Senate committee adopts several DNR technical and policy amendments; omnibus bill laid over

The Minnesota Senate Environment, Climate and Legacy Committee on April 1 advanced several amendments to Senate File 2345, the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) annual policy and technical bill, and laid the bill over for possible inclusion in an omnibus package.

Senate File 2345 contains a range of agency-requested technical changes spanning land-acquisition reporting, off-road vehicle trail pass display, invasive carp handling, commercial harvest rules for Lake Superior burbot, and corrections to the public waters inventory language.

The committee approved an A1 author's amendment to extend the sunset for crossbow hunting through June 30, 2026 to allow the DNR more time to complete a required report. DNR staff supported the extension. The A2 amendment, offered to expand angling access for student anglers, converted an existing closed winter season to a catch-and-release period for student anglers so they can participate in high-school and youth fishing events earlier in the year; Jimmy Bell, president of the Student Angler Organization in Minnesota, testified in support and the DNR indicated support as well. The committee adopted the A2 amendment.

Several other amendments were debated. Senator Green offered an amendment (A6) to create a civil remedy and penalty against conservation officers that would allow a private civil action and a $500 penalty if a court found rights were violated; the assistant commissioner asked that language reference "peace officer" rather than "conservation officer" and noted the matter would best be handled in Judiciary. Senator Green withdrew the amendment to allow further drafting.

Senator Jokowski offered an A4 amendment to phase out the state's shotgun-zone limitation for deer hunting in southern Minnesota in a two-step timeline (some counties in 2025, remainder in 2027); the amendment passed after discussion. Sponsor and DNR witnesses emphasized that counties retain preemption-based authority to regulate firearms discharge within their local jurisdictions.

DNR legislative coordinator Adam Dahl summarized the agency-requested technical provisions, including repeal of an antiquated biannual land-acquisition report, clarifying that state trail passes need to be available for inspection rather than displayed on off-road vehicles, allowing possession and commerce in dead, eviscerated invasive carp (to permit productive use while minimizing biological risk), allowing burbot caught as bycatch in Lake Superior commercial fisheries to be retained, and correcting language around the public waters inventory updates to avoid mandatory reclassification that could have tax implications.

The committee discussed concerns about enforcement, license restrictions tied to unpaid penalties, and population- and enforcement-related implications of proposed fishing-stamp or two-line endorsements. Senator Lena floated, then withdrew, an A7 amendment proposing a walleye-stamp endorsement to allow a two-line endorsement and raise revenue; the DNR asked to work on details and the author withdrew the amendment for additional consultation.

Committee members laid Senate File 2345 over for possible inclusion. The DNR and stakeholders will continue technical work on several items and redraft language where senators requested changes for later committee or Judiciary review.