1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; authorizing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to 
1.3 	assist in locating and recovering deceased big game; requiring a report;amending 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 97B.115.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 97B.115, is amended to read:
1.7 	97B.115 COMPUTER-ASSISTED REMOTE HUNTING PROHIBITED.
1.8 	(a) No person shall operate, provide, sell, use or offer to operate, provide, sell or use 
1.9 	any computer software or service that allows a person, not physically present at the site, to 
1.10 	remotely control a weapon that could be used to take any wild animal by remote operation, 
1.11 	including, but not limited to, weapons or devices set up to fire through the use of the Internet 
1.12 	or through a remote control device.
1.13 	(b) A person who violates this section paragraph (a) is guilty of a misdemeanor.
1.14 	(c) Effective January 1, 2026, a person who possesses a remote pilot certificate issued 
1.15 	by the Federal Aviation Administration may use an unmanned aerial vehicle to locate and 
1.16 	retrieve deceased big game.

1.17 	Sec. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES 
1.18 	TO LOCATE AND RETRIEVE DECEASED BIG GAME.
 1.19 	By January 1, 2025, the commissioner of natural resources, in conjunction with interested 
1.20 	stakeholders, must make findings and recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority 
1.21 	members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment 
1.22 	policy on statutory and policy changes needed to facilitate the use of unmanned aerial 
2.1 	vehicles to locate and retrieve deceased big game. The findings and recommendations must 
2.2 	include recommendations for:
2.3 	(1) licensure requirements, including requirements for maintaining insurance;
2.4 	(2) requirements applicable to unmanned aerial vehicles and related equipment;
2.5 	(3) whether an annual fee will be necessary to administer Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.6 	97B.115, paragraph (c);
2.7 	(4) guaranteeing respect for affected owners' property; and
2.8 	(5) any other matters the commissioner deems relevant.