Sen. Rich Draheim

Maddy summarySF 224 requires local government agencies in Minnesota to approve or deny written building permit requests - including those for zoning, septic systems, or watershed reviews - within 60 days. If an agency fails to act within this timeframe, the request is automatically approved. The bill also mandates that agencies provide written reasons for denials, with multimember bodies required to state reasons on the record and provide written justification within a specified period. This directly affects applicants seeking permits and local agencies responsible for processing these requests.

Maddy summarySF 223 modifies Minnesota's rules for how cities collect fees related to park and open space requirements when approving new residential subdivisions. It allows municipalities to accept cash payments instead of dedicating land, with the cash fee capped at 10% of the subdivision's fair market value. The bill requires that cash payments be used *only* for acquiring, developing, or improving parks, trails, or open space (not for operations), and mandates public records showing exactly how the funds were spent. This directly affects developers building new subdivisions and local governments managing land use planning.

Maddy summarySF 240 prohibits Minnesota state economic development and workforce development grants from being awarded to nonprofit organizations that pay any officer or employee more than 125% of the governor's annual salary in a given year. The salary threshold adjusts each January based on changes to the governor's pay and inflation (using the Consumer Price Index). This applies to all grant programs overseen by the commissioner, excluding specific performance grants under section 116J.8747. The bill directly affects nonprofits receiving these state grants if they have highly compensated staff, including salary, bonuses, benefits, and retirement contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $230,000 from the state's general fund to the city of Northrop for costs related to an elevator explosion and fire that occurred December 28-30, 2017. The grant is intended to cover the city's expenses from that incident, and the city must provide the state with necessary information to track how funds are used. The state commissioner of employment and economic development must submit a report on the grant's use to relevant legislative committees within 90 days after June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires anyone who steals a firearm to report the theft to local law enforcement within 48 hours. It establishes a tiered penalty system where a first violation is a petty misdemeanor, a second is a misdemeanor, and subsequent violations are gross misdemeanors. Additionally, police chiefs and sheriffs must forward these theft reports to the state commissioner of public safety within seven days. To support this process, the bill includes a one-time appropriation for the Department of Public Safety to create a reporting system managed by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.