Sen. Andrew Mathews

Maddy summarySF 600 requires county auditors and municipal clerks to publish temporary polling location details online. Specifically, they must post the address, dates, and hours of any temporary polling place on their website within five business days of designating it. The secretary of state must also post this information on their website within five business days of receiving notice. This applies to all temporary locations established under the law, including those requested by federally recognized tribes or postsecondary institutions with on-campus housing for 100+ students. The bill directly affects local election officials and ensures voters can access location information promptly.

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 changes Minnesota law to include all hydroelectric power - regardless of size - as an "eligible energy technology" for renewable energy programs. It removes the current limit that only allowed hydroelectric projects under 100 megawatts (or those operating since 2023) to qualify. This directly affects electric utilities in Minnesota that participate in renewable energy initiatives, as it expands the types of hydroelectric facilities they can count toward program requirements. The change applies to existing statutory definitions without creating new funding or requirements.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 639 prohibits cities, counties, townships, and school districts from adopting or enforcing ranked-choice voting (RCV) for local elections. The bill bans any local rule, ordinance, or charter provision that establishes RCV - a system where voters rank candidates by preference - or similar voting methods. It specifically states that such local efforts would be void, applying to all local offices within these political subdivisions. The law takes effect the day after final enactment for elections held on or after that date.

Maddy summarySF 576 would change Minnesota law so that permits to carry a concealed firearm no longer expire, making them valid indefinitely once issued. This directly affects all current permit holders, who would no longer need to renew their permits, and future applicants who would receive a permit without an expiration date. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 624.714, to remove the expiration requirement while maintaining existing training and application standards. It does not alter the process for obtaining a permit, only the duration for which it remains valid.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota Senate resolution (SF 566) asks Congress to call a constitutional convention to propose amendments addressing three specific issues: limiting federal spending (fiscal restraints), reducing federal power over states, and imposing term limits on federal officials and members of Congress. It does not create new laws but formally requests Congress to convene a convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The resolution is a continuing application, meaning Minnesota will maintain this request until two-thirds of states support similar proposals. It directly affects Minnesota's relationship with federal governance by formally advocating for constitutional changes through the state legislature's petition.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public utilities owning coal-fired power plants scheduled for retirement in 2027 or 2031 within the Mississippi River - St. Cloud Watershed to submit a decommissioning and repurposing plan by February 1, 2027. The plan must detail how the facility will be shut down and potentially reused, and must be shared with both the Public Utilities Commission and the local municipality. It applies specifically to coal plants in that watershed, not all power facilities. The requirement is tied to the utility's next resource plan filing or submitted separately if no plan is filed before the deadline.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million from state bond proceeds to fund water and sewer infrastructure improvements in the City of St. Francis. The funds will be used by the city to design and construct publicly owned infrastructure along Highway 47, specifically from Cree Street to 241st Avenue. The state will issue up to $3 million in bonds to provide the funding, following standard state bond procedures. This directly affects St. Francis residents and local infrastructure by upgrading essential public utilities in that corridor. The bill authorizes the Public Facilities Authority to administer the grant for these specific improvements.

Maddy summarySF 391 increases Minnesota's annual sales limit for cottage food businesses from $78,000 to $85,000 and raises the fee exemption threshold from $5,000 to $8,500 in gross receipts. This directly affects home-based food producers selling non-hazardous or home-canned foods (like pickles, fruits, or vegetables with specific pH/water activity levels) without state licensing. The bill requires these businesses to register annually ($50 fee, waived for under $8,500 in sales) and mandates the commissioner to submit biennial reports to the legislature on threshold adjustments and inflation impacts. These changes aim to update economic thresholds while maintaining the exemption's core structure for small-scale home food operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota law to allow the Public Utilities Commission to issue certificates of need for new small modular nuclear reactors with a maximum capacity of 300 megawatts. It directly affects developers seeking to build these smaller-scale nuclear facilities by creating an exception to the existing prohibition on new nuclear plant construction. The key provision modifies statute 216B.243 to permit certificates for reactors under 300 MW, while maintaining restrictions on larger plants. This changes the regulatory pathway for small nuclear projects without altering broader energy policies.