Purpose

• The bill would require the state to transfer ownership of certain lands to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, with no payment required to the state. The transfer targets land near Upper Red Lake and land within the Red Lake State Forest.

Key Provisions

• Transfer of land near Upper Red Lake:
  • The commissioner of natural resources must convey, for no consideration, all state-owned land and real property that is within one mile of the lakeshore of the portion of Upper Red Lake that is state-owned.
• Transfer of land in the Red Lake State Forest:
  • The commissioner of natural resources must convey, for no consideration, all state-owned land and real property located within the boundaries of the Red Lake State Forest.
• Barriers and funding:
  • The commissioner must identify any funding restrictions or other legal barriers that would affect these land transfers.
• Reporting requirement:
  • By January 15, 2026, the commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources. The report must:
  • specify all identified barriers,
  • provide recommendations for addressing those barriers (including any recommended legislation to eliminate them).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a mandatory conveyance of specified state lands to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians without monetary compensation.
• Expands tribal ownership by transferring land currently administered by the state government (both near Upper Red Lake and within the Red Lake State Forest) to a federally recognized tribal nation.
• Establishes a formal process to identify barriers (funding or legal) and to deliver a formal recommendation report to key legislative committees by a set deadline.

Reporting Timeline and Oversight

• The DNR (commissioner of natural resources) is responsible for preparing and submitting the barrier/legislation recommendations report by January 15, 2026.
• The report must be sent to the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant environment and natural resources committees.

Relevant Terms - state lands - conveyance - no consideration - Upper Red Lake - Red Lake State Forest - Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians - commissioner of natural resources - funding restrictions - legal barriers - report - chairs and ranking minority members - environment and natural resources committees - legislation to eliminate barriers - boundaries - lakeshore