Depredation compensation payments appropriation

A bill for an act

relating to agriculture; appropriating money for depredation compensation

payments.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.
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APPROPRIATION; COMPENSATION FOR LIVESTOCK

DEPREDATION.
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(a) $125,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner

of agriculture for compensation for livestock destroyed or crippled by a wolf under Minnesota

Statutes, section 3.737. The commissioner may use up to $5,000 to reimburse expenses

incurred by university extension educators to provide fair market values of destroyed or

crippled livestock. If the commissioner receives federal funding to pay claims for destroyed

or crippled livestock, an equivalent amount of this appropriation may be used to reimburse

nonlethal prevention methods performed by federal wildlife services staff. If the

commissioner determines that claims made under Minnesota Statutes, section 3.737 or

3.7371, are unusually high, amounts appropriated for either program may be transferred to

the appropriation for the other program. This is a onetime appropriation and is available

until June 30, 2027.

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(b) $125,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner

of agriculture for compensation for crop or fence damage caused by elk under Minnesota

Statutes, section 3.7371. The commissioner may use up to $10,000 of the appropriation to

reimburse expenses incurred by the commissioner or the commissioner's approved agent

to investigate and resolve claims, as well as for costs associated with training for approved

agents. The commissioner may use up to $40,000 of the appropriation to make grants to

producers for measures to protect stored crops from elk damage. If the commissioner

determines that claims made under Minnesota Statutes, section 3.737 or 3.7371, are unusually

high, amounts appropriated for either program may be transferred to the appropriation for

the other program. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2027.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment.

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