SF 1297

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 07/15/2025 10:52 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; establishing Keep it Clean program; appropriating
money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivisions 11, 12;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97C.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivision 11, is amended to read:

Subd. 11.

Fish houses, dark houses, and shelters; residents.

new text begin (a) new text end Fees for the following
licenses are:

(1) annual for a fish house, dark house, or shelter that is not rented, $15;

(2) annual for a fish house, dark house, or shelter that is rented, $30;

(3) three-year for a fish house, dark house, or shelter that is not rented, $42; and

(4) three-year for a fish house, dark house, or shelter that is rented, $87.

new text begin (b) A $10 surcharge must be added to all licenses under paragraph (a) and must be
deposited into the Keep it Clean account under section 97C.364, subdivision 3.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.475, subdivision 12, is amended to read:

Subd. 12.

Fish houses, dark houses, and shelters; nonresident.

new text begin (a) new text end Fees for fish house,
dark house, and shelter licenses for a nonresident are:

(1) annual, $37;

(2) seven consecutive days selected by the licensee, $21; and

(3) three-year, $111.

new text begin (b) A $10 surcharge must be added to all licenses under paragraph (a) and must be
deposited into the Keep it Clean account under section 97C.364, subdivision 3.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [97C.364] KEEP IT CLEAN PROGRAM; GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner, in consultation with the Board of
Water and Soil Resources and the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency and
health, must develop and administer a statewide Keep it Clean program to prevent water
pollution due to garbage and human waste left on the ice of state waters during winter use
activities. As part of the program, the commissioner must:
new text end

new text begin (1) coordinate with and provide outreach to local units of government and
nongovernmental organizations;
new text end

new text begin (2) facilitate other state agencies' participation in local programs and projects;
new text end

new text begin (3) coordinate media efforts;
new text end

new text begin (4) establish a statewide education campaign; and
new text end

new text begin (5) develop and administer a grant program according to subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must develop a grant program to provide money
to local units of government and nongovernmental organizations to implement local programs
to prevent water pollution due to garbage and human waste left on the ice of state waters
during winter use activities. Activities eligible for grants under this subdivision include but
are not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) installing and maintaining public, sanitary, winterized dumping stations at accessible,
designated locations near lake access points and major travel corridors;
new text end

new text begin (2) providing dedicated seasonal services, facilities, and containers to transport and
dispose of human and pet biowaste at preapproved locations;
new text end

new text begin (3) increasing enforcement of related state and local ordinances by providing the resources
needed to increase state and local law enforcement patrols during the winter months and
establishing volunteer county programs for winter lake patrol;
new text end

new text begin (4) education and outreach efforts promoting local and regional Keep it Clean activities;
new text end

new text begin (5) organizing spring cleanup efforts, excluding cleanup efforts after significant events,
including but not limited to festivals, ice fishing contests, and ice races; and
new text end

new text begin (6) local advertising and marketing efforts to educate and promote Keep it Clean
messaging and provide information about laws and regulations regarding Keep it Clean.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Keep it Clean account. new text end

new text begin The Keep it Clean account is created in the state treasury
in the game and fish fund.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Receipts. new text end

new text begin Money received from surcharges on fish houses, dark houses, and
shelters under section 97A.475, subdivisions 11 and 12, must be deposited in the Keep it
Clean account.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Use of account money. new text end

new text begin Money credited to the Keep it Clean account in
subdivision 3 must be used for managing the Keep it Clean program and grants under this
section.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of natural resources to develop and administer the Keep it Clean program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 97C.364. Of this amount, at least $....... is available for grants.
new text end

new text begin (b) $....... in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the Keep it Clean account in the game
and fish fund to the commissioner of natural resources to develop and administer the Keep
it Clean program under Minnesota Statutes, section 97C.364. Of this amount, at least $.......
is available for grants.
new text end