Sen. Justin Eichorn

Maddy summarySF 758 modifies Minnesota's law on fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle by adding a new offense under section 609.487, subdivision 3a. This new provision targets drivers who flee police while operating a vehicle in a "culpably negligent manner" that creates an unreasonable risk of death or serious injury to others. It establishes a felony punishable by up to four years in prison or an $8,000 fine, distinct from existing penalties for less severe fleeing offenses. The bill directly affects drivers convicted of this specific type of reckless fleeing, with license revocation periods also adjusted to reflect this new offense level. The changes take effect August 1, 2025.

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 bill modifies Minnesota's K-12 education tax deductions and credits for families. It expands eligible expenses to include tuition paid to qualifying schools (including out-of-state schools in border states), increases the maximum annual deduction per child ($2,750 for K-6, $4,125 for 7-12), and adds automatic annual inflation adjustments to these amounts. The credit phaseout threshold for higher-income families is also raised. These changes directly affect Minnesota taxpayers with children in grades K-12 who claim education expenses on their state tax returns, effective for taxable years starting after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summarySF 410 authorizes the city of Cohasset to operate a casino gaming facility under the regulation of the Department of Public Safety, allowing video games of chance and blackjack. The bill requires a joint committee (with city council and DPS members) to approve all casino contracts, mandates separate accounting for casino revenue, and directs all profits to a dedicated account for property tax relief (reducing the city's tax levy by that amount). It also permits Cohasset to issue two additional on-sale liquor licenses for hotels/motels/restaurants. The bill requires voter approval in Cohasset before taking effect.

Maddy summarySF 407 prohibits discrimination based on political affiliation in Minnesota employment contexts. It adds "political affiliation" to protected classes in state law, defining it as association with a political party, support for candidates/parties, or lack thereof. The bill amends employment statutes to ban employers, labor organizations, and employment agencies from making hiring, membership, or compensation decisions based on this factor. It directly affects workplaces and labor groups across Minnesota by requiring them to avoid political bias in employment practices. The law would apply to all covered employers and labor organizations under Minnesota's human rights code.

Maddy summarySF 421 reduces all Minnesota individual income tax rates by 3.25 percentage points across every tax bracket. It directly affects all Minnesota individual income taxpayers, including married couples filing jointly, single filers, heads of household, and non-residents. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 290.06 to lower rates from 5.35% to 2.1% on the lowest bracket, 6.8% to 3.55% on the next, 7.85% to 4.6%, and 9.85% to 6.6% on the highest bracket. This uniform rate reduction applies to all taxable income levels and takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summarySF 422 creates two annual tax holidays in Minnesota. It exempts non-handgun firearms from sales tax for seven days before the start of deer hunting season, and exempts specific sport fishing gear from sales tax for seven days before the fishing season opening date (two weeks before Memorial Day weekend). These tax exemptions apply to purchases made after June 30, 2025. The bill directly affects consumers buying these items during the specified periods, reducing their purchase cost by avoiding the state sales tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $109 million from the state's general fund to settle a lawsuit regarding the state's retention of tax-forfeited lands and mineral rights. It establishes a framework for participating counties to sell properties forfeited between 2012 and 2023, requiring them to auction or broker these lands for at least their appraised value in cash. Under the agreement, a significant portion of the sale proceeds must be sent to the state, while counties retain the remainder for their own use. Counties that choose not to participate in the settlement will remain fully responsible for any legal claims related to properties forfeited before January 1, 2024. The legislation also mandates regular reporting on the sale efforts and outcomes for participating counties.