HF 4222

1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/23/2026 06:44 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to state government; modifying acquisition provisions; adding to and
deleting from certain state parks; authorizing sales and conveyances of certain
state and county lands; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 84.0272,
subdivisions 1, 2; 84.96, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.0272, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Acquisition procedure.

When the commissioner of natural resources is
authorized to acquire deleted text begin lands or interests in lands deleted text end new text begin fee title or an easement interest in land, new text end the
procedure set forth in this section deleted text begin shall apply deleted text end new text begin applies new text end . The commissioner of natural resources
shall first prepare a fact sheet showing the lands to be acquired, the legal authority for their
acquisition, and the qualities of the land that make it a desirable acquisition. The
commissioner of natural resources shall cause the lands to be appraised. An appraiser shall
before entering upon the duties of office take and subscribe an oath to faithfully and
impartially discharge the duties as appraiser according to the best of the appraiser's ability
and that the appraiser is not interested directly or indirectly in any of the lands to be appraised
or the timber or improvements thereon or in the sale thereof and has entered into no
agreement or combination to purchase the same or any part thereof, which oath shall be
attached to the report of the appraisal. The commissioner of natural resources may pay less
than the appraised value, but shall not agree to pay more than ten percent above the appraised
value, except that if the commissioner pays less than the appraised value for a parcel of
land, the difference between the purchase price and the appraised value may be used to
apply to purchases at more than the appraised value. The sum of accumulated differences
between appraised amounts and purchases for more than the appraised amount may not
exceed the sum of accumulated differences between appraised amounts and purchases for
less than the appraised amount. New appraisals may be made at the discretion of the
commissioner of natural resources.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.0272, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Stream easements.

(a) Notwithstanding subdivision 1, the commissioner may
acquire permanent stream easements for angler access, fish management, and habitat work
new text begin and easements to access permanent stream easements acquired under this subdivision new text end for
a onetime payment based on a value attributed to deleted text begin both deleted text end the stream deleted text begin and deleted text end new text begin , new text end the easement corridor new text begin ,
and any access easement new text end . The payment deleted text begin shall equal deleted text end new text begin equals new text end :

(1) the per linear foot of stream within the easement corridor times $5; plus

(2) the easement corridor acres times the estimated market value deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; plus
new text end

new text begin (3) the access corridor acres times the estimated market value.
new text end

(b) The estimated market value is equal to:

(1) the agricultural market value plus the rural vacant market value plus the managed
forest market value; divided by

(2) the acres of agricultural land plus the rural vacant land plus the managed forest land.

(c) The agricultural market value, rural vacant market value, and managed forest market
value or equivalent are determined from data collected by the Department of Revenue during
its annual spring mini abstract survey. If the Department of Revenue changes its property
type groups for its annual spring mini abstract survey, the agricultural market value, the
rural vacant market value, and the managed forest market value shall be determined by the
commissioner from data collected by the Department of Revenue in a manner that provides
the most reasonable substitute for the market values as presently reported. The commissioner
must use the most recent available data for the city or township within which the easement
corridor is located.

(d) The commissioner shall periodically review the easement payment rates under this
subdivision to determine whether the stream easement payments reflect current shoreland
market values. If the commissioner determines that the easements do not reflect current
shoreland market values, the commissioner shall report to the senate and house of
representatives natural resources policy committees with recommendations for changes to
this subdivision that are necessary for the stream easement payment rates to reflect current
shoreland market values. The recommendations may include an adjustment to the dollar
amount in paragraph (a), clause (1).

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.96, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Access easement. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may acquire easements to access native
prairie acquired under this section. The commissioner may pay the landowner or land
administrator for access easements an amount equal to or less than 50 percent of the payment
rate under subdivision 5.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin ADDITIONS TO STATE PARKS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin [85.012] [Subd. 21.] Frontenac State Park, Goodhue County. new text end

new text begin The
following area is added to Frontenac State Park: Lot 3, Block 1, VILLA MARIA ADDITION,
according to the recorded plat thereof, Goodhue County, Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin [85.012] [Subd. 24a.] Great River Bluffs State Park, Winona County. new text end

new text begin The
following area is added to Great River Bluffs State Park: the West Half of the Southeast
Quarter of the Northeast Quarter, Section 33, Township 106 North, Range 5 West, Winona
County, Minnesota.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin DELETION FROM STATE PARK.
new text end

new text begin [85.012] [Subd. 42.] Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, Mille Lacs County. The following
area is deleted from Mille Lacs Kathio State Park: that part of Government Lot 3, Section
33, Township 43 North, Range 27 West, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, lying easterly of
the easterly right-of-way line of U.S. Trunk Highway 169. Excepting therefrom the following
described tract of land: commencing at the northwest corner of said Government Lot 3, said
corner being marked by a 2-½-inch aluminum post with brass cap (Bureau of Land
Management Monument); thence North 89 degrees 43 minutes 55 seconds East, assumed
bearing, along the north line of said Government Lot 3, a distance of 1,076.85 feet to the
point of beginning of the land to be described; thence continuing North 89 degrees 43
minutes 55 seconds East, along said north line, a distance of 40.88 feet to a ¾-inch iron rod
with disk stamped MN DNR PROPERTY; thence continuing North 89 degrees 43 minutes
55 seconds East, along said north line, a distance of 299.64 feet to a ¾-inch rebar with
plastic cap stamped MN DNR LS 47461; thence South 14 degrees 26 minutes 27 seconds
East, a distance of 170.18 feet to a ¾-inch iron rod with disk stamped MN DNR PROPERTY;
thence South 89 degrees 43 minutes 55 seconds West, a distance of 413.14 feet to a ¾-inch
iron rod; thence continuing South 89 degrees 43 minutes 55 seconds West, a distance of
10.50 feet; thence North 07 degrees 53 minutes 17 seconds East, a distance of 70.68 feet;
thence North 18 degrees 01 minute 43 seconds East, a distance of 100.09 feet to the point
of beginning.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin PUBLIC SALE OF SURPLUS LAND BORDERING PUBLIC WATER;
BECKER COUNTY.
new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 92.45, the commissioner of natural
resources may sell by public sale the surplus land bordering public water that is described
in paragraph (c).
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may make necessary changes to the legal description to correct
errors and ensure accuracy.
new text end

new text begin (c) The land that may be sold is located in Becker County and is described as: all that
part of Government Lot 1, Section 9, Township 138 North, Range 43 West, Becker County,
Minnesota, bounded by the water's edge of Rossman Lake and the following described
lines: commencing at meander corner No. 17 located at the northwesterly corner of said
Government Lot 1; thence North 89 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds East on an assumed
bearing 98.96 feet on and along the north line of said Section 9; thence South 10 degrees
10 minutes 30 seconds East, 233.06 feet to a point on the centerline of a township road and
the point of beginning; thence South 10 degrees 10 minutes 30 seconds East, 355.37 feet
on and along the centerline of said township road; thence South 87 degrees 05 minutes 10
seconds East, 33.46 feet to the northwesterly corner of Erickson Shores, a plat recorded in
the Office of the Register of Deeds, Becker County; thence South 87 degrees 05 minutes
10 seconds East, 443.59 feet on and along the north line of said plat to the northwesterly
corner of Lot 1 of Block 1 of said plat; thence North 58 degrees 09 minutes 38 seconds
East, 135 feet, more or less, on and along the north line of said Lot 1 of Block 1 to the
water's edge of said Rossman Lake and there terminating. And also, from the point of
beginning; thence North 88 degrees 40 minutes 54 seconds East, 263 feet, more or less, to
the water's edge of Rossman Lake and there terminating. Including all riparian rights to the
contained 4.3 acres, more or less, and subject to all existing easements.
new text end

new text begin (d) The land borders Rossman Lake and is not contiguous to other state lands. The
Department of Natural Resources has determined that the land is not needed for natural
resource purposes and that the state's land management interests would best be served if
the land was returned to private ownership.
new text end

Sec. 7. new text begin PRIVATE SALE OF SURPLUS LAND BORDERING PUBLIC WATER;
MILLE LACS COUNTY.
new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, sections 92.45, 94.09, and 94.10, the
commissioner of natural resources may sell by private sale the surplus land bordering public
water that is described in paragraph (c) to a federally recognized Indian Tribe, subject to
the state's reservation of access and dam easements over the land described in paragraph
(c) if the state elects to reserve such easements.
new text end

new text begin (b) The land must not be sold for less than the appraised value. The buyer must reimburse
the commissioner for all costs and expenses, including staff costs, incurred by the
commissioner in making the property salable and in selling the property. The commissioner
may make necessary changes to the legal description to correct errors and ensure accuracy.
new text end

new text begin (c) The land that may be sold is all of or a portion of the land located in Mille Lacs
County and described as: that part of Government Lot 3, Section 33, Township 43 North,
Range 27 West, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, lying easterly of the easterly right-of-way
line of U.S. Trunk Highway 169. Excepting therefrom the following described tract of land:
commencing at the northwest corner of said Government Lot 3, said corner being marked
by a 2-½-inch aluminum post with brass cap (Bureau of Land Management Monument);
thence North 89 degrees 43 minutes 55 seconds East, assumed bearing, along the north line
of said Government Lot 3, a distance of 1,076.85 feet to the point of beginning of the land
to be described; thence continuing North 89 degrees 43 minutes 55 seconds East, along said
north line, a distance of 40.88 feet to a ¾-inch iron rod with disk stamped MN DNR
PROPERTY; thence continuing North 89 degrees 43 minutes 55 seconds East, along said
north line, a distance of 299.64 feet to a ¾-inch rebar with plastic cap stamped MN DNR
LS 47461; thence South 14 degrees 26 minutes 27 seconds East, a distance of 170.18 feet
to a ¾-inch iron rod with disk stamped MN DNR PROPERTY; thence South 89 degrees
43 minutes 55 seconds West, a distance of 413.14 feet to a ¾-inch iron rod; thence continuing
South 89 degrees 43 minutes 55 seconds West, a distance of 10.50 feet; thence North 07
degrees 53 minutes 17 seconds East, a distance of 70.68 feet; thence North 18 degrees 01
minute 43 seconds East, a distance of 100.09 feet to the point of beginning.
new text end

new text begin (d) The land to be sold borders on Mille Lacs Lake. The Department of Natural Resources
has determined that the state's land management interests would best be served if the land
was conveyed to a federally recognized Indian Tribe.
new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin PRIVATE CONVEYANCE OF SURPLUS LAND BORDERING PUBLIC
WATER; PINE COUNTY.
new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, sections 92.45, 94.09, and 94.10, the
commissioner of natural resources may convey by private sale the surplus land bordering
public water that is described in paragraph (c) for no consideration, subject to the state's
reservation of an access easement over the land described in paragraph (c).
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may make necessary changes to the legal description to correct
errors and ensure accuracy.
new text end

new text begin (c) The land that may be conveyed is located in Pine County and is described as: that
part of the West 105 feet of the West 205 feet of that part of Lot 48, Auditor's Subdivision
of Section 24, Township 41, Range 21, Pine County, Minnesota, lying South of a line
described as follows: commencing at a point on the west line of said Lot 48, 570 feet South
of the northwest corner of said lot; thence southeasterly to a point in the east line of said
Lot 48, midway between the northeast corner and the southeast corner of said lot, and lying
North of the northerly water's edge of the North Branch of the Grindstone River, including
all riparian rights.
new text end

new text begin (d) The land borders the Grindstone River. The Department of Natural Resources has
determined that the conveyance will ensure that the private landowners have continued
access to the Grindstone River after the Grindstone River dam is removed and the channel
restored to a natural alignment.
new text end

Sec. 9. new text begin PRIVATE SALE OF TAX-FORFEITED LAND; ST. LOUIS COUNTY.
new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding the public sale provisions of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 282, or
other law to the contrary, St. Louis County may sell by private sale the tax-forfeited land
described in paragraph (c).
new text end

new text begin (b) The conveyance must be in a form approved by the attorney general. The attorney
general may make changes to the land description to correct errors and ensure accuracy.
new text end

new text begin (c) The land to be sold is located in St. Louis County and is described as:
new text end

new text begin Government Lot 2, EXCEPT the South 760 feet; AND EXCEPT that part of Government
Lot 2, shown as Parcel 75 on Minnesota Department of Transportation Right of Way
Plat No. 69-181, Section 18, Township 62 North, Range 20 West.
new text end

new text begin (d) The county has determined that the county's land management interests would best
be served if the land was returned to private ownership to resolve a structure encroachment.
new text end

Sec. 10. new text begin PRIVATE SALE OF LAND; ST. LOUIS COUNTY.
new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding the public sale and competitive bidding requirements of Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 373, or other law to the contrary, St. Louis County may sell by private sale
the county fee-owned lands described in paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin (b) The lands to be sold are located in St. Louis County, Section 34, Township 51 North,
Range 18 West, and are described as:
new text end

new text begin (1) Lots 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12, Block B, including part of the vacated alley adjacent and
including part of vacated 3rd Avenue adjacent, Brookston;
new text end

new text begin (2) Lots 4 thru 9, Block B, including part of the vacated alley adjacent, and including
part of 3rd Street S adjacent to Lots 6 and 7, and including part of 3rd Avenue adjacent to
Lots 4 thru 6 tool house, Brookston; and
new text end

new text begin (3) that part of the South Half of the Northeast Quarter lying southerly of the Brookston
Plat and westerly of County State-Aid Highway 31.
new text end

new text begin (c) St. Louis County has determined that the county's interest would best be served if
the lands were sold.
new text end

Sec. 11. new text begin PRIVATE CONVEYANCE OF SURPLUS LAND BORDERING PUBLIC
WATER; WABASHA COUNTY.
new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, sections 92.45, 94.09, and 94.10, the
commissioner of natural resources may convey by private sale the surplus land that is
described in paragraph (c) to the city of Elgin for no consideration.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may make necessary changes to the legal description to correct
errors and ensure accuracy.
new text end

new text begin (c) The land that may be conveyed is located in Wabasha County and is described as:
new text end

new text begin (1) OUTLOT A, OUTLOT B, and OUTLOT C of WHITEWATER WAY, according
to the plat on file and of record in the Office of the County Recorder in and for Wabasha
County, Minnesota; and
new text end

new text begin (2) that part of the West Half of the Northeast Quarter of Section 27, Township 108
North, Range 12 West, Wabasha County, Minnesota, described as follows: beginning at a
point of intersection of the north line of the south 165.00 feet of the Northwest Quarter of
the Northeast Quarter of said Section 27, with the east line of the West Half of the Northeast
Quarter of said Section 27; thence on an assumed bearing of North 89 degrees 44 minutes
01 second West, along said north line of the south 165.00 feet, a distance of 250 feet, more
or less, to the centerline of the North Fork of the White Water River; thence northeasterly
along said centerline, to a point of intersection with the east line of the West Half of the
Northeast Quarter of said Section 27; thence South 00 degrees 11 minutes 14 seconds East,
along said east line to the point of beginning.
new text end

new text begin (d) The Department of Natural Resources has determined that the land is not needed for
natural resource purposes and that the state's land management interests would best be
served if the land was conveyed to and used by the city of Elgin for nonmotorized public
recreation and public fishing access.
new text end

new text begin (e) The conveyance must provide that the lands revert to the state if the city of Elgin:
new text end

new text begin (1) fails to provide the public use intended on the property;
new text end

new text begin (2) without the written approval of the commissioner, allows a public use other than the
public use agreed to by the commissioner at the time of conveyance; or
new text end

new text begin (3) abandons the public use of the property.
new text end

new text begin (f) The commissioner must require that the city of Elgin reimburse the commissioner
for all costs and expenses, including staff costs, incurred by the commissioner in making
the property salable and in conveying the property.
new text end

Sec. 12. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 4 to 11 are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end