Bill > SF1715

This bill modifies Minnesota's definition of public waters and adjusts the process for maintaining the public waters inventory. The bill changes the existing definition of public waters to remove language about how public waters are determined, specifically eliminating references to proprietorship of surrounding lands and historical navigability. It also shifts the public waters inventory from a mandatory update requirement to a discretionary process, removing a previous $1,000,000 annual appropriation for inventory updates. The commissioner of natural resources will now have the option, rather than the requirement, to revise public waters maps, with specific guidelines for reclassifying wetlands. The bill allows for reclassification of certain wetlands as public waters under specific conditions, such as having a shoreland management classification or being classified as lacustrine wetlands. Local government units, county boards, watershed districts, and soil and water conservation districts will be notified of potential reclassifications and have the ability to object, which would prevent the reclassification from taking effect. The changes are set to become effective on July 1, 2025, providing a clear timeline for implementation of the new provisions.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF1715&ssn=0&y=2025