HF 601

1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 04/11/2025 08:28am

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; appropriating money for depredation compensation
payments.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; DEPREDATION COMPENSATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $125,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of agriculture for compensation for livestock destroyed or crippled by a wolf under Minnesota
Statutes, section 3.737. The commissioner may use up to $5,000 to reimburse expenses
incurred by university extension educators to provide fair market values of destroyed or
crippled livestock. If the commissioner receives federal funding to pay claims for destroyed
or crippled livestock, an equivalent amount of this appropriation may be used to reimburse
nonlethal prevention methods performed by federal wildlife services staff. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026.
new text end

new text begin (b) $125,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of agriculture for compensation for crop or fence damage caused by elk under Minnesota
Statutes, section 3.7371. The commissioner may use up to $10,000 of the appropriation to
reimburse expenses incurred by the commissioner or the commissioner's approved agent
to investigate and resolve claims, as well as for costs associated with training for approved
agents. The commissioner may use up to $40,000 of the appropriation to make grants to
producers for measures to protect stored crops from elk damage. If the commissioner
determines that claims made under Minnesota Statutes, section 3.737 or 3.7371, are unusually
high, amounts appropriated for either program may be transferred to the appropriation for
the other program. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026.
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