Minnesota wild elk population and range expansion grant availability extension provision

A bill for an act

relating to natural resources; extending availability of appropriation for a grant to

expand Minnesota's wild elk population and range; amending Laws 2023, chapter

60, article 1, section 3, subdivision 6, as amended.

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

Section 1.

Laws 2023, chapter 60, article 1, section 3, subdivision 6, as amended by Laws

2025, First Special Session chapter 1, article 1, section 17, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Fish and Wildlife Management

105,625,000

96,963,000

Appropriations by Fund

2024

2025

General

18,143,000

9,888,000

Natural Resources

2,082,000

2,082,000

Game and Fish

85,400,000

84,993,000

(a) $11,158,000 the first year and $11,158,000

the second year are from the heritage

enhancement account in the game and fish

fund only for activities specified under

Minnesota Statutes, section
297A.94
,

paragraph (h), clause (1). Notwithstanding

Minnesota Statutes, section
297A.94
, five

percent of this appropriation may be used for

expanding hunter and angler recruitment and

retention.

(b) $982,000 the first year and $982,000 the

second year are from the general fund and

$1,675,000 the first year and $1,675,000 the

second year are from the game and fish fund

for statewide response and management of

chronic wasting disease. The commissioner

and the Board of Animal Health must each

submit annual reports on chronic wasting

disease activities funded in this biennium to

the chairs and ranking minority members of

the legislative committees and divisions with

jurisdiction over environment and natural

resources and agriculture. The general fund

base for this appropriation in fiscal year 2026

and beyond is $282,000.

(c) $5,150,000 the first year and $3,250,000

the second year are for inspections,

investigations, and enforcement activities

taken for the white-tailed deer farm program

and for statewide response and management

of chronic wasting disease. This appropriation

is available until June 30, 2029.

(d) $8,546,000 the first year and $8,546,000

the second year are from the deer management

account for the purposes identified in

Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.075,

subdivision 1
.

(e) $268,000 the first year and $268,000 the

second year are for increased capacity for

broadband utility licensing for state lands and

public waters. This is a onetime appropriation

and is available until June 30, 2028.

(f) $4,500,000 the first year is for enhancing

prairies and grasslands and restoring wetlands

on state-owned wildlife management areas to

sequester more carbon and enhance climate

resiliency. This is a onetime appropriation and

is available until June 30, 2027.

(g) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the

second year are from the general fund and

$500,000 the first year and $500,000 the

second year are from the heritage enhancement

account in the game and fish fund for grants

for natural-resource-based education and

recreation programs serving youth under

Minnesota Statutes, section
84.976
, and for

grant administration. Priority must be given

to projects benefiting underserved

communities. The base for this appropriation

in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is $500,000

from the heritage enhancement account in the

game and fish fund. The general fund

appropriation is onetime.

(h) $2,300,000 the first year is for a grant to

the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior

Chippewa to expand Minnesota's wild elk

population and range. Consideration must be

given to moving elk from existing herds in

northwest Minnesota to the area of the Fond

du Lac State Forest and the Fond du Lac

Reservation in Carlton and southern St. Louis

Counties. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake

Superior Chippewa's elk reintroduction efforts

must undergo thorough planning with the

Department of Natural Resources to develop

necessary capture and handling protocols,

including protocols related to cervid disease

management, and to produce postrelease state

and Tribal elk comanagement plans. Of this

amount, $300,000 is for the department for

the purposes of this paragraph. This is a

onetime appropriation and is available until

June 30,
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2026
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2029
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.

(i) $767,000 the first year is from the heritage

enhancement account in the game and fish

fund to examine the effects of neonicotinoid

exposure on the reproduction and survival of

Minnesota's game species, including deer and

prairie chicken. This is a onetime

appropriation and is available until June 30,

2027.

(j) $134,000 the first year and $134,000 the

second year are from the heritage enhancement

account in the game and fish fund for native

fish conservation and classification.

(k) $82,000 the first year is for the native fish

reports required under this act. This is a

onetime appropriation.

(l) $65,000 the first year is for preparing the

report on feral pigs and mink required under

this act and holding at least one public meeting

on the topic.

(m) Up to $5,750,000 the first year and up to

$2,225,000 the second year are available for

transfer from the critical habitat private sector

matching account to the reinvest in Minnesota

fund for wildlife management areas

acquisition, restoration, and enhancement

according to Minnesota Statutes, section

84.943, subdivision 5b
.

(n) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes,

section
297A.94
, $300,000 the first year and

$300,000 the second year are from the heritage

enhancement account in the game and fish

fund for shooting sports facility grants under

Minnesota Statutes, section
87A.10
, including

grants for archery facilities. Grants must be

matched with a nonstate match, which may

include in-kind contributions. This is a

onetime appropriation and is available until

June 30, 2028.

(o) $75,000 the first year is from the heritage

enhancement account in the game and fish

fund for enhanced fish stocking of white bass

and crappies in lakes in the metropolitan area

that have pier and shore fishing opportunities

where communities are currently underserved.

(p) $1,633,000 the first year is for a grant to

the Board of Regents of the University of

Minnesota for chronic wasting disease

contingency plans developed by the Center

for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

This is a onetime appropriation.

(q) $900,000 the first year is to create new or

expand existing outreach and education

programs for non-native English-speaking

communities. Of this amount, $250,000 is for

the commissioner of the Pollution Control

Agency and $250,000 is for the Board of

Water and Soil Resources for this purpose. Up

to $400,000 may be used to expand the

Fishing in the Neighborhood program for

outreach to new and underserved audiences.

This appropriation may be used for community

outreach consultants for reaching new

audiences. 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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