SF 1717

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

Posted on 04/28/2026 09:44 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to state government; establishing a working group to develop
recommendations for a Melissa and Mark Hortman state park in the Capitol Area;
requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin MELISSA AND MARK HORTMAN MEMORIAL STATE PARK
WORKING GROUP.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Melissa and Mark Hortman Memorial State Park working group. new text end

new text begin (a)
The Melissa and Mark Hortman Memorial State Park working group consists of the following
members:
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new text begin (1) the governor or the governor's designee;
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new text begin (2) the commissioner of administration or the commissioner's designee;
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new text begin (3) the commissioner of natural resources or the commissioner's designee;
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new text begin (4) the chair of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board or the chair's designee;
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new text begin (5) the executive director of the Minnesota Historical Society or the executive director's
designee;
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new text begin (6) the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate committees with primary
jurisdiction over the Department of Administration and Department of Natural Resources
or their designees;
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new text begin (7) the co-chairs of the house of representatives committees with primary jurisdiction
over the Department of Administration and Department of Natural Resources or their
designees; and
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new text begin (8) the mayor of the city of St. Paul or the mayor's designee.
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new text begin (b) Appointing authorities must submit their appointments to the executive director of
the Legislative Coordinating Commission no later than July 15, 2026.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Recommendations. new text end

new text begin The working group must make recommendations for the
creation of the Melissa and Mark Hortman Memorial State Park within the Capitol Area as
defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 15B.02, including:
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new text begin (1) identifying the roles and responsibilities of the commissioners of administration and
natural resources, the Minnesota Historical Society, and the Capitol Area Architectural and
Planning Board related to the administration of the park, including assigning the roles and
responsibilities for providing educational programming, interpretive services, planning
processes for physical changes, and public engagement activities within the park; and
new text end

new text begin (2) funding recommendations for establishing and maintaining the park and related
programming.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Chair. new text end

new text begin The working group must elect a chair at its first meeting from among
its legislative members.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Administrative support; meetings. new text end

new text begin (a) The Legislative Coordinating
Commission must provide administrative support and convene the first meeting by August
15, 2026.
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new text begin (b) The working group must meet at regular intervals as often as necessary to develop
the recommendations under subdivision 2.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Per diem; expenses. new text end

new text begin Members of the working group serve without pay, except
that legislative members may receive per diem from their respective legislative bodies
according to the rules of their respective legislative bodies. All members may be reimbursed
for expenses incurred as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By February 1, 2027, the working group must submit a written report
containing its recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house
of representatives and senate committees with primary jurisdiction over the Department of
Administration and the Department of Natural Resources. The report must include draft
legislation, if needed, to implement the recommendations of the working group. The working
group expires March 15, 2027, or upon submission of the report required by this subdivision,
whichever occurs later.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $86,000 in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the general fund to the Legislative
Coordinating Commission for the administrative costs of the Melissa and Mark Hortman
Memorial State Park working group. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end