Legislative Update - March 2, 2019

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minnesota department of natural resources

Legislative Update

March 2, 2019


DNR Proposed Budget Presentations

Last week, Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced their budget proposal for the next biennium (FY 20-21). The initiatives in our budget package focus on three broad categories: protecting our natural resources, making smart decisions, and connecting people with the outdoors.

This week, the DNR's proposed budget overview was heard in the House and Senate. Hearings were recorded in video or audio for the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee and Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance.


Bonding Bill Introduced

This week, Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced their bonding proposal.

From this bonding bill, the DNR is targeting investments that maintain strong and safe infrastructure, promote community prosperity by supporting jobs across the state, connect people from all communities with the outdoors, and protect our natural resources across our various geographical regions.

An overview of the DNR's plans can be found here.


Summary of Hearings for the week of February 18th

Monday, February 25:

House Water Division

A hearing on H.F.797 regarding storm debris removal in Roberds Lake and H.F. 663 regarding mine pit improvement appropriations was held. Both bills were sent on to the House Environment Finance Committee.

Senate Environment and Natural Resources Policy

A hearing on S.F. 1505 regarding ivory and rhinoceros horn trade prohibition was held. An author’s amendment was passed and the bill was sent to Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy.

Tuesday, February 26:

Senate Environment and Natural Resource Finance

Informational hearing regarding the DNR’s proposed budget. The DNR's presentation can be found online.

House Environment and Natural Resource Finance

Informational hearing regarding the DNR’s proposed budget. The DNR's presentation can be found online.

Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections

A hearing on S.F. 390 regarding the establishment of a Reinvest in Fish Hatcheries Citizen-Legislative Advisory Group was held. The bill was amended and the changes altered the proposed make-up of the Group.

Wednesday, February 27:

House Environment and Natural Resources Policy

A hearing on H.F. 680 regarding the use of leashed dogs to track big game, H.F. 92 permitting the use of spear guns to take fish, and H.F. 1472 the DNR’s electronic notice bill was held. H.F. 680 was amended to clarify procedures when an animal is found still alive. H.F. 92 would permit the use of a spear gun to harvest fish, recognizing that the DNR would need to begin rulemaking to define what could be harvested and harvest seasons. H.F. 92 was laid over for possible inclusion. H.F. 1472 allows the DNR to electronically transmit regulatory decisions for those individuals interested. Currently, transmission must be by mail. H.F. 1472 was moved to Ways and Means.

A Fact Sheet providing a summary of H.F. 1472 is available online.

House Environment and Natural Resources Policy

A hearing on H.F. 1656 the DNR’s 2019 Policy and Technical bill and H.F. 1587 the DNR’s bill requesting extensions of Game and Fish Budgetary and Oversight Committees was held. H.F. 1656 first had an author’s amendment to remove construction guidelines related to renewable energy since this was included in a separate bill from the Department of Administration. In addition, H.F. 1656 was amended to include the language from three separate bills. These additional topic areas included permitting leashed dogs to be used when tracking big game, prohibiting the use of neonic pesticides on WMAs, and permitting the use of non-photographic digital media in stamp designs. The bill was approved and sent to Government Operations. H.F. 1587 was approved and sent to Government Operations.

A Fact Sheet providing a summary of H.F. 1656 as originally drafted is available online.

A Fact Sheet providing a summary of H.F. 1587 is available online.

Thursday, February 28:

House Environment and Natural Resource Finance

The House Environment and Natural Resource Finance Committee continued an informational hearing regarding the DNR’s proposed budget. They also heard H.F. 340, the Outdoor Heritage Fund bill. The bill was passed as amended and referred to Ways and Means to be re-referred to Legacy Finance.


Upcoming Hearings

House Ways and Means: H.F. 80 regarding capital investments on Monday 3/4 at 9:45 in State Office Building room 200.

Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance: S.F. 1677 regarding commercial fishing provisions for invasive species control on Monday 3/4 at 1:00 in Minnesota Senate Building room 1200.

Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance: S.F. 1814 regarding reducing appropriations to the DNR for unfilled positions and S.F. 226 authorizing two fishing lines on Tuesday 3/5 at 10:30 in Minnesota Senate Building room 1150.

House Environment and Natural Resources Finance: H.F. 749 modified turtle harvest provisions, H.F. 653 appropriating funds for parks and trails in Greater Minnesota, and H.F. 731 exempting motor vehicle and watercrafts taxes for disabled veterans on Tuesday 3/5 at 12:45 in State Office Building room 5.

House Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy: H.F. 229 establishing additional fencing requirements for cervid farms, H.F. 305 creating a moratorium on white-tailed deer farms, H.F. 553 transferring regulatory authority of cervid farms from the Board of Animal Health to the DNR, and H.F. 1362 requiring depopulation of cervid farms when a CWD-infected animal is found on Thursday 3/7 at 9:45 in State Office Building room 200.

* Please check the Combined Legislative Meeting Calendar site for the latest updates on hearings as items will progress rapidly in the short term.

Contact us

If you have any questions or comments, please contact the DNR's legislative team: Bob Meier, Annalee Garletz, or John Waters.