HF5098

Purpose

• Create a Permanent School Trust Lands Task Force to study permanent school trust lands located within or near Tribal lands, to assess how these lands are managed, and to recommend possible land transfers or use changes. The task force must deliver its recommendations in a report.

Key Provisions

• Establishment: A new task force focused on permanent school trust lands near or within Tribal lands.
• Membership and appointments: The task force will include representatives with expertise in areas such as Tribal lands, American Indian education, state-Tribal relations, Tribal treaties, state land management, forest resources management, and permanent school trust land policies. Appointments come from multiple sources, including:
  • Six tribes with permanent school trust lands (one member each, appointed by the Tribe from within its boundaries)
  • Six tribes without permanent school trust lands (one member each, appointed by the Tribe from within its boundaries)
  • The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
  • The Tribal Nations Education Committee
  • The Commissioner of Education or their designee
  • The Commissioner of Natural Resources
  • The Director of the Office of School Trust Lands
  • The Minnesota Forest Resources Council
  • The Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission
  • Four members appointed by the Legislature (one each by the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, House Speaker, and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor caucus leader)
  • Appointments must be made by August 1, 2026
• Leadership: The task force will select its chair at its first meeting (which must occur after appointments).
• Advisory support: The Departments of Natural Resources and Education will provide technical advice and assistance.
• Duties: The task force will:
  • Examine policies for land exchanges of permanent school trust lands within Tribal boundaries
  • Identify obstacles to land transfers and propose effective transfer mechanisms
  • Review land use and land management policies for permanent school trust lands near Tribal boundaries
  • Propose funding sources to support any recommended land transfers
• Compensation and administration: Members are compensated under Minnesota law (15.059, subdivision 3). The Legislative Coordinating Commission provides meeting space, administrative support, and staff; meetings may be held via interactive television and must follow applicable open meeting rules.
• Reporting and duration:
  • The task force must submit its recommendations to key legislative chairs by February 15, 2027.
  • The task force expires on February 15, 2027 or when the report is submitted, whichever comes first.
• Funding: In fiscal year 2027, the general fund provides:
  • An appropriation to the Legislative Coordinating Commission to administer the task force
  • An appropriation to the Department of Natural Resources for technical agency support

Timeline and Milestones

• August 1, 2026: All appointed members must be in place
• September 1, 2026: First meeting called by the Legislative Coordinating Commission; chair selected at this meeting
• February 15, 2027: Deadline for the task force to submit its report
• February 15, 2027 or report submission: Task force expires, whichever occurs first

Funding and Resources

• FY2027 General Fund appropriations for:
  • Administration of the task force (via the Legislative Coordinating Commission)
  • Technical agency support (via the Department of Natural Resources)

Significance and Implications

• This bill creates a structured, multi-stakeholder process to evaluate and potentially facilitate transfers or changes in how permanent school trust lands near tribal boundaries are managed. It formalizes collaboration among tribes, state agencies, and legislative offices, with a concrete reporting deadline and a defined funding plan. The outcome could affect land ownership, management policies, and funding strategies related to permanent school trust lands.

Relevant Terms - Permanent School Trust Lands - Tribal lands - land exchanges - land transfers - land use policies - land management policies - permanent school trust fund - Department of Natural Resources - Department of Education - Minnesota Indian Affairs Council - Tribal Nations Education Committee - Office of School Trust Lands - Minnesota Forest Resources Council - Legislative Coordinating Commission - Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission - Commissioner of Education - Commissioner of Natural Resources - interactive television (meeting format) - February 15, 2027 (report due date and expiration)