SF 4441
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/18/2026 09:05 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; designating the Core Moose Range; establishing a
Moose Co-Stewardship Committee and moose restoration and research account;
requiring a report; providing rulemaking authority; transferring and appropriating
money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.505; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 97B.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.505, is amended to read:
97B.505 MOOSE SEASON AND RESTRICTIONS.
new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner may, by rule, prescribe deleted text begin the opendeleted text end new text begin a bull-only moosenew text end season and
the areas and conditions for deleted text begin thedeleted text end taking deleted text begin ofdeleted text end moosedeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin when:
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(1) population size, survival, and recruitment thresholds are met;
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(2) habitat indices indicate sustained capacity; and
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(3) the Moose Co-Stewardship Committee approves the harvest quota.
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(b) A harvest quota must be jointly reviewed annually by Tribal biologists and Department
of Natural Resources biologists.
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(c) The commissioner may, by rule, prescribe processes for awarding moose licenses,
including lotteries and auctions.
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Sec. 2.
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[97B.512] MOOSE CO-STEWARDSHIP.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Core Moose Range; designation. new text end
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(a) The 1854 Ceded Territory is
designated as Minnesota's Core Moose Range. The commissioner must manage moose as
a priority species within the Core Moose Range.
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(b) The commissioner, commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency, Board of Water
and Soil Resources, and Environmental Quality Board must align land, forest, wildlife, and
climate policies within the Core Moose Range to support moose restoration and ecosystem
health.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Moose Co-Stewardship Committee. new text end
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The commissioner must establish a Moose
Co-Stewardship Committee. The committee must include members representing:
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(1) the Department of Natural Resources;
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(2) the 1854 Treaty Authority;
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(3) the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa;
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(4) the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa;
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(5) the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa;
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(6) federal land management agencies;
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(7) conservation organizations; and
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(8) the timber and forest products industry.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Duties. new text end
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The Moose Co-Stewardship Committee must:
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(1) develop and maintain a management plan for the Core Moose Range;
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(2) coordinate moose habitat restoration and monitoring;
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(3) review moose population data and harvest recommendations annually; and
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(4) ensure decisions reflect best available science and Indigenous knowledge.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Moose restoration and research account. new text end
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The moose restoration and research
account is created in the game and fish fund. Revenue from moose licenses, moose license
auctions, and moose license lotteries must be credited to the moose restoration and research
account and is appropriated to the commissioner for:
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(1) moose research;
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(2) moose habitat restoration and enhancement;
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(3) moose monitoring; and
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(4) expenses of the Moose Co-Stewardship Committee and other moose co-stewardship
activities.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Report. new text end
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By January 15 each year, the commissioner must submit a report to
the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over environment and natural resources detailing moose:
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(1) population trends;
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(2) habitat restoration outcomes:
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(3) economic impacts; and
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(4) co-stewardship activities.
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Sec. 3. new text begin TRANSFER.
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$....... in fiscal year 2027 is transferred from the general fund to the commissioner of
natural resources to the moose habitat restoration and research account. This is a onetime
transfer.
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