Video & Transcript Research : 'DNR'
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MN
Transcript Highlights:
- We do have a large amount of non-taxable land from the University of Minnesota Forestry Center, DNR parcels
Bills:
HF568, HF433, HF1689, HF3135, HF3137, HF3145, HF2887, HF2819, HF2802, HF2664, HF2267, HF799, HF800, HF3049, HF296, HF580, HF1438, HF1237
Keywords:
special education, education funding, construction, Minnesota, regional educational programs, HF433, Cloquet Area Fire District, fire station, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, general obligation bonds, public safety, emergency services, fire protection, local infrastructure, Minnesota capital budget, DEED grant, municipal facilities, station construction
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, we do have a large amount of non-taxable land from the University of Minnesota forestry center, DNR
- Uh, we do have a large amount of non-taxable land from the University of Minnesota forestry center, DNR
Bills:
HF568, HF433, HF1689, HF3135, HF3137, HF3145, HF2887, HF2819, HF2802, HF2664, HF2267, HF799, HF800, HF3049, HF296, HF580, HF1438, HF1237
Keywords:
special education, education funding, construction, Minnesota, regional educational programs, HF433, Cloquet Area Fire District, fire station, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, general obligation bonds, public safety, emergency services, fire protection, local infrastructure, Minnesota capital budget, DEED grant, municipal facilities, station construction
MN
Bills:
HF604, HF1972, HF578, HF1951, HF629, HF864, HF874, HF1155, HF884, HF2365, HF643, HF234, HF2655, HF2637, HF2535, HF2530, HF2344, HF584, HF524
Keywords:
airport funding, bonds, transportation, capital investment, Karlstad, community center, Breckenridge, state bonds, economic development, HF578, Faribault, River Bend Nature Center, bonding bill, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR grant, nature center, visitor center, environmental education, multicultural center
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Since the DNR is required by law to reforest harvested acres, without sufficient bonding funds, the DNR
- Over the past decade, the annual DNR Over the past decade, the annual DNR forest<00:45:03.320>
- The DNR needs $8 million The DNR needs $8 million per<00:45:34.760>
biennium <00:45:35.320- <00:46:34.680>
offering DNR offering DNR offering fewer<00:46:36.240>acres <00:46:36.520- , Engineers, by the Minnesota DNR, Engineers, by the Minnesota DNR, Department<01:02:48.360>
of - The DNR needs $8 million The DNR needs $8 million per<00:45:34.760>
Bills:
HF4156, HF3835, HF3995, HF4383, HF4091, HF4084, HF4311, HF198, HF4486, HF4302, HF4309, HF4032, HF3855, HF3673, HF4265, HF4012, HF4339, HF4298, HF3852
Keywords:
infrastructure, wastewater, stormwater, Buhl, state bonds, appropriations, economic development, water infrastructure, grants, capital investment, funding, state regulation, Frazee, North River Drive, infrastructure improvements, HF4383, Minnesota capital investment, bonding bill, Department of Natural Resources, DNR
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/24/26 - Part 2
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Bills:
HF2354, HF3407, HF4359, HF4192, HF3356, HF3695, HF1597, HF3155, HF3871, HF4437, HF4446, HF3990
Keywords:
medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, ghost guns, unserialized firearms, 3D-printed guns, 3D printer firearms, CNC milling, home-built firearms, firearm serialization, serial numbers, unfinished frame, unfinished receiver, ghost gun ban, gun control, firearm design files, CAD files, digital gun blueprints
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/24/26 - Part 1
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'll maybe just thank the DNR for bringing this to me. Thank the Colonel.
Bills:
HF2354, HF3407, HF4359, HF4192, HF3356, HF3695, HF1597, HF3155, HF3871, HF4437, HF4446, HF3990
Keywords:
medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, ghost guns, unserialized firearms, 3D-printed guns, 3D printer firearms, CNC milling, home-built firearms, firearm serialization, serial numbers, unfinished frame, unfinished receiver, ghost gun ban, gun control, firearm design files, CAD files, digital gun blueprints
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/26/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- > work and the DNR DNR continuing to work and the DNR DNR continuing to work together<00:10:18.920
- you know, checked out by the DNR. you know, checked out by the DNR.
- Klein or uh the DNR Ms.
- with protecting aquifers, DNR is. with protecting aquifers, DNR is.
- Anyone from the DNR?
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- When DNR receives an appropriation for a project the department has been awarded funding for, DNR will
- Additionally, DNR paid approximately Additionally, DNR paid approximately $5,000<00:07:21.520>
to< - read quickly seemed like they're DNR. read quickly seemed like they're DNR.
- DNR takes those as we all know.
- uh, a DNR appropriation. uh, a DNR appropriation.
Bills:
HF3564
Summary:
The Legacy Finance Committee met to approve the prior meeting minutes and then heard a presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on its performance audit of the Department of Natural Resources’ administration of Outdoor Heritage Fund grants. OLA explained that the DNR generally complied with the criteria tested, but the audit identified two main problem areas: grant payments and grant monitoring. The audit covered 13 grants, mostly legislatively named grants awarded in fiscal year 2020, and reviewed agreements, amendments, payments, monitoring, and some site visits.
OLA reported that for three grantees, totaling about $400,000, invoices lacked enough detail to determine whether costs were allowable, and about $5,000 was paid to two grantees without sufficient supporting documentation. The auditors also said DNR lacked policies defining allowable costs and what “directly related to and necessary” means under state law. On monitoring, DNR missed required annual visits for six grants, made payments on current progress reports that were missing or not on file, and had weaknesses in closeout evaluations, including missing required elements, late completion, and two grants with no closeout evaluation at all. OLA recommended stronger documentation, clearer guidelines with the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, timely monitoring and closeout, obtaining progress reports before payment, and improved internal controls.
Members reacted strongly to the findings, especially the repeated failures to follow grant procedures and the risks of legislatively named grants and advance payments. Representative Heintzeman and Vice Chair Skraba questioned whether the issues reflected broader problems in state grant oversight and asked about prepayments, follow-up, and whether more legislative action was needed. OLA officials said they do not rely on self-attestation, but instead retest agencies after 2 to 3 years, and noted a new annual update-report process that will track whether agencies implement prior recommendations. Judy Randall, the Legislative Auditor, said the laws and policies already exist and emphasized that the issue is ensuring agency staff follow them; she also said most recommendations in the recent update report had been implemented. No further committee action or vote was taken on the audit during this portion of the meeting.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 04/14/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- Assistant Commissioner Myers, welcome. amendment from the DNR. Okay. amendment from the DNR. Okay.
- , from the DNR, from the DNR, page<00:36:41.920>
1. - DNR appointees.
- Division of Forestry at the DNR. Division of Forestry at the DNR.
- years have been with the Minnesota DNR. years have been with the Minnesota DNR.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/17/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- transfers, but I'll let the DNR speak transfers, but I'll let the DNR speak about<00:03:18.960><
- name is Lori Klein, attorney for the DNR name is Lori Klein, attorney for the DNR Division<00:03
- Each year the DNR Lands Bill today.
- administered state land or affecting DNR administered state land or DNR<00:04:09.760>
land <00 - This This change will clarify that DNR This This change will clarify that DNR pays<00:04:47.920>
Keywords:
Melissa Hortman, Mark Hortman, memorial park, state park, working group, Minnesota Historical Society, Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, Saint Paul, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Administration, Legislative Coordinating Commission, general fund appropriation, park planning, interpretive services, public engagement, state memorial, land use, natural resources, commemorative legislation, environment
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Environment committee hears HF1012 3/20/25
Transcript Highlights:
- What DNR has said is best practices.
- What DNR has said is best practices.
- DNR and others say there are best management practices and the 2007 DNR planning and guideline manual
- Uh and uh DNR has some share that.
- <00:35:49.119>
and recommendations are from the DNR and recommendations are from the DNR and
Summary:
The committee heard House File 1012, as amended by the A1 amendment, and the author moved the bill to be laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill. The amendment, adopted on a voice vote, changed the timing for public input in trail planning, removed language on decommissioning trails, and combined the measure with another ATV-fee bill. The author said the bill would unify ATV trail signage policy statewide, align statute with DNR best practices, and not affect the forest trail inventory, existing ATV-accessible miles, or hunting exemptions.
Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives of the Minnesota Public Lands Coalition, tribal officials from the Max Band and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, a retired DNR conservation officer, a retired wildlife manager, and the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, argued the bill would better protect wetlands, wildlife habitat, and culturally significant areas, improve transparency and tribal consultation, and make trail planning and enforcement more workable. The EQB said the amended bill’s rulemaking timeline was more workable, and the DNR described its existing multi-step trail review and consultation process.
Opponents, including ATV Minnesota, county commissioners from northern counties, and a representative of the Minnesota Trappers Association, argued the bill would burden or restrict existing trail systems, increase costs, and threaten tourism and local economies. They said current trail development already involves DNR and local review, and that the bill could reduce access for riders, trappers, and other users. In member questions, the author and a Minnesota Association of Townships representative said the bill was intended to codify DNR best practices and bring local governments into the process earlier, while confirming that hunting exemptions were not removed.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House environment panel considers HF3007 4/3/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm the director of the Ecological and Water Resources Division at Minnesota DNR.
- I'm the director of the Ecological and Water Resources Division at Minnesota DNR.
- The DNR has identified potential limitations of such an atlas.
- The DNR has identified potential limitations of such an atlas.
- This is something that I've had some very good input from the DNR.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/25
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- DNR when you say that appraisal is dated DNR when you say that appraisal is dated when<00:31:21.760><
- Earlier this year, we received an email, those of us at DNR as well as partners with the DNR, about a
- <01:03:46.400>
Pat deputy director DNR Pat deputy director DNR Pat Rivers<01:03:48.480> - we received an email those of us at DNR we received an email those of us at DNR as<01:04:04.039>
- <01:25:09.600>
I'm program leader with Minnesota DNR I'm program leader with Minnesota DNR
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 4/3/25
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Is that going to be the individual DNR guys?
- individual DNR individual DNR guys<00:03:21.360>
um <00:03:21.760>I <00:03:21.840>< - <01:09:48.960>
and initial conversations with the DNR and initial conversations with the DNR - >
DNR <01:10:38.239>discounts <01:10:38.840>those general feeling the DNR discounts - <01:10:47.840>
new provision that gives the DNR new provision that gives the DNR new ambiguous
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Environment Committee Meeting - 2025-04-03
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Is that going to be the individual DNR guys?
- Perhaps if the DNR is here, they can... Is there someone from the DNR that could clarify?
- Having the region completely dictated by the Met Council or DNR.
- The DNR has identified potential limitations of such an atlas.
- Information and report it to DNR or be in violation of the law?
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Agriculture committee considers HF40 3/24/25
Transcript Highlights:
- According to the DNR we're up to.
- The DNR did what very hard to interpret.
- Um, nor are any DNR that I'm unaware of.
- The DNR has concerns about changes proposed in this bill.
- Um, my question is for the DNR again.
Summary:
House File 40, authored by Representative Burkel, was heard and laid over. The bill would remove the statutory requirement that farmed deer/elk facilities maintain a physical barrier preventing contact with wild deer, and it would also strike language allowing revocation of registration and seizure/destruction of animals for fencing or escape violations. Burkel argued the current law is unfair to deer farmers, treats them differently than other livestock producers, and amounts to a regulatory taking of a legal agricultural enterprise.
Supporters from the Minnesota Elk Breeders Association and Minnesota Deer Farmers Association said the 2023 secondary-fence requirement is expensive, difficult to implement on long-established properties, and has pushed some breeders out of the industry. They described costs ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, said the DNR’s guidance is case-by-case and unclear, and argued that the penalty structure is too harsh for what they view as minor or unavoidable escape incidents. One testifier said the industry is being driven out of business and that the state should help pay for the fencing if it remains required.
The DNR opposed the bill. Its enforcement representative said the physical-contact barrier is intended to reduce the risk of chronic wasting disease transmission and that removing penalties would leave little incentive for compliance. He said the agency continues to work with the roughly 10 noncompliant whitetail farms and that the DNR provides case-by-case review because farm topography varies. In committee questions, members discussed whether wild deer commonly travel along fence lines, whether ear-tagged deer have been found, and whether there is a standard approved fence design; the DNR said there is no single standard fence, only suggestions and review. Representative Burkel closed by reiterating his support for the bill and the committee then laid it over.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 5/27/26
Transcript Highlights:
- Jason comes to DNR Fish and Wildlife most immediately from DNR Parks and Trails, but also previously
- species unit at the Minnesota DNR. species unit at the Minnesota DNR.
- been working with um the Minnesota DNR been working with um the Minnesota DNR to<00:49:37.040>
- We also work with Wisconsin DNR.
- was really critical to informing DNR was really critical to informing DNR scoping<00:58:14.000><
Summary:
The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council met on May 27, 2026, approved the January 7 minutes and the day’s agenda, and reported no conflicts of interest. The executive director gave staff updates, including introductions of new staff member Cara Castanza and DNR liaison Jason Co., both of whom were welcomed by the council. Members were also informed about three minor easement/conveyance matters in the packet, including a small Bowser easement impact with about $1,600 returned to the Outdoor Heritage Fund, a Minnesota Land Trust easement request involving a DNR trout stream easement, and an access easement revision in Itasca County. The council also noted several upcoming dedication events and a June field tour in southeast Minnesota beginning in Winona on June 16, with visits to Whitewater WMA, bluff prairie and stream sites, and a river segment if a boat is secured.
A major agenda item was a legislative session recap on the Outdoor Heritage Fund portion of Senate File 2077, the omnibus Outdoor Heritage Fund, Legacy, and Lands bill. Staff reported that all council recommendations were incorporated into the bill, which passed both chambers on May 17 and was expected to be signed by the governor. The fiscal year 2027 Outdoor Heritage Fund recommendations covered 53 programs totaling about $188.9 million, with the February forecast increasing the appropriation slightly so the final total was about $191.16 million; eligible programs were proportionately increased. Staff also highlighted a few changes made during the legislative process, including adjustments to the Roso Lake rehabilitation phase three project, the conservation partners legacy grant language, and statutory provisions affecting the council.
The recap also covered policy changes in the bill: a public member term limit of eight years, with a short vacancy exception and transition rules for current members; a revised executive director hiring process allowing the Legislative Coordinating Commission to provide support while preserving the council’s final hiring authority and permitting closed meetings for candidate discussions; and an extension of the Upper Mississippi River invasive carp deterrent design deadline to June 30, 2027. Members discussed the Roso Lake amendment at length, with Senator Lang and Representative Burkel explaining that the added delay and injunction-related language were intended to address local concerns and preserve the council’s process while litigation proceeds. The meeting ended without any additional formal action beyond receiving the updates and discussion.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force 10/8/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 02/13/25
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:18:17.200>
for money that was put on for the DNR for money that was put on for the DNR - um specific work the DNR grants unit provides<00:19:01.679>
at <00:19:01.919>DNR <00:19 - The City of Chaska is 5.7 acres and is not through the DNR.
- The City of Chaska is 5.7 acres and is not through the DNR.
- He also thanked the DNR and Mr.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/17/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- actually gets a contract with the DNR. actually gets a contract with the DNR.
- That goes to the DNR.
- panel, and that money goes to the DNR. panel, and that money goes to the DNR.
- They will re That goes to the DNR.
- properties um that are going to the DNR. properties um that are going to the DNR.