HF271 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Wolf and elk depredation compensation payments funding provided, and money appropriated.
Related bill: SF469
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
Provide funding from the general fund to compensate Minnesota farmers and landowners for losses caused by wolves and elk, under the state depredation compensation programs.
Main Provisions
- Funding for wolves: For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the commissioner of agriculture receives a general fund appropriation to pay compensation to livestock owners for animals destroyed or crippled by wolves (under Minnesota Statutes section 3.737).
- Funding for elk: For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the commissioner of agriculture receives a general fund appropriation to pay compensation for crop or fence damage caused by elk (under Minnesota Statutes section 3.7371).
- Cross-year fund use: If the amount in the first year is not enough, the money from the second year can be used in the first year.
- Extension agent reimbursements: Up to $5,000 of the appropriation each year may be used to reimburse university extension agents for providing fair market values of destroyed or crippled livestock.
- Reallocation for high claims: If claims under 3.737 or 3.7371 are unusually high, the commissioner may move money between the two programs to cover the purposes of this section.
Funding and Administration
- Source: General fund
- Administered by: Commissioner of Agriculture
- Related statutes: Minnesota Statutes 3.737 (wolves) and 3.7371 (elk)
- Purpose of funds: Compensation payments for livestock losses (wolves) and crop/fence damage (elk); plus reimbursement costs for extension agents' valuation work.
Significance and Changes
- Introduces a two-year appropriation that can be bridged across years if needed, improving cash flow for depredation claims.
- Adds a mechanism to reimburse extension agents for valuing losses, aiding in determining fair market value for claims.
- Adds flexibility to reallocate funds between wolf-related losses and elk-related damages in cases of unusually high claims, allowing resources to be directed where needed.
Section Reference
- Section 1 establishes the depredation payments appropriation mechanism for wolves and elk for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, including the cross-year funding provision, extension agent reimbursements, and cross-program reallocation.
Relevant Terms - depredation payments - wolves - elk - livestock destroyed or crippled - crop damage - fence damage - university extension agents - fair market values - Minnesota Statutes 3.737 - Minnesota Statutes 3.7371 - general fund - commissioner of agriculture - appropriation - cross-year funding - unusually high claims - reallocation
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 10, 2025 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Agriculture Finance and Policy | |
| February 17, 2025 | House | Action | Author added | ||
| February 19, 2025 | House | Action | Authors added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Provides a specific appropriation to fund depredation payments under 3.737."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill appropriates general fund money to the commissioner of agriculture for compensation payments under Minnesota Statutes section 3.737 for livestock destroyed or crippled by wolves.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "3.737",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Provides a specific appropriation to fund depredation payments under 3.7371."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill appropriates general fund money to the commissioner of agriculture for compensation payments under Minnesota Statutes section 3.7371 for crop or fence damage caused by elk.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "3.7371",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee