SF 3799
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/05/2026 09:04 a.m.
1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7
2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18
2.19 2.20 2.21
2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26
2.27 2.28 2.29 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14
3.15
3.16 3.17
A bill for an act
relating to legacy; modifying provisions of Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and
Trails Commission; extending the availability of previous grants; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 85.536, subdivisions 5, 7, 8, 10; repealing
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 85.536, subdivisions 3, 4.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 85.536, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5.
Districts; plans and hearings.
(a) The commissioner of natural resources, in
consultation with the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Coalition, shall establish
six regional parks and trails districts in the state encompassing the area outside the
seven-county metropolitan area. The commissioner shall establish districts by combining
counties and may not assign a county to more than one district.
(b) The commission shall develop a strategic plan and criteria for determining parks and
trails of regional significance that are eligible for funding from the parks and trails fund and
meet the criteria under subdivision 6.
(c) Counties within each district may jointly prepare, after consultation with all affected
municipalities, and submit to the commission, and from time to time revise and resubmit
to the commission, a master plan for the acquisition and development of parks and trails of
regional significance located within the district. deleted text begin Districtwide plans and master plans for
individual parks and trails must meet the protocols and criteria as set forth in the greater
Minnesota regional parks and trails strategic plan. The counties, after consultation with the
commission, shall jointly hold a public hearing on the proposed plan and budget at a time
and place determined by the counties. Not less than 15 days before the hearing, the counties
shall provide notice of the hearing stating the date, time, and place of the hearing and the
place where the proposed plan and budget may be examined by any interested person. At
any hearing, interested persons shall be permitted to present their views on the plan and
budget.
deleted text end
(d) The commission shall review each master plan to determine whether it meets the
conditions of subdivision 6. If it does not, the commission shall return the plan with its
comments to the district for revision and resubmittal.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 85.536, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7.
Recommendations.
(a) In recommending grants under this section, the
commission shall make recommendations consistent with master plans.
(b) The commission shall determine recommended grant amounts through an adopted
merit-based evaluation process that includes the level of local financial support. The
evaluation process is not subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 14, and section
14.386 does not apply.
(c) When recommending grants, the commission shall consider balance of the grant
benefits across greater Minnesota.
(d) Grants may be recommended only for deleted text begin parks and trailsdeleted text end new text begin projectsnew text end included in a plan
approved by the commission under subdivision 5.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 85.536, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
Subd. 8.
Chair.
The commission shall deleted text begin annuallydeleted text end new text begin bienniallynew text end elect from among its members
a chair and other officers necessary for the performance of its duties.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 85.536, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
Subd. 10.
Report.
The commission shall submit a report by January 15 each year listing
its recommendationsnew text begin by regional parks and trails districtnew text end under subdivision 7deleted text begin , in priority
order,deleted text end to the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees of the senate and house
of representatives with primary jurisdiction over legacy appropriations.
Sec. 5. new text begin PARKS AND TRAILS FUND APPROPRIATION EXTENSIONS.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The availability of the grant to the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad
Authority for the Mesabi Trail project from the parks and trails fund fiscal year 2024
appropriation under Laws 2023, chapter 40, article 3, section 3, paragraph (c), is extended
to June 30, 2027.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The availability of the grant to Olmsted County for the Oxbow Park and Zollman
Zoo project from the parks and trails fund fiscal year 2024 appropriation under Laws 2023,
chapter 40, article 3, section 3, paragraph (c), is extended to June 30, 2027.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The availability of the grant to Stearns County for the Kraemer Lake and Wildwood
County Park project from the parks and trails fund fiscal year 2024 appropriation under
Laws 2023, chapter 40, article 3, section 3, paragraph (c), is extended to June 30, 2027.
new text end
new text begin
(d) The availability of the grant to Redwood County for the Plum Creek Park project
from the parks and trails fund fiscal year 2024 appropriation under Laws 2023, chapter 40,
article 3, section 3, paragraph (c), is extended to June 30, 2027.
new text end
new text begin
(e) The availability of the grant to the city of Sandstone for the Robinson Quarry Park
project from the parks and trails fund fiscal year 2025 appropriation under Laws 2023,
chapter 40, article 3, section 3, paragraph (c), is extended to June 30, 2028.
new text end
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 6. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end
new text begin
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 85.536, subdivisions 3 and 4,
new text end
new text begin
are repealed.
new text end
APPENDIX
Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 26-06550
85.536 GREATER MINNESOTA REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS COMMISSION.
Subd. 3.
First appointments.
The governor shall make the first appointment by June 15, 2013. The governor shall designate six of the first appointees to terms ending on the first Monday in January 2015, and the remainder of the first appointees shall serve terms ending the first Monday in January 2016.
Subd. 4.
First meeting.
The governor or the governor's designee shall convene the first meeting of the commission by July 15, 2013, and shall act as chair until the commission elects a chair. The commission shall elect a chair at its first meeting.