Plain English Breakdown
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HF4246 • 2026
Core Moose Range designated, Moose Co-Stewardship Committee and moose restoration and research account established, report required, rulemaking authority provided, money transferred, and money appropriated.
Core Moose Range designated, Moose Co-Stewardship Committee and moose restoration and research account established, report required, rulemaking authority provided, money transferred, and money appropriated.
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Bill History
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2026-03-12
House
Introduction and first reading, referred to Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Official Summary Text
Core Moose Range designated, Moose Co-Stewardship Committee and moose restoration and research account established, report required, rulemaking authority provided, money transferred, and money appropriated.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
A bill for an act relating to natural resources; designating the Core Moose Range; establishing a Moose Co-Stewardship Committee and moose restoration and research account; requiring a report; providing rulemaking authority; transferring and appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.505; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97B. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.505, is amended to read: 97B.505 MOOSE SEASON AND RESTRICTIONS. new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner may, by rule, prescribe deleted text begin the open deleted text end new text begin a bull-only moose new text end season and the areas and conditions for deleted text begin the deleted text end taking deleted text begin of deleted text end moose deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin when: new text end new text begin (1) population size, survival, and recruitment thresholds are met; new text end new text begin (2) habitat indices indicate sustained capacity; and new text end new text begin (3) the Moose Co-Stewardship Committee approves the harvest quota. new text end new text begin (b) A harvest quota must be jointly reviewed annually by Tribal biologists and Department of Natural Resources biologists. new text end new text begin (c) The commissioner may, by rule, prescribe processes for awarding moose licenses, including lotteries and auctions. new text end Sec. 2. new text begin [97B.512] MOOSE CO-STEWARDSHIP. new text end new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Core Moose Range; designation. new text end new text begin (a) The 1854 Ceded Territory is designated as Minnesota's Core Moose Range. The commissioner must manage moose as a priority species within the Core Moose Range. new text end new text begin (b) The commissioner, commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency, Board of Water and Soil Resources, and Environmental Quality Board must align land, forest, wildlife, and climate policies within the Core Moose Range to support moose restoration and ecosystem health. new text end new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Moose Co-Stewardship Committee. new text end new text begin The commissioner must establish a Moose Co-Stewardship Committee. The committee must include members representing: new text end new text begin (1) the Department of Natural Resources; new text end new text begin (2) the 1854 Treaty Authority; new text end new text begin (3) the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; new text end new text begin (4) the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; new text end new text begin (5) the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa; new text end new text begin (6) federal land management agencies; new text end new text begin (7) conservation organizations; and new text end new text begin (8) the timber and forest products industry. new text end new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Duties. new text end new text begin The Moose Co-Stewardship Committee must: new text end new text begin (1) develop and maintain a management plan for the Core Moose Range; new text end new text begin (2) coordinate moose habitat restoration and monitoring; new text end new text begin (3) review moose population data and harvest recommendations annually; and new text end new text begin (4) ensure decisions reflect best available science and Indigenous knowledge. new text end new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Moose restoration and research account. new text end new text begin The moose restoration and research account is created in the game and fish fund. Revenue from moose licenses, moose license auctions, and moose license lotteries must be credited to the moose restoration and research account and is appropriated to the commissioner for: new text end new text begin (1) moose research; new text end new text begin (2) moose habitat restoration and enhancement; new text end new text begin (3) moose monitoring; and new text end new text begin (4) expenses of the Moose Co-Stewardship Committee and other moose co-stewardship activities. new text end new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Report. new text end new text begin By January 15 each year, the commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources detailing moose: new text end new text begin (1) population trends; new text end new text begin (2) habitat restoration outcomes: new text end new text begin (3) economic impacts; and new text end new text begin (4) co-stewardship activities. new text end Sec. 3. new text begin TRANSFER. new text end new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2027 is transferred from the general fund to the commissioner of natural resources to the moose habitat restoration and research account. This is a onetime transfer. new text end