Minnesota Children's Museum funding provided, and money appropriated.
Summary
HF115 amends Minnesota’s environmental statutes to define the term “animal feedlot” in state law. The definition covers lots or buildings used for the confined feeding, breeding, raising, or holding of animals where manure may accumulate or where animal concentration prevents vegetative cover from being maintained. It also expressly includes open lots used for feeding and rearing poultry, while carving out an exception for lots with 12 or fewer chickens.
The bill also clarifies that a pasture is not an animal feedlot. By adding this definition to Minnesota Statutes section 116.06, the bill provides a clearer statutory basis for determining when an animal operation is subject to feedlot-related environmental regulation, permitting, or oversight under state law. The measure was referred to the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy.
Impact
HF115 would add a new statutory definition to Minnesota’s environmental code, specifically section 116.06, which is used in regulating animal agriculture and manure management. The practical effect is to clarify which animal operations qualify as feedlots for purposes of environmental review, permitting, compliance, and enforcement, while excluding pastures and very small chicken lots from that category. This could affect livestock and poultry producers, regulators, and local governments by reducing ambiguity in how feedlot rules are applied.
Sentiment
Based on the available record, there is no committee transcript or vote history showing debate, opposition, or amendments. The bill appears to have been introduced as a technical or clarifying measure and referred to committee without recorded controversy in the materials provided. Because no discussion or roll-call vote is available, the overall sentiment cannot be assessed beyond noting that the bill advanced at least to committee referral.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of debate, based on the bill text, could include whether the definition is broad enough to capture certain poultry operations, whether the 12-chicken exemption is appropriate, and how the exclusion of pastures might affect enforcement. However, the record supplied does not identify any legislators, stakeholders, or interest groups taking positions on those issues.