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March 25, 2022
Good afternoon,
With the Minnesota 2022 Legislative Session now in its eighth week, we've just arrived at the first committee deadline. Below are a few DNR highlights from this week, and a little of what will be happening next week.
This Week's Hearings
Monday, March 21, 2022: Senate Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee
The committee heard testimony regarding SF4020 (Weber) - Murray County State-Aid Highway 113 safe travel facilitation. DNR Assistant Commissioner, Bob Meier, testified that the DNR is currently working with the County and the Bill author to review the project and it's impacts to Lake Shetek. The Bill is now on it's way to the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee.
The committee also heard testimony on SF2797 (Tomassoni) - Coordination, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of environmental review and process for metallic mining projects permission improvements. DNR Lands and Minerals Director, Joe Henderson, provided the committee with an overview of how the agency currently strives for timely, transparency and thorough mining project reviews.
Tuesday, March 22, 2022: Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee
Lorie Klein, DNR Lands and Minerals, provided the committee an over of the DNR Lands Bill, which is SF3704 (Ruud) - Requirement modification for conveying easements and leasing state lands. The Bill passed and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
The committee heard testimony on SF3162 (Eichorn) - Grant program establishment and appropriation for investment in nature and gamesmanship education. Annalee Garletz, DNR Government Relations Supervisor, testified in support of engaging youth in the outdoors. Annalee also conveyed the DNR’s interest in working with the author to expand the types of organizations that could potentially provide the outdoor education. The Bill was held over for possible inclusion into an omnibus bill.
Supportive testimony was heard form shooting sports advocates regarding SF4098 (Ruud) - Shooting sports facility grants appropriation and previous appropriation modification. The Bill was laid over for possible inclusion into an omnibus bill.
Senate File 3525 (Bigham) - Hastings trail improvements appropriation was heard and the Bill was laid over for possible inclusion into an omnibus bill.
Forest industry and County Land Commissioner representatives testified in support of SF4139 (Eichorn) - Forest inventory appropriation. The Bill was laid over for possible inclusion into an omnibus bill.
Tuesday, March 22, 2022: House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee
Testimony was heard on HF4164 (Elkins) - Driver and vehicle services; various provisions modified including driver's license expiration dates, driver and vehicle record copies, filing fees, and exam requirements; recommendations made; reports required; and money appropriated. Jenna Covey, DNR Chief Business Technology Officer, provided the committee with an update on the DNR’s current effort to update the existing DNR licensing system, which follows the modernization principles lid out in the Minnesota Blue Ribbon Commission report. The Bill was laid over.
Boating industry and user groups testified in support of HF3787 (Koegel) - Watercraft operator safety education and permitting required, and motorboat rental requirements established. The Bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.
Tuesday, March 22, 2022: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee
The committee heard testimony regarding HF3765 (Hansen) - Environment and natural resources trust fund appropriation extensions provided. The Bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.
At the end of the hearing DNR Assistant Commissioner, Bob Meier, provided an update to the committee regarding the recent CWD positive deer found near Grand Rapids, MN, and explained the related press release that was sent out earlier in the day.
Wednesday, March 23, 2022: House Legacy Committee
The committee discussed additional Legacy funding extensions, as well as received a presentation on Clean Water Fund projects. No action was taken.
Wednesday, March 23, 2022: Senate Finance Committee
DNR Assistant Commissioner, Bob Meier, testified in support of HF2819 (Ruud) - Snowmobile and off-highway vehicle provisions violations civil penalties increase, emphasizing the importance of responsible trail riding for the future of the sport. The Bill was sent to the Senate Consent Calendar.
Wednesday, March 23, 2022: Senate Environment and Natural Resource Finance Committee
The committee heard supportive testimony from the local watershed district for SF2798 (Westrom) - Ring levees construction appropriation. The Bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
Itasca County representatives testified in support of SF4052 (Tomassoni) - Canisteo Flood Mitigation Project appropriation to mitigate threats to public safety, property and regional water quality. The Bill was laid over for possible inclusion into an omnibus Bill.
The committee also heard supportive testimony from the Chamber of Commerce and the livestock industry regarding SF639 (Ingebrigtsen) - Pollution control agency clean water policy provisions modifications. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency testified with concerns on restricting fee increases and the restrictions on public engagement. The Bill was laid over for possible inclusion into an omnibus Bill.
Wednesday, March 23, 2022: Senate Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee
ATV manufacture and ATV user groups testified in support of SF3687 (Johnson, M.) - All-terrain vehicle definition modification. Laura Prues, Park and Trails Section Manager, testified in support of the simplified ATV tire requirements, and the ATV weight increase, which allows for the development of heavier electric ATVs. Ms. Prues also conveyed the DNR is working on a trial system inventory, which would provide better data on how increased ATV weights would impact trials. The Bill was laid over for possible inclusion into a omnibus Bill.
ATV user groups also testified in support of SF3869 (Lang) - Transfer requirements modification for certain recreational vehicles, which was laid over for possible inclusion into an omnibus Bill. Environmental and conservation advocacy organizations provided supportive testimony for SF4131 (Ruud) - Constitutional amendment providing for the renewal of the environment and natural resources trust fund. The Bill passed out of committee and was sent to the Senate Environment and Natural Resource Finance Committee.
Wednesday, March 23, 2022: Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Finance and Policy Committee
The committee heard testimony from multiple deer farmers regarding SF3854 (Johnson, M.) - Certain white-tailed deer farmers compensation. The Bill was laid over for possible inclusion into an omnibus Bill.
Thursday, March 24, 2022: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee
The committee heard brief testimony on HF3273 (Hansen) Farmed white-tailed deer new registration prohibited. The Bill was referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
Thursday, March 24, 2022: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee
The committee was presented with the HF4377 DE3 amendment (Hansen), which is related to Clean Water Fund appropriations. The amended Bill includes a peatland report to be written by the DNR. DNR Assistant Commissioner, Bob Meier, testified that the DNR is still working through a review of the amendment, but emphasized the DNR has done extensive work to identify and protect peatlands. The Bill is on its way to the Legacy Finance Committee.
Friday, March 25, 2022: Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee
The committee heard supportive testimony from Marine manufacture, dealer and owner associations regarding HF4356 (Davnie) Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Office created, report required, and money appropriated. Laura Preus, DNR Parks and Trails Section Manager, testified that the DNR is currently pursuing many of the Outdoor Recreation Task Force's recommendations. The Bill was laid over for possible inclusion into an omnibus Bill.
The committee also heard supportive testimony from cities regarding HF2904 (Lippert) Accelerated conservation planting, living snow fences, and ash tree replacement funding provided, and money appropriated. The Bill is on its way to House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee.
Next Week's Hearings
Most hearings can be viewed online at:
HOUSE WEBCASTS: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp
SENATE WEBCASTS: http://mnsenate.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1
Monday, March 28, 2022 at 1:00 PM: House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee
HF3913 (Stephenson) Advanced biofuel, renewable chemical, and biomass thermal production incentive provisions modified, and money appropriated.
Monday, March 28, 2022 at 1:00 PM: Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 8:30 AM: House Capital Investment Committee
HF4423 (Sandstede) - Canisteo Flood Mitigation Project funding provided to mitigate threats to public safety, property, and regional water quality; and money appropriated.
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 10:30 AM: Senate State Government Finance Committee
SF2767 (Ruud) - Natural resources provisions modifications.
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 10:30 AM: Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee
SF4062 (Ingebrigtsen) – Environment and Natural Resources Appropriations.
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 1:00 PM: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee
HF4482 (Sundin) - Elk reintroduction funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF4537 (Lippert) - Peat soil protection, restoration, and enhancement goal established.
Yesterday, Governor Tim Walz, Explore Minnesota Tourism, and the Minnesota DNR announced details for the 2022 Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener. The longtime tradition will continue in May of 2022. The 2022 Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener will celebrate fishing in a variety of ways, over several weeks and in multiple locations in the Chippewa National Forest region and Leech Lake Reservation. For more information on the Governor's Fishing Opener, watch for updates in the coming weeks at mngovernorsopener.com.
Thank you for subscribing to the DNR Legislative Update Email List. We look forward to sharing more updates with you during this year's legislative session. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Jason Garms
Government Relations Unit
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
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