SF3704 - State Lands Bill Summary

• Establishes application and monitoring fees for easements on state lands: $2,000 application fee plus estimated monitoring fee, with commissioner authority to waive fees if easement benefits state land management interests.

• Allows counties to enter 30-year leases of tax-forfeited land for wind energy, recreational trails, and facilities; increases lease term limit from 10 to 25 years and consideration threshold from $12,000 to $50,000 annually.

• Authorizes counties to convey conservation easements on tax-forfeited land with DNR consultation, and establishes land acquisition trust fund in St. Louis County for reinvesting sale proceeds in better-suited lands.

• Adds land to Myre-Big Island State Park (Freeborn County), deletes extensive areas from Cloquet Valley State Forest (St. Louis County), and adds areas to Riverlands State Forest (St. Louis County).

• Authorizes public or private sale of surplus state lands bordering public water in multiple counties (Cass, Fillmore, Hennepin, Itasca, Lake, Pine, Sherburne) and conveyance of tax-forfeited land in Goodhue County; eliminates sunset provision for St. Louis County lakeshore lot sales authority.