1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; modifying motorboat operator provisions; modifying 
1.3 	game and fish license, reporting, and penalty provisions; creating penalties for 
1.4 	false statements and alterations of certain applications, licenses, permits, and 
1.5 	registrations; modifying invasive species provisions; requiring off-road vehicle 
1.6 	state trail pass to be available for inspection; modifying provisions for annual 
1.7 	reports on water use; eliminating lake trout expanded assessment harvest; providing 
1.8 	criminal penalties;amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 84.8035, 
1.9 	subdivision 1; 84.82, by adding a subdivision; 84.8205, by adding a subdivision; 
1.10 	84D.01, by adding a subdivision; 84D.05, subdivision 1; 85.053, by adding a 
1.11 	subdivision; 86B.30, subdivision 4; 86B.303, subdivision 2; 86B.306, subdivision 
1.12 	1; 97A.311, subdivisions 1, 2, by adding a subdivision; 97A.411, by adding a 
1.13 	subdivision; 97A.485, subdivision 6; 97C.417; 97C.835, subdivision 2; 103G.291, 
1.14 	subdivision 3; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 84; 
1.15 	85; 86B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97C.836.
1.16 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.17 	Section 1. [84.7885] UNLAWFUL ACTS RELATED TO REGISTRATION.
1.18 		Subdivision 1.Violations. With regard to any registration or temporary registration 
1.19 	issued under section 84.788, it is unlawful for any person or dealer:
1.20 	(1) to issue, obtain, or use a dealer temporary 21-day registration permit without the 
1.21 	intent to follow through with a sale and registration;
1.22 	(2) to obtain, attempt to obtain, or assist in obtaining a registration through 
1.23 	misrepresentation or fraud by knowingly providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or 
1.24 	materially untrue information in the registration application; or
1.25 	(3) to display, cause or permit to be displayed, or have in possession any fictitious or 
1.26 	fraudulent registration or decal.
2.1 		Subd. 2.Penalties. (a) A dealer temporary 21-day registration permit, registration, or 
2.2 	registration sticker that is the subject of a violation under subdivision 1 is void.
2.3 	(b) A person who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor.
2.4 	(c) A dealer who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

2.5 	Sec. 2. [84.7985] UNLAWFUL ACTS RELATED TO REGISTRATION.
2.6 		Subdivision 1.Violations. With regard to any registration or temporary registration 
2.7 	issued under section 84.798, it is unlawful for any person or dealer:
2.8 	(1) to issue, obtain, or use a dealer temporary 21-day registration permit without the 
2.9 	intent to follow through with a sale and registration;
2.10 	(2) to obtain, attempt to obtain, or assist in obtaining a registration through 
2.11 	misrepresentation or fraud by knowingly providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or 
2.12 	materially untrue information in the registration application; or
2.13 	(3) to display, cause or permit to be displayed, or have in possession any fictitious or 
2.14 	fraudulent registration or decal.
2.15 		Subd. 2.Penalties. (a) A dealer temporary 21-day registration permit, registration, or 
2.16 	registration sticker that is the subject of a violation under subdivision 1 is void.
2.17 	(b) A person who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor.
2.18 	(c) A dealer who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

2.19 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.8035, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.20 		Subdivision 1.Pass required; fee. (a) Except as provided under paragraph (c), a person 
2.21 	may not operate an off-road vehicle on a state or grant-in-aid off-road vehicle trail or use 
2.22 	area unless the vehicle displays an operator carries a valid off-road vehicle state trail pass 
2.23 	issued according to this section. The pass must be available to be viewed for inspection by 
2.24 	a peace officer, a conservation officer, or an employee designated under section 84.0835.
2.25 	(b) The commissioner of natural resources shall issue a pass upon application and payment 
2.26 	of the fee. Fees collected under this section, except for the issuing fee for licensing agents, 
2.27 	shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the off-road vehicle account in the 
2.28 	natural resources fund and, except for the electronic licensing system commission established 
2.29 	by the commissioner under section 84.027, subdivision 15, must be used for grants-in-aid 
2.30 	to counties and municipalities for off-road vehicle organizations to construct and maintain 
2.31 	off-road vehicle trails and use areas.
3.1 	(c) An off-road vehicle state trail pass is not required for:
3.2 	(1) an off-road vehicle that is owned and used by the United States, another state, or a 
3.3 	political subdivision thereof that is exempt from registration under section 84.798, subdivision 
3.4 	2;
3.5 	(2) a person operating an off-road vehicle only on the portion of a trail that is owned by 
3.6 	the person or the person's spouse, child, or parent; or
3.7 	(3) a person operating an off-road vehicle that is registered according to section 84.798.
3.8 	(d) The fee for an annual nonresident off-road vehicle state trail pass is $20. The 
3.9 	nonresident pass is valid from January 1 through December 31. The fee for a nonresident 
3.10 	three-year pass is $30.
3.11 	(e) The fee for a resident off-road vehicle state trail pass is $20. The resident pass is 
3.12 	valid for 30 consecutive days after the date of issuance.

3.13 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective upon full implementation of the 
3.14 	replacement electronic license system. The commissioner of natural resources must notify 
3.15 	the revisor of statutes when the replacement electronic license system is fully implemented.

3.16 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.82, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
3.17 	read:
3.18 		Subd. 12.Unlawful acts related to registration. (a) It is unlawful for any person:
3.19 	(1) to issue, obtain, or use a dealer temporary 21-day registration permit without the 
3.20 	intent to follow through with a sale and registration;
3.21 	(2) to register or attempt to register a snowmobile through misrepresentation or fraud 
3.22 	by knowingly providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially untrue information 
3.23 	in the registration application; or
3.24 	(3) to display, cause or permit to be displayed, or have in possession any fictitious or 
3.25 	fraudulent registration or decal.
3.26 	(b) A dealer temporary 21-day registration permit, registration, or decal that is the subject 
3.27 	of a violation under paragraph (a) is void.
3.28 	(c) A person who violates paragraph (a) is guilty of a misdemeanor.
3.29 	(d) A dealer who violates paragraph (a) is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

4.1 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.8205, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
4.2 	read:
4.3 		Subd. 7.Penalties. A person who makes a false statement related to an application for 
4.4 	a snowmobile state trail pass, materially alters or creates a fictitious snowmobile state trail 
4.5 	pass, or uses or attempts to use a materially altered, fictitious, or otherwise fraudulent 
4.6 	snowmobile state trail pass is guilty of a misdemeanor, and the pass is rendered void.

4.7 	Sec. 6. [84.9225] UNLAWFUL ACTS RELATED TO REGISTRATION.
4.8 		Subdivision 1.Violations. With regard to any registration or temporary registration 
4.9 	issued under section 84.922, it is unlawful for any person or dealer:
4.10 	(1) to issue, obtain, or use a dealer temporary 21-day registration permit without the 
4.11 	intent to follow through with a sale and registration;
4.12 	(2) to obtain, attempt to obtain, or assist in obtaining a registration through 
4.13 	misrepresentation or fraud by knowingly providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or 
4.14 	materially untrue information in the registration application; or
4.15 	(3) to display, cause or permit to be displayed, or have in possession any fictitious or 
4.16 	fraudulent registration or decal.
4.17 		Subd. 2.Penalties. (a) A dealer temporary 21-day registration permit, registration, or 
4.18 	registration sticker that is the subject of a violation under subdivision 1 is void.
4.19 	(b) A person who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor.
4.20 	(c) A dealer who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

4.21 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84D.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
4.22 	read:
4.23 		Subd. 6a.Eviscerated. "Eviscerated" means to have the internal organs removed from 
4.24 	the body cavity or to have the gills severed to ensure that an organism is dead.

4.25 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84D.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.26 		Subdivision 1.Prohibited activities. A person may not possess, import, purchase, sell, 
4.27 	propagate, transport, or introduce a prohibited invasive species, except:
4.28 	(1) under a permit issued by the commissioner under section 84D.11;
4.29 	(2) in the case of purple loosestrife, as provided by sections 18.75 to 18.88;
5.1 	(3) under a restricted species permit issued under section 17.457;
5.2 	(4) a person may possess, import, purchase, sell, and transport bighead carp, grass carp, 
5.3 	and silver carp if the fish are eviscerated;
5.4 	(4) (5) when being transported to the department, or another destination as the 
5.5 	commissioner may direct, in a sealed container for purposes of identifying the species or 
5.6 	reporting the presence of the species;
5.7 	(5) (6) when being transported for disposal as part of a harvest or control activity when 
5.8 	specifically authorized under a permit issued by the commissioner according to section 
5.9 	103G.615, when being transported for disposal as specified under a commercial fishing 
5.10 	license issued by the commissioner according to section 97A.418, 97C.801, 97C.811, 
5.11 	97C.825, 97C.831, or 97C.835, or when being transported as specified by the commissioner;
5.12 	(6) (7) when being removed from watercraft and equipment, or caught while angling, 
5.13 	and immediately returned to the water from which they came;
5.14 	(7) (8) when being transported from riparian property to a legal disposal site that is at 
5.15 	least 100 feet from any surface water, ditch, or seasonally flooded land, provided the 
5.16 	prohibited invasive species are in a covered commercial vehicle specifically designed and 
5.17 	used for hauling trash; or
5.18 	(8) (9) as the commissioner may otherwise prescribe by rule.

5.19 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 85.053, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
5.20 	read:
5.21 		Subd. 11.Penalties. A person who makes a false statement related to an application for 
5.22 	a state park permit, materially alters or creates a fictitious state park permit, or uses or 
5.23 	attempts to use a materially altered, fictitious, or otherwise fraudulent state park permit is 
5.24 	guilty of a misdemeanor, and the permit is void.

5.25 	Sec. 10. [85.48] PENALTIES; FALSE STATEMENTS OR ALTERATIONS.
5.26 		Subdivision 1.False statement. A person who makes a false statement related to an 
5.27 	application for a cross-country-ski pass or a horse pass is guilty of a misdemeanor, and the 
5.28 	pass is void.
5.29 		Subd. 2.Altered or fictitious pass. A person who materially alters or creates a fictitious 
5.30 	cross-country-ski pass or horse pass or uses or attempts to use a materially altered, fictitious, 
6.1 	or otherwise fraudulent cross-country-ski pass or horse pass is guilty of a misdemeanor, 
6.2 	and the pass is void.

6.3 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.30, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
6.4 		Subd. 4.Exempt operator. "Exempt operator" means a motorboat operator, including 
6.5 	a personal watercraft operator, who is 12 years of age or older and who:
6.6 	(1) possesses a valid license to operate a motorboat issued for maritime personnel by 
6.7 	the United States Coast Guard under Code of Federal Regulations, title 46, part 10, or a 
6.8 	marine certificate issued by the Canadian government;
6.9 	(2) is not a resident of the state, is temporarily using the waters of the state for a period 
6.10 	not to exceed 60 days, and:
6.11 	(i) meets any applicable requirements of the state or country of residency; or
6.12 	(ii) possesses a Canadian pleasure craft operator's card;
6.13 	(3) is operating a motorboat under a dealer's license according to section 86B.405; or
6.14 	(4) is operating a motorboat during an emergency.; or
6.15 	(5) was born:
6.16 	(i) before July 1, 2004, effective July 1, 2025;
6.17 	(ii) before July 1, 2000, effective July 1, 2026;
6.18 	(iii) before July 1, 1996, effective July 1, 2027; and
6.19 	(iv) before July 1, 1987, effective July 2, 2028.

6.20 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.303, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
6.21 		Subd. 2.Young operators. (a) A young operator may not operate a personal watercraft 
6.22 	or any motorboat powered by a motor with a factory rating of more than 75 horsepower or 
6.23 	more.
6.24 	(b) A young operator may operate a motorboat that is not a personal watercraft and that 
6.25 	is powered by a motor with a factory rating of less than 75 horsepower if an accompanying 
6.26 	operator is in the motorboat.

7.1 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.306, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
7.2 		Subdivision 1.Requirements. A motorboat rental business must not rent or lease a 
7.3 	motorboat, including a personal watercraft, to any person for operation on waters of this 
7.4 	state unless the renter or lessee is 18 years of age or older and:
7.5 	(1) has a valid watercraft operator's permit or;
7.6 	(2) is an exempt operator; and or
7.7 	(2) is 18 years of age or older.
7.8 	(3) has taken the short boater safety examination within the previous 180 days.

7.9 	Sec. 14. [86B.425] UNLAWFUL ACTS RELATED TO LICENSE.
7.10 		Subdivision 1.Violations. With regard to any license issued under section 86B.401, 
7.11 	86B.405, or 86B.411, it is unlawful for any person or dealer:
7.12 	(1) to issue, obtain, or use a temporary license certificate without the intent to follow 
7.13 	through with the license application and sale;
7.14 	(2) to obtain or attempt to obtain a license or registration sticker through misrepresentation 
7.15 	or fraud by knowingly providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially untrue 
7.16 	information in the license application; or
7.17 	(3) to display, cause or permit to be displayed, or have in possession any fictitious or 
7.18 	fraudulent license or registration sticker.
7.19 		Subd. 2.Penalties. (a) A temporary license certificate, license, or registration sticker 
7.20 	that is the subject of a violation under subdivision 1 is void.
7.21 	(b) A person who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor.
7.22 	(c) A dealer who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

7.23 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.311, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
7.24 		Subdivision 1.Altering Fictitious or altered license or permit. A person that alters a 
7.25 	license or permit in a material manner, creates a fictitious license or permit, buys or sells a 
7.26 	fictitious or materially altered license or permit, or uses or attempts to use a materially 
7.27 	altered, fictitious, or otherwise fraudulent license or permit is guilty of a misdemeanor and 
7.28 	subject to the penalties in subdivision 7.

8.1 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.311, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
8.2 		Subd. 2.False statement. A person that knowingly makes a false statement related to 
8.3 	an application for a license, or permit or related to a license, permit, or certificate, required 
8.4 	by or issued under the game and fish laws, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to the 
8.5 	penalties in subdivision 7.

8.6 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.311, is amended by adding a subdivision 
8.7 	to read:
8.8 		Subd. 7.Penalties. A license or permit that is the subject of a violation under subdivision 
8.9 	1 or 2 is void, and the person convicted of violating subdivision 1 or 2 is subject to the 
8.10 	following penalties:
8.11 	(1) upon first conviction, the person may not obtain a license or permit of that type for 
8.12 	one year;
8.13 	(2) upon second conviction, all the person's licenses to take wild animals are void and 
8.14 	the person may not obtain a license to take a wild animal or a permit of that type for one 
8.15 	year; and
8.16 	(3) upon third conviction, all the person's licenses to take wild animals are void and the 
8.17 	person may not obtain a license to take a wild animal or a permit of that type for five years.

8.18 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.411, is amended by adding a subdivision 
8.19 	to read:
8.20 		Subd. 5.Voluntary license invalidation. A person who establishes residency outside 
8.21 	the state may request in writing that their resident licenses be invalidated. No refunds of 
8.22 	the licenses or issuing fees may be issued.

8.23 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.485, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
8.24 		Subd. 6.Licenses to be sold and issuing fees. (a) Persons authorized to sell licenses 
8.25 	under this section must issue the following licenses for the license fee and the following 
8.26 	issuing fees:
8.27 	(1) to take deer or bear with firearms and by archery, the issuing fee is $1;
8.28 	(2) Minnesota sporting, the issuing fee is $1;
8.29 	(3) to take small game, to take fish by angling or by spearing, and to trap fur-bearing 
8.30 	animals, the issuing fee is $1;
9.1 	(4) to apply for a limited hunt drawing, the issuing fee is $1 unless the application requires 
9.2 	a license purchase at the time of application and the license purchase requires an application 
9.3 	fee;
9.4 	(5) for a prairie-chicken license, the issuing fee is $1;
9.5 	(6) for a turkey license, the issuing fee is $1;
9.6 	(7) for an elk license, the issuing fee is $1;
9.7 	(8) for a moose license, the issuing fee is $1;
9.8 	(9) for a wolf license, the issuing fee is $1;
9.9 	(10) for a stamp validation that is not issued simultaneously with a license, an issuing 
9.10 	fee of 50 cents may be charged at the discretion of the authorized seller;
9.11 	(11) for stamp validations issued simultaneously with a license, there is no fee;
9.12 	(12) for licenses, seals, tags, or coupons issued without a fee under section 97A.441, 
9.13 	subdivisions 1 to 6a, or 97A.465, there is no fee;
9.14 	(13) for lifetime licenses, there is no fee; and
9.15 	(14) for all other licenses, permits, renewals, or applications or any other transaction 
9.16 	through the electronic licensing system under this chapter or any other chapter when an 
9.17 	issuing fee is not specified, an issuing fee of $1 may be charged at the discretion of the 
9.18 	authorized seller.
9.19 	(b) Only one issuing fee may be collected when selling more than one stamp in the same 
9.20 	transaction after the end of the season for which the stamp was issued.
9.21 	(c) The agent shall keep the issuing fee as a commission for selling the licenses.
9.22 	(d) The commissioner shall collect the issuing fee on licenses sold by the commissioner.
9.23 	(e) A receipt for a license, except stamps, must state the amount of the issuing fee and 
9.24 	that the issuing fee is kept by the seller as a commission for selling the licenses.
9.25 	(f) For duplicate licenses, including licenses issued without a fee, the issuing fees are:
9.26 	(1) for licenses to take big game, 75 cents; and
9.27 	(2) for other licenses, 50 cents.

9.28 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective upon full implementation of the 
9.29 	replacement electronic license system. The commissioner of natural resources must notify 
9.30 	the revisor of statutes when the replacement electronic license system is fully implemented.

10.1 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97C.417, is amended to read:
10.2 	97C.417 REPORTING INVASIVE CARP.
10.3 	A person who takes any of the following invasive carp species must report the type of 
10.4 	carp taken to the commissioner within seven days of taking:
10.5 	(1) grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella);
10.6 	(2) bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis); or
10.7 	(3) silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix).; or
10.8 	(4) black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus).

10.9 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97C.835, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
10.10 		Subd. 2.Types of fish permitted. Lake trout, ciscoes, chubs, alewives, lake whitefish, 
10.11 	round whitefish, pygmy whitefish, rainbow smelt, common carp, burbot, and native rough 
10.12 	fish may be taken by licensed commercial fishing operators from Lake Superior, in 
10.13 	accordance with this section.

10.14 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 103G.291, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
10.15 		Subd. 3.Water supply plans; demand reduction. (a) Every public water supplier 
10.16 	serving more than 1,000 people must submit a water supply plan to the commissioner for 
10.17 	approval by January 1, 1996. In accordance with guidelines developed by the commissioner, 
10.18 	the plan must address projected demands, adequacy of the water supply system and planned 
10.19 	improvements, existing and future water sources, natural resource impacts or limitations, 
10.20 	emergency preparedness, water conservation, supply and demand reduction measures, and 
10.21 	allocation priorities that are consistent with section 103G.261. Public water suppliers must 
10.22 	update their plan and, upon notification, submit it to the commissioner for approval every 
10.23 	ten years.
10.24 	(b) The water supply plan in paragraph (a) is required for all communities in the 
10.25 	metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, with a municipal water supply system and 
10.26 	is a required element of the local comprehensive plan required under section 473.859.
10.27 	(c) Public water suppliers serving more than 1,000 people must encourage water 
10.28 	conservation by employing water use demand reduction measures, as defined in subdivision 
10.29 	4, paragraph (a), before requesting approval from the commissioner of health under section 
10.30 	144.383, paragraph (a), to construct a public water supply well or requesting an increase in 
10.31 	the authorized volume of appropriation. The commissioner of natural resources and the 
11.1 	water supplier shall use a collaborative process to achieve demand reduction measures as 
11.2 	a part of a water supply plan review process.
11.3 	(d) Public water suppliers serving more than 1,000 people must submit records that 
11.4 	indicate the number of connections and amount of use by customer category and the volume 
11.5 	of real and apparent water unaccounted for losses with the annual report of water use required 
11.6 	under section 103G.281, subdivision 3.
11.7 	(e) For the purposes of this section, "public water supplier" means an entity that owns, 
11.8 	manages, or operates a public water supply, as defined in section 144.382, subdivision 4.

11.9 	Sec. 23. REPEALER.
 11.10 	Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97C.836, is repealed.

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 26-06075 

97C.836 LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE TROUT; EXPANDED ASSESSMENT HARVEST.
The commissioner shall provide for taking of lake trout by licensed commercial operators in Lake Superior management zones MN-3 and MN-2 for expanded assessment and sale. The commissioner shall authorize expanded assessment taking and sale of lake trout in Lake Superior management zone MN-3 beginning annually in 2007 and zone MN-2 beginning annually in 2010. Total assessment taking and sale may not exceed 3,000 lake trout in zone MN-3 and 2,000 lake trout in zone MN-2 and may be reduced when necessary to protect the lake trout population or to manage the effects of invasive species or fish disease. Taking lake trout for expanded assessment and sale shall be allowed from June 1 through September 30, but may end earlier in the respective zones if the quotas are reached. The quotas must be reassessed at the expiration of the current ten-year Fisheries Management Plan for the Minnesota Waters of Lake Superior.