HF 1146 Summary

• Establishes a public access to habitat program administered by the Board of Water and Soil Resources allowing landowners to contract for public walk-in access easements on private property for outdoor recreation.

• Board may use outdoor heritage fund or nonstate revenue from local sporting organizations to pay landowners, with payments potentially including all or any portion of the landowner's property tax liability for the contract year.

• Land enrolled in the program must be marked with signage at 1,000-foot intervals (or 500 feet in wooded areas) and at primary corners and access points, with exceptions for corners only accessible through agricultural land.

• Public access permitted by foot for outdoor recreation without owner permission, but visitors prohibited from damaging property, harming domestic animals, destroying fences or structures, or leaving gates open.

• Appropriates $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2010 and $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2011 from the outdoor heritage fund for landowner contract payments, with no more than $200,000 per biennium available for staff salaries and program administration.