Bill Summary

• Creates the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission with 12 governor-appointed members representing 12 regional parks and trails districts outside the seven-county metropolitan area.

• Commission provides system planning and legislative recommendations for parks and trails grants to counties and cities in greater Minnesota through the parks and trails fund.

• Establishes criteria for regional significance including natural resource base, at least 30 percent non-local user visits, 20,000+ annual visitors, minimum 100 acres for parks, and trail connections to existing state or regional trails.

• Commission evaluates grant recommendations using merit-based process considering local financial support (25 percent match preferred) and balanced distribution across greater Minnesota.

• Amends Minnesota Statutes section 10A.01 to designate commission members as public officials subject to ethics and disclosure requirements.