Sen. Bill Lieske

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 808) allows property owners to restrict access to government-held easements if they suffer harm, such as by installing gates or fences. It requires owners to provide government entities with reasonable access (e.g., keys or codes) to maintain the easement's purpose. Government entities that refuse to permit this protection forfeit their easement rights. The bill directly affects property owners and local/state government entities managing easements on private land.

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 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 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies coverage for chiropractic services under MinnesotaCare and medical assistance programs. It limits non-x-ray chiropractic services to one annual evaluation and 24 visits per year (unless prior authorization is obtained), and restricts x-ray coverage to specific spinal areas (full spine, pelvis, or sacroiliac joints) only when needed for diagnosing subluxation. The bill repeals an older provision that previously stated MinnesotaCare covered "medically necessary exams, manual manipulation, and x-rays" without these specific limits. It directly affects MinnesotaCare and medical assistance program beneficiaries seeking chiropractic care.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota health insurance carriers to offer reference-based pricing health plans, where the carrier sets a fixed price for each medical service (based on Medicare rates or market rates) instead of negotiating with providers. Enrollees in these plans can access any provider who agrees to accept the set price as full payment, with carriers required to offer identical terms to all participating providers. The bill exempts such plans from standard network adequacy rules if reimbursement rates are at least 120% above Medicare rates and the plan is offered statewide. It does not require providers to join these plans or force carriers to cover specific services.

Maddy summarySF 631 shortens the period during which criminal investigative data remains confidential by reducing the default inactive timeline from 30 years to 20 years after the offense, whichever occurs first. This change means law enforcement data collected for investigations will become public after 20 years (or sooner if the statute of limitations expires), rather than after 30 years. The bill does not alter other provisions, such as data remaining confidential during an active investigation or the court process for seeking disclosure of inactive files. This adjustment affects how long law enforcement agencies can keep certain case details private and when the public gains access to historical records.

Maddy summarySF 685 requires Minnesota legislature standing committees to obtain at least two-thirds approval from members before a committee chair can lay a bill over for potential inclusion in a major finance or policy omnibus bill. If the two-thirds threshold isn't met, the committee must either refer the bill to another committee, send it to the full legislature, table it, or the chair must halt further action. Bills that are tabled or receive no further action due to the failed vote cannot later be added to an omnibus bill without a specific committee amendment containing only that bill's policy items. The bill mandates both the House and Senate adopt procedural rules to implement these changes.

Maddy summarySF 601 would abolish Minnesota's vehicle registration taxes and transfer the associated revenue. The bill directly affects all vehicle owners in Minnesota by eliminating the tax requirement for registering vehicles. Key provisions include repealing multiple sections of Minnesota Statutes that govern vehicle registration fees and tax calculations, specifically targeting sections related to registration tax amounts and exemptions. The bill also transfers the funds previously collected from these taxes to other designated state accounts as specified in the legislation. This is a substantive policy change removing a major source of state revenue from vehicle registration.

Maddy summarySF 536 creates a refundable tax exemption for construction materials used in new residential housing in Minnesota. The bill requires that sales tax on these materials be collected at the standard rate but then fully refunded to eligible purchasers. This directly affects developers and builders who purchase materials for new single-family homes, apartment complexes, or other new residential projects. The exemption applies to materials consumed during construction, with refunds processed under existing tax procedures. The provision takes effect for sales after June 30, 2025.