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Committee lays over bill limiting warrantless searches by conservation officers after contentious hearing
Summary
Senate File 956 would restrict conservation officers' authority to conduct warrantless searches and seizures; the DNR enforcement director warned of public‑safety impacts and partner confusion, sponsors said the bill restores Fourth Amendment protections and parity with other peace officers; the committee laid the bill over for further work.
Senate File 956, a proposal to limit warrantless searches and seizures by conservation officers, prompted a contentious hearing on March 20 and was laid over for further study.
Senator Green, sponsor of the bill, said the measure was intended to require conservation officers to follow the Fourth Amendment and a 2001 directive that advised officers to obtain consent or a warrant before entering fish houses. He said complaints from constituents across northern Minnesota reflected a loss of trust stemming from what they describe as aggressive searches and seizures by DNR enforcement staff.
Steve Port…
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