Sen. Andrew Mathews

Maddy summaryThis bill expands background checks for noncitizen applicants seeking a permit to carry a firearm in Minnesota. It requires noncitizen applicants to provide their country of birth and alien number or admission number on their application (added to Minnesota Statutes §624.714, subd. 3, cl. 7). Sheriffs must also perform an Immigration Alien Query (IAQ) check on noncitizen applicants, in addition to standard criminal record checks. The policy directly affects noncitizen residents applying for firearm permits, requiring them to disclose immigration status details during the background check process.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits local governments (cities, counties, etc.) from banning natural gas or propane hookups to buildings. It stops political subdivisions from adopting rules that prevent utilities from connecting, reconnecting, or supplying gas/propane to any building. The law directly affects local governments that might have considered restricting gas access and ensures utilities can provide these services without local barriers. It takes effect the day after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Minnesota Statutes section 216B.246, which previously granted specific construction and maintenance rights to incumbent electric transmission owners. It eliminates the legal provision that gave these utilities (including public utilities, cooperatives, municipal agencies, and power districts) the right to build new transmission lines connected to their existing facilities. The repeal directly affects those entities classified as "incumbent electric transmission owners" under the repealed statute. This is a procedural change removing existing legal rights without creating new policy.

Maddy summarySF 467 prohibits cities and counties from banning new natural gas hookups in residential construction after July 1, 2025. It directly affects local governments (like municipalities) and developers building new homes by preventing them from adopting regulations that would restrict natural gas use. The bill explicitly states that political subdivisions cannot adopt such local bans, preempting local energy policies. The law takes effect the day after final enactment, ensuring new residential construction must allow natural gas connections.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a refundable sales tax exemption for construction materials purchased between 2022 and 2025 for specific buildings in Becker Public School District (ISD 726), including all elementary, middle, and high school facilities plus the transportation building and athletic facility. Purchasers pay the standard sales tax upfront but receive a refund from the state treasury, following procedures similar to other school construction projects. The exemption applies retroactively to purchases made after December 2021, with refunds processed after June 2025. It directly affects contractors and suppliers who provided materials for these school projects during the covered period.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a refundable sales tax exemption for construction materials used in specific city projects in Becker, Minnesota. It covers materials for city hall and police station construction (where not already exempt), effective retroactively from June 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025. The city pays the sales tax upfront but receives a refund from the state's general fund, following the same process as other qualifying projects. This directly affects the City of Becker by reducing upfront costs for these public building projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts sales tax on construction materials purchased for four specific Big Lake schools (Liberty Elementary, Independence Elementary, Middle School, and High School) in District 727. It applies to materials bought between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, with tax collected first and then refunded through the state’s existing process. The state will fund these refunds using general fund appropriations, and the exemption applies retroactively to purchases made after December 31, 2021. The refunds cannot be issued until after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2.5 million from state bonds for Sherburne County to cover property acquisition, environmental work, and engineering for the local road portions of an interchange at U.S. Highway 10 and Sherburne County State-Aid Highway 11 in Becker Township. It also appropriates an additional $2.5 million for the trunk highway portions of the same interchange project. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $5 million in bonds to fund these specific infrastructure costs. The funds will be managed through the state's bond proceeds accounts and must be used for the designated project elements as defined in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $330,000 from the general fund for a one-time grant to the Clearwater-Clear Lake Food Shelf, a nonprofit organization in Clearwater, Minnesota. The funds will finance the construction of a new food shelf building, available until the project is completed or abandoned. The grant is specifically designated for fiscal year 2026 under Minnesota Statutes section 16A.642.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $2,000,000 in state bonds to fund a new wastewater treatment plant for Baldwin Township. The appropriated funds will be used by the Public Facilities Authority to cover the design, land acquisition, and construction costs of the facility. This project aims to replace an outdated system to address environmental and public health concerns. The legislation becomes effective immediately upon final passage.