SF3749

Purpose

• The bill amends Minnesota law to designate wild rice as the official state grain and to state the policy that uncultivated wild rice has an inherent right to exist and thrive in Minnesota. It also allows a photograph of wild rice to be displayed in the Office of the Secretary of State.

Main provisions

• Redefines and designates the official state grain:
  • Specifies Wild rice as the state grain.
  • Identifies the scientific names Zizania aquatica or Zizania palustris and the common names wild rice, manomin, and manoomin.
  • Uses these terms to formalize wild rice as the state grain.
• States policy regarding wild rice:
  • Recognizes the inherent right of uncultivated wild rice to exist and thrive in Minnesota.
• Photograph provision:
  • Allows a photograph of wild rice (Zizania aquatica or Zizania palustris, i.e., wild rice) to be displayed in the Office of the Secretary of State.

Significant changes to existing law

• Changes the designation related to the state grain by establishing wild rice as the official state grain under Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 1.148, Subdivision 1.
• Adds a policy statement about the inherent right of uncultivated wild rice to exist and thrive (Subd. 1).
• Adds a provision permitting a photograph of wild rice to be displayed in the Secretary of State’s Office (Subd. 2).
• References the scientific and common names for wild rice (Zizania aquatica, Zizania palustris, manomin, manoomin) to anchor the designation and display provision.

Definitions and terminology used in the bill

• Wild rice
• Zizania aquatica
• Zizania palustris
• manomin
• manoomin
• state grain / official state grain
• uncultivated wild rice
• inherent right to exist and thrive
• Office of the Secretary of State

Relevant Terms - wild rice - Zizania aquatica - Zizania palustris - manomin - manoomin - official state grain - uncultivated wild rice - inherent right to exist and thrive - Office of the Secretary of State