and not being listed in criminal gang databases. The key provision is solely the age reduction in the application criteria for permit-to-carry permits.

Maddy summarySF 704, the Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act, requires manufacturers and sellers of internet-enabled devices (like smartphones and computers) to include default filters that block websites known to facilitate human trafficking, prostitution, or display harmful content to minors. The law defines "obscene" material to include sites promoting trafficking, escort services, or depicting sadomasochistic abuse or revenge pornography without consent. It directly affects device manufacturers, retailers, and consumers by mandating these default blocking capabilities for personal devices sold in Minnesota. The bill also requires reports on implementation and establishes new rules under Minnesota Statutes chapter 609, focusing on preventing online exploitation without broadly restricting internet access.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases property tax relief for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities. It raises the market value exclusion from $150,000 to $200,000 for veterans with a 70% or higher disability rating, and from $300,000 to $400,000 for veterans with a total (100%) and permanent disability. The change directly affects qualifying veterans, their surviving spouses (if the veteran dies before applying), and primary family caregivers who live in the veteran's home. The key provision modifies Minnesota Statutes section 273.13 to provide higher tax savings on the primary home's value.

Maddy summarySF 713 allows school staff with valid firearm permits to carry weapons on school property after completing mandatory annual training. The bill creates a free, annual active shooter response training program for teachers and school employees through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, requiring participants to have a current permit under Minnesota Statutes section 624.714. It amends state law to exempt these trained staff members from misdemeanor penalties for carrying firearms on school grounds, while maintaining existing prohibitions for others. The policy directly affects public school teachers, charter school staff, and postsecondary institution employees who complete the required training and hold a valid permit. This changes the legal status for permitted school staff carrying firearms on school property, making it a non-criminal act under specific conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new tax subtraction for overtime pay in Minnesota's individual income tax code. It allows workers to subtract overtime earnings (wages, salaries, tips, or other compensation for hours over 40 in a workweek) from their taxable income. The provision directly affects Minnesota residents who earn overtime pay under state or federal wage laws. It becomes effective for tax years starting after December 31, 2024, reducing the taxable income for qualifying workers.