Minnesota Legislature
HF 1301
as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 02/20/2025 02:49pm
Bill Text Versions
| Engrossments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Posted on 02/20/2025 |
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; authorizing the use of unmanned aircraft to assist in
locating and recovering deceased big game; requiring a report; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2024, section 97B.115.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97B.115, is amended to read:
97B.115 COMPUTER-ASSISTED REMOTE HUNTING deleted text begin PROHIBITEDdeleted text end .
(a) No person shall operate, provide, sell, use or offer to operate, provide, sell or use
any computer software or service that allows a person, not physically present at the site, to
remotely control a weapon that could be used to take any wild animal by remote operation,
including, but not limited to, weapons or devices set up to fire through the use of the Internet
or through a remote control device.
(b) A person who violates deleted text begin this sectiondeleted text end new text begin paragraph (a)new text end is guilty of a misdemeanor.
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(c) Effective January 1, 2027, a person who possesses a remote pilot certificate issued
by the Federal Aviation Administration may use a small unmanned aircraft system, as
defined under section 360.013, to locate deceased big game for retrieval.
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Sec. 2. new text begin RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TO
LOCATE DECEASED BIG GAME.
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By January 1, 2026, the commissioner of natural resources, in conjunction with interested
stakeholders, must make findings and recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment
policy on statutory and policy changes needed to facilitate the use of small unmanned aircraft
systems to locate deceased big game for retrieval. The findings and recommendations must
include recommendations for:
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(1) licensure requirements, including requirements for maintaining insurance;
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(2) requirements applicable to unmanned aircraft and related equipment;
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(3) whether an annual fee will be necessary to administer Minnesota Statutes, section
97B.115, paragraph (c);
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(4) guaranteeing respect for affected owners' property; and
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(5) any other matters the commissioner deems relevant.
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