HF 2362

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/18/2015 10:48am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; allowing counties to file no net gain policies;
requiring land sales; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.056, by
adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97A.056, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 20. new text end

new text begin No net gain; counties. new text end

new text begin (a) A county may file a no net gain of state lands
policy, adopted by the county board, with the commissioner of natural resources. The
policy must express the county's policy against the acquisition of additional land by the
state within the county.
new text end

new text begin (b) When the commissioner of natural resources acquires private land within a
county that has filed a no net gain of state lands policy under this subdivision, and the
land was acquired in fee with money appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund, the
commissioner of natural resources must sell to a private individual or entity an equal
number of acres of land within the county. The value of the land sold must be of at
least substantially equal value of the lands acquired. Notwithstanding section 94.10,
subdivision 2, if lands being offered for sale to comply with this subdivision remain unsold
after a public sale offering, the lands may be sold for less than the appraised value. Land
sold under this paragraph must not be sold for less than 75 percent of the appraised value.
new text end

new text begin (c) For the purposes of this subdivision, "substantially equal value" has the meaning
given under section 94.343, subdivision 3, paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin Paragraph (a) is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end