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May 18, 2019
Environment and Natural Resources Omnibus Bill Conference Committee
The Conference Committee for the Environment and Natural Resources Omnibus bill (S.F. 2314) has formed and begun meeting. The status of the Conference Committee and a side by side comparison of the bills can be found online here. The DNR has provided a letter to the Conference Committee addressing the agency's support and concerns for the bills as drafted.
This week, the Conference Committee met and agreed to include several important policy provisions, including: most of the provisions within the DNR's policy and technical bills, the Lands Bill, provisions prohibiting the trade of prohibited animal parts, policies regarding decorative materials and special forest products, and provisions allowing the use of dogs to locate wounded big game.
Currently, the Conference Committee is waiting for fiscal targets before addressing provisions with a fiscal impact.
Legacy Finance Conference Committee
The Conference Committee for the Legacy Finance Omnibus bill (H.F. 653) has formed and has begun meeting. The status of the Conference Committee and a side by side comparison of the bills can be found online here. Conferees are:
House: Lillie; Murphy; Wazlawik; Hansen; Boe
Senate: Ruud; Lang; Senjem; Koran; Cohen
This week, the Conference Committee met and completed their walk through of the bill. The DNR will be providing a letter to the Conference Committee addressing the agency's support and concerns for the bills as drafted.
CWD testing finds a total of 34 positives in 2018-2019 season
Chronic wasting disease sampling has wrapped up, with just over 8,000 samples collected and tested from November 2018 through April 2019, which will inform CWD surveillance zones and boundaries for the 2019 hunting season. Across the state, 34 wild deer tested positive for the disease: 27 in deer permit area 603 in southeastern Minnesota; six in southeastern Minnesota, outside of DPA 603; and one in north central Minnesota. (No wild deer tested positive for CWD in central Minnesota.) Since 2016, a total of 51 CWD positive wild deer have been identified. An overview of the DNR's test results have been provided to the Environment and Natural Resources Omnibus bill Conference Committee and is available here.
From 2003-2019, an estimated $8.4 million has been spent from the Game and Fish Fund for Surveillance and Response in relation to Chronic Wasting Disease in Minnesota. A breakdown of how those funds have been spent has been provided to the Environment and Natural Resources Omnibus bill Conference Committee and is available here.
Fishing Reminders
Wear a life jacket
Cold water kills. Anglers are reminded to not just bring it – wear a life jacket. It’s the one action most likely to help in surviving a fall into cold water. Thirty percent of boating fatalities take place in cold water defined as generally below 70 degrees. In spring, this is typically from ice-out until early summer. The cold water shock “gasp reflex” can incapacitate even the strongest swimmer if they aren’t wearing a life jacket.
Regional fishing reports available
Anglers looking for local information before fishing opener can find regional fishing reports for the entire state.
Floor Sessions
As the legislature concludes, Committee hearings and bills move to be heard on the House and Senate floors. Please be sure to check the House Calendar of the Day and Senate Calendar for bills that are expected to be heard and voted on.
Committee Hearings
Please check the Combined Legislative Meeting Calendar site for the latest updates on hearings as items will progress rapidly in the short term.
With many committees meeting throughout the days to come, you can also listen into House and Capitol rooms online.
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