Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Present: Senator Foung Hawj - Chair, Senator Jennifer A. McEwen - Vice Chair, Senator Steve Green - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Steve Drazkowski, Senator Grant Hauschild, Senator Ann M. Johnson Stewart, Senator Mary K. Kunesh, Senator Andrew R. Lang, Senator Nathan Wesenberg
Absent: Senator John A. Hoffman
3:00 PM, 1150 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Minutes
Present: Senator Foung Hawj - Chair, Senator Jennifer A. McEwen - Vice Chair, Senator Steve Green - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Steve Drazkowski, Senator Grant Hauschild, Senator Ann M. Johnson Stewart, Senator Mary K. Kunesh, Senator Andrew R. Lang, Senator Nathan Wesenberg
Absent: Senator John A. Hoffman
Senator Foung Hawj called the meeting to order at 3:10pm. Quorum is present. Senator Hauschild joins remotely.
Call to Order
S.F. 4228: Senator Hauschild: Acquisition provisions modification.
Senator Hauschild offers the following amendments: A2, A3, A6, and A7. Senator Hauschild moves, all passed by a voice. The following individuals testified on S.F.4228: --Lorie Klein, Lands Attorney, DNR --John Johnson, Itasca County --Richard Libbey, Wes Libbey Northern Lakes Chapter --Izaak Walton League of America (REMOTE)
Senator Hauschild moved that S.F. 4228, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Finance Committee. - MOTION ADOPTED.
Senator Hauschild offers the following amendments: A2, A3, A6, and A7. Senator Hauschild moves, all passed by a voice. The following individuals testified on S.F.4228: --Lorie Klein, Lands Attorney, DNR --John Johnson, Itasca County --Richard Libbey, Wes Libbey Northern Lakes Chapter --Izaak Walton League of America (REMOTE)
Senator Hauschild moved that S.F. 4228, be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Finance Committee. - MOTION ADOPTED.
S.F. 3852: Senator Johnson Stewart: Certain users of large amounts of groundwater requirement to apply for their own water-use permit instead of modifying an existing municipal permit.
Senator Johnson Stewart offers the A3 amendment, moves, passed by a voice vote. The following individuals testified on S.F.3852: o Andrew Hillman, Water Resources Specialist, MCEA o Janelle Kuznia o William Bonin, Geologist, Midwest Geological Consulting o Jason Moeckel, Assistant Director, Ecological and Water Resources, DNR o Andrew Morley, Director of Environmental Policy, MN Chamber of Commerce o Jim Berg, Hydrologist o Mo Feshami o Peter Wagenius, Legislative Director, Sierra Club o Jenna VenDenBoom, Stop the Monticello Data Centers Group (REMOTE) o Dr. Louis Schwartzkopf and Isaiah (REMOTE)
Senator Hawj moved that S.F. 3852, as amended, laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION ADOPTED.
Senator Johnson Stewart offers the A3 amendment, moves, passed by a voice vote. The following individuals testified on S.F.3852: o Andrew Hillman, Water Resources Specialist, MCEA o Janelle Kuznia o William Bonin, Geologist, Midwest Geological Consulting o Jason Moeckel, Assistant Director, Ecological and Water Resources, DNR o Andrew Morley, Director of Environmental Policy, MN Chamber of Commerce o Jim Berg, Hydrologist o Mo Feshami o Peter Wagenius, Legislative Director, Sierra Club o Jenna VenDenBoom, Stop the Monticello Data Centers Group (REMOTE) o Dr. Louis Schwartzkopf and Isaiah (REMOTE)
Senator Hawj moved that S.F. 3852, as amended, laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. - MOTION ADOPTED.
S.F. 1245: Senator McEwen: Commissioner of natural resources requirement to consider decommissioning a road or trail designated for off-highway vehicle use under certain circumstances.
The following individuals testified on S.F.1245: o Kelly Applegate, Commissioner of Natural Resources, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (REMOTE) o Gretchen Mehmel, Retired DNR Wildlife Manager (REMOTE) o Susan Schubert, Minnesota Public Lands Coalition o Jeff Birchem (REMOTE) o Greg Kvale, Board Member, Minnesota Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (REMOTE) o Dr. Laura Preus, Statewide Programs & Planning Section Manager, DNR o Karen Graham o Willis Mattison, Izaak Walton League of America (REMOTE) o Jodie Provost (REMOTE) o Bruce Anderson, MN Chapter of the Wildlife Society (written testimony read by Shep Harris) o Jackie Junek-Monahan (REMOTE) o Ron Potter, President, ATV Minnesota o Kory Cease, Itasca County Land Commissioner o Chris Bjork, ARMCA o Geoff Salmos, MN 4 Wheel Drive Association o Nathan Eide
Senator McEwen moved that S.F. 1245, be laid over. - MOTION ADOPTED.
The following individuals testified on S.F.1245: o Kelly Applegate, Commissioner of Natural Resources, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (REMOTE) o Gretchen Mehmel, Retired DNR Wildlife Manager (REMOTE) o Susan Schubert, Minnesota Public Lands Coalition o Jeff Birchem (REMOTE) o Greg Kvale, Board Member, Minnesota Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (REMOTE) o Dr. Laura Preus, Statewide Programs & Planning Section Manager, DNR o Karen Graham o Willis Mattison, Izaak Walton League of America (REMOTE) o Jodie Provost (REMOTE) o Bruce Anderson, MN Chapter of the Wildlife Society (written testimony read by Shep Harris) o Jackie Junek-Monahan (REMOTE) o Ron Potter, President, ATV Minnesota o Kory Cease, Itasca County Land Commissioner o Chris Bjork, ARMCA o Geoff Salmos, MN 4 Wheel Drive Association o Nathan Eide
Senator McEwen moved that S.F. 1245, be laid over. - MOTION ADOPTED.
S.F. 4215: Senator Hawj: Various motorboat, fishing licenses, off-road vehicle, and water use provisions.
Not heard.
Not heard.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:19pm
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Senator Foung Hawj, Chair |
Maikao Vue, Legislative Assistant |