Sen. Rich Draheim

Maddy summarySF 722 allows Minnesota individual income taxpayers to subtract health insurance premiums from their taxable income. The bill adds a new provision (Minnesota Statutes 290.0132, subdivision 36) specifying that premiums paid for health insurance - defined under federal law - can be deducted, excluding amounts used for other tax credits. This directly affects Minnesota residents who purchase health insurance individually or through their employers, reducing their taxable income for state tax purposes. The change takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summarySF 688 modifies Minnesota's self-defense laws by eliminating the common law duty to retreat when using force outside one's home. It expands the definition of "dwelling" to include porches, decks, adjacent structures, and even vehicles or temporary accommodations used as a home. The bill creates a legal presumption that a person acting in self-defense is justified, applying to all uses of force occurring on or after August 1, 2025. This directly affects Minnesotans using force in self-defense, particularly in non-residential settings where retreat was previously required.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota counties and municipalities to delay compliance with certain state mandates that require new spending without providing funding. It specifically applies to mandates affecting daily operations, resource allocation, or spending priorities - meaning local governments can choose not to follow these requirements until the state provides dedicated funding. Exceptions require compliance if costs are minor relative to the budget, or if the mandate relates to safety, health, or financial audits. The law takes effect for mandates active after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySF 719 proposes adding a constitutional amendment to Minnesota's Constitution, protecting the right to keep and bear arms as part of Article I. If approved by voters, it would insert the text: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." The bill requires submitting this amendment to voters in the 2026 general election with a specific yes/no question about adopting the change. This is a procedural proposal requiring voter approval, not an immediate law, and would directly affect all Minnesotans by potentially altering the state constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota employers to report certain applicant behaviors through a new fraud reporting portal managed by the unemployment commissioner. It directly affects employers who use unemployment benefits, requiring them to report three specific incidents: applicants who missed interviews, refused job offers, or couldn't be contacted for work. The portal must include these reporting elements, and employers can request access to applicant "no-show" and "refusal" records (including private data) from the commissioner. The law aims to help employers verify applicant reliability while maintaining existing privacy protections for applicants.

Maddy summarySF 2919 allows construction contractors who provide earned sick and safe time benefits to include the cost of those benefits in their prevailing wage calculations for government construction projects. This applies specifically to contractors who have not secured a collective bargaining agreement waiver for sick leave requirements under existing law. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to permit these costs to be counted toward labor expenses when bidding on state or local government construction contracts. It directly affects construction companies offering sick leave but lacking union agreements that waive the standard sick leave requirements. This change modifies how labor costs are calculated for bidding purposes on public works projects.

Maddy summarySF 1572 creates a new assessment on health insurance claims to fund state programs. It targets health plan companies (including insurers and self-insured employers) by assessing a fee based on their "claims-related expenses," defined as costs like utilization review, case management, and administrative fees. The bill establishes specific definitions for terms like "paid claims" and "claims-related expenses" to determine the assessment amount. This policy change directly affects health insurance providers by adding a new cost tied to their administrative operations. The assessment would be implemented under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 295, as proposed in the bill.

Maddy summarySF 2829 requires that any bill increasing residential construction or remodeling costs by $3,000 or more per unit must be referred to legislative committees with housing finance and policy jurisdiction, rather than other committees. This procedural rule applies directly to housing-related bills meeting the cost threshold, ensuring they receive specialized review. The bill does not change housing policy but alters the referral process for specific legislation. It amends Minnesota Statutes chapter 3 to establish this requirement. The bill is procedural and does not create new housing regulations or funding.

Maddy summarySF 2718 appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to support the Bolder Options Youth Mentoring Program. It funds intensive one-on-one mentorship, wellness support, academic assistance, life and job skills training, and career coaching for disadvantaged youth aged 12-22 in the Twin Cities and Rochester, Minnesota. The grant helps these young people develop skills, connect to educational opportunities, and access employment or job training. This is a one-time appropriation for an existing program, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's economic interest disclosure rules to require state officials and candidates to report the date of purchase or sale for any stock holdings valued over $10,000. It directly affects public officials, including legislators and appointees, who must disclose such stock transactions as part of their annual financial filings. The key change adds transaction dates to existing disclosure requirements for stocks, which previously only required listing the stock name and value. This update aims to provide more detailed transparency about when officials acquire or sell significant stock investments. The requirement applies to both the individual and their spouse's holdings during the reporting period.