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Proposal to allow purple‑paint marking for posted land moves forward; DNR enforcement urges clarity on visibility and maintenance
Summary
Senate File 742 would allow property owners to use purple paint marks on trees to indicate posted private property in lieu of signs. DNR enforcement supports clearer visibility and maintenance requirements and offered to work on technical amendments; the bill was laid over for possible inclusion.
Senate File 742, offered by Senator Wiesenberg, would provide landowners an option to mark property boundaries with purple paint in place of or in addition to statutory signage to indicate no‑trespassing areas.
Why it matters: Current Minnesota trespass law requires signage at specified intervals; supporters say paint marks provide a lower‑cost, low‑profile option that can make boundaries clearer in some lot configurations. Several other states have adopted similar “purple paint” laws as an alternative posting method.
Testimony and concerns: Lieutenant Colonel Robert Grecki of the Minnesota DNR Enforcement Division told the committee the agency supports any change that makes it easier for landowners and the public to see posted boundaries but raised concerns about the draft language. Grecki recommended adding requirements used in other states: minimum visibility standards, maximum spacing between marked trees, and a reapplication schedule so marks do not fade and create enforcement uncertainty. He said the current draft lacked those measures, which could make it harder for the public to know where boundaries begin and end and for officers to enforce the law.
Committee members suggested possible refinements such as requiring corners to be posted, encouraging non‑toxic paint, and ensuring marks are sufficiently large (an example figure of 8‑inch stripes was mentioned). Members also discussed alternatives such as ribbons; some senators said paint is more durable than ribbon which can blow off. DNR enforcement said it was willing to work with the author to craft visibility, spacing and maintenance language.
Outcome: The committee laid Senate File 742 over for possible inclusion; DNR and the author agreed to continue negotiation on technical amendments.
What’s next: Sponsors and DNR enforcement staff plan to work on language that would add measurable requirements for visibility, spacing and repaint intervals, and to consider guidance for non‑toxic paint options or signage/ribbon alternatives.
