Committee lays over bill to form Minnesota sustainable foraging task force after broad testimony from foragers and DNR

The Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee on March 5 heard extensive testimony on House File 819, which would establish a Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force to develop science‑based recommendations on foraging access and possible permitting on state lands.

Representative Fue (Schultz) sponsored the measure and introduced an author’s DE2 amendment that the committee adopted to clarify membership and scope. The bill would convene a multi‑stakeholder task force including foraging experts, tribal representatives, agency staff and legislators to evaluate sustainable harvest practices and public access.

Why it matters: foraging — from berry picking and mushrooms to wild rice harvest — connects many Minnesotans to the outdoors and to cultural foodways. Supporters, including the Minnesota Mycological Society and foraging educators, said the task force will allow stakeholders to co‑produce data and rules rather than reacting to unilateral agency rulemaking. Peter Martignacco, president of the Minnesota Mycological Society, said the group wants “thoughtful policy and regulation to guide the future management of this outdoor pursuit.” Chef Alan Burgo said the task force should be “scientifically sound, data driven and culturally sensitive.”

The Department of Natural Resources described its previous outreach and concerns about concentrated removals at some state parks. Assistant Commissioner Bob Meyer said state staff had paused earlier park‑specific rule efforts after public concerns and recommended that baseline population and ecological data are needed. “To say that we don't support foraging is just false,” Meyer said, adding that rules should reflect differences among state land types and that funding would be required to support task‑force research and operations.

Committee members emphasized tradeoffs between public access and resource protection. Representative Hansen said she supported access but opposed commercial harvest on public lands. Representative Purcell asked about language that would require the commissioner to implement task‑force recommendations or explain why not; the DNR said Chapter 14 rulemaking already allows substantial public process and cautioned that the task force’s recommendations should be weighed across multiple land types and tribal interests.

Outcome: Representative Schultz moved to lay House File 819 over for possible inclusion in future bills; the committee agreed to lay the bill over and will continue discussions and technical work.