Bill > HF1425

This bill prohibits the Minnesota Commissioner of Natural Resources from selling any state-owned land located wholly or partially within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The bill defines "state-owned land" broadly, including lands acquired through condemnation, university lands granted by Congress, and any other lands under the commissioner's control. While the bill prevents outright sales, it does not prohibit land exchanges within the wilderness area. The legislation effectively repeals a previous statute (Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 92.82) that had allowed for potential private sales of surplus state land within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Counties. The bill aims to protect these lands from being sold, with an effective date of the day following its final enactment. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a significant protected wilderness area in northeastern Minnesota, known for its pristine lakes, forests, and recreational opportunities, and this bill seeks to preserve state-owned lands within this environmentally sensitive region.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF1425&ssn=0&y=2025