HF1205

Purpose

This bill makes several changes related to natural resources in Minnesota. It updates reporting and management requirements for state lands, modifies how off-road vehicle (ORV) trails are funded and regulated, tightens rules for moving invasive species, expands allowed fish species for commercial fishing on Lake Superior, and updates how public waters are inventoried and classified. The overall aim is to improve data, funding, and control over natural resources while clarifying rules for use and protection of land, water, and wildlife.

Main provisions

• Lands, reporting, and planning (84.03)

  • The state commissioner must collect and organize statistics about lands and resources.
  • The commissioner can advertise state lands and resources and issue rules to govern use of state lands reserved for parks, trails, water access sites, monuments, forests, and other areas.
  • The commissioner may charge reasonable fees for using these lands and facilities.
  • By November 15 of every even-numbered year, the commissioner must report to the legislature on actions, recommendations, and improvements or conservation needs for state lands and related areas, including an inventory of land parcels and rights held by the state and any land withdrawn from sale. The report also lists trails, parks, and other managed areas and any new acquisitions since the last report.
  • The commissioner must maintain a long-range plan for how public lands are used.

• Off-road vehicle trails and funding (84.8035)

  • An ORV state trail pass is required for operating an ORV on state or grant-in-aid trails, with the pass available for inspection by law enforcement.
  • The Natural Resources Department issues passes after application and fee payment; funds go into the ORV account to support grants-in-aid to counties and cities for creating and maintaining ORV trails and use areas.
  • Certain ORVs are exempt from needing a pass (e.g., if owned by the U.S. government or another state, or a subdivision that is exempt from registration; or when operating only on trail sections owned by the user or close relatives; or if the vehicle is registered under a specific exemption).
  • Fees:
  • Nonresident annual pass: $20 (valid January 1 to December 31).
  • Nonresident 3-year pass: $30.
  • Resident annual pass: $20 (valid for 30 consecutive days after issuance).
  • The pass rules also set out details about exceptions and inspection.

• Invasive species controls and definitions (84D.01 and 84D.05)

  • A new definition: “Eviscerated” means to remove internal organs or to sever gills so the organism is dead.
  • Prohibited activities: Possessing, importing, purchasing, selling, propagating, transporting, or introducing a prohibited invasive species is largely prohibited unless done under a permit issued by the commissioner.
  • Specific allowances and requirements for certain invasive species:
  • Purple loosestrife has its own permitting pathway mentioned.
  • Bighead carp, grass carp, and silver carp may be transported only under circumstances defined by the commissioner (e.g., dead and eviscerated when moved to the department or another destination, or as part of disposal under a permit, or when removed from watercraft and immediately returned to the water, among other authorized scenarios).
  • When transporting for disposal as part of harvest or control activities, or under certain commercial fishing licenses, these fish may be moved under specified conditions.
  • In some cases, transport must occur in a sealed container or a specifically designed covered vehicle to help identify the species or report its presence.
  • Other exceptions include transporting to disposal sites at a distance (e.g., at least 100 feet from surface water) in a covered truck designed for hauling trash, as prescribed by the commissioner.
  • The rules aim to prevent movement of these harmful species while allowing controlled management activities under permit or license.

• Lake Superior commercial fishing (97C.835 subd. 2)

  • The bill expands the list of fish that licensed commercial fishers may take from Lake Superior. Permitted species include: lake trout, ciscoes, chubs, alewives, lake whitefish, round whitefish, pygmy whitefish, rainbow smelt, common carp, burbot, and native rough fish.

• Public waters inventory and wetlands reclassification (103G.201)

  • The commissioner must maintain a public waters inventory map for each county showing waters designated as public waters, with access provided to maps.
  • The maps can be revised to reclassify wetlands previously identified as public waters wetlands under older classifications, to become public waters or wetlands under current classifications.
  • Reclassification requires meeting specific conditions (e.g., shoreland management classifications, lake or wetland classifications, or government title to bed/shore), and the state or federal government must declare water use as necessary for public ownership in some cases.
  • The commissioner must notify local government units and other parties about reclassifications. A party can object within 60 days; if objections are not raised, the reclassification takes effect after 60 days.
  • Priority for reclassifying wetlands is given to those affected by public works projects.
  • The inventory can be revised to reflect changes such as trout stream tributaries, newly created or eliminated public waters due to permits, etc.
  • Funding: $1,000,000 is appropriated annually (2025–2032) to update the public water inventory and implement the process. The commissioner must establish a process to keep the inventory updated, and this funding authorization expires June 30, 2032.

How these provisions change current law

• Data and planning

  • Adds formal, biannual reporting and a standing long-range plan for state lands and resources, increasing accountability and transparency.

• Trail funding and access

  • Establishes a formal, fee-based ORV trail pass system with dedicated funding to counties and municipalities for trail development and maintenance, consolidating funding for trail infrastructure.

• Invasive species controls

  • Tightens movement and handling rules for prohibited invasive species (notably bighead carp, grass carp, and silver carp) and creates a clear definition for “eviscerated,” aligning transport rules with eradication and disposal goals.

• Lake Superior fisheries

  • Expands the set of species that licensed commercial fishers may harvest commercially from Lake Superior, broadening allowable harvest opportunities for certain species.

• Public waters and wetlands

  • Modernizes the public waters inventory, including potential reclassification of wetlands as public waters or wetlands, with a formal notice and objection process and a funding mechanism to update the inventory regularly.

Practical implications

• For land and park users, expect more formalized rules and possible fees for use of certain state lands and facilities, plus a structured, biennial reporting process that informs lawmakers and the public.
• For ORV enthusiasts, a statewide pass system with annual or multi-year options, plus funding directed to local trail construction and maintenance, could affect how and where trails are developed or improved.
• For environmental protection, stricter rules on moving invasive species and a clear definition of “eviscerated” help reduce the risk of accidental spread; disposal and transport requirements will be more tightly regulated.
• For fishing and commerce, more species on the Lake Superior commercial fishing list opens up potential new opportunities for licensed operators.
• For water management and planning, updating and clarifying the public waters inventory and wetlands classifications may shift which waters are considered public; local governments receive timely notices, and public input is part of the reclassification process.

Potential considerations and questions

• How will the new funding approach affect local budgets and trail development timelines?
• What specific permits will be required for different invasive species activities, and how lengthy is the permit approval process?
• How will reclassification decisions impact local land use, zoning, and public works planning?
• Will the expanded Lake Superior fishing list affect ecosystems or competing uses (e.g., fishing quotas, habitat protections)?

Relevant terms

• offroad vehicle (ORV)
• state trail pass
• offroad vehicle account
• grant-in-aid
• state lands
• public waters inventory
• wetlands
• wetlands reclassification
• shoreland management
• trout streams
• eviscerated
• invasive species
• bighead carp
• grass carp
• silver carp
• purple loosestrife
• permits (invasive species; 84D.11)
• disposal
• sealed container
• Lake Superior fisheries
• licensed commercial fishing operators
• lake trout
• ciscoes
• chubs
• alewives
• lake whitefish
• round whitefish
• pygmy whitefish
• rainbow smelt
• common carp
• burbot
• native rough fish
• long-range plan
• public hunting grounds
• public waters
• public water inventory update
• district notices
• public works projects

If you’d like, I can tailor this into a shorter or even more concise summary with fewer sections, or expand any particular provision (e.g., the exact pass fee structure or the reclassification process).