HF4594
Commissioner of natural resources prohibited from limiting number of native rough fish taken in one day or number possessed.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)
Related bill: SF3877
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- To change how native rough fish are managed by removing limits on how many such fish can be taken in one day or how many can be possessed.
Main Provisions
- Adds a new subdivision (Subdivision 4) to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 97C.401 with the label “Native rough fish.”
- Stipulates that, despite existing rules (Notwithstanding subdivision 1), the commissioner of natural resources must not prescribe any limits on:
- the number of native rough fish that may be taken in one day, or
- the number of native rough fish that may be possessed.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Replaces or overrides any daily take limits or possession limits specifically for native rough fish by stating there must be no prescribed limits.
- The change is enacted by adding a new subdivision to the current statute, shifting management from numeric restrictions to (effectively) no numeric limits for native rough fish.
Potential Impacts
- Fisheries management: Removes a regulatory cap for native rough fish harvest, which could affect fish populations, ecosystem balance, and long-term sustainability strategies.
- Fishing practice: Could lead to increased harvest numbers for those targeting native rough fish, potentially changing fishing behavior, markets, and gear use.
- Enforcement and oversight: May require adjustments in enforcement priorities and monitoring if there are no new limits to enforce for native rough fish.
Notes on Terminology
- Key term: native rough fish
- Related terms: commissioner of natural resources, daily take limits, possession limits, Notwithstanding subdivision 1, Minnesota Statutes 2024 §97C.401, Subd. 4, Section 97C.401
Relevant Terms - native rough fish - commissioner of natural resources - daily take limits - possession limits - Notwithstanding subdivision 1 - Minnesota Statutes 2024 §97C.401 - Subd. 4 - Section 97C.401 - fisheries management - regulation - harvest limits
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds Subd. 4 to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 97C.401: Native rough fish. Notwithstanding subdivision 1, the commissioner must not prescribe limits on the number of native rough fish that may be taken in one day or possessed."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill adds a new subdivision to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 97C.401 prohibiting the commissioner from prescribing limits on the number of native rough fish that may be taken in one day or possessed. The new subdivision is Subd. 4 and begins with 'Native rough fish', including a 'Notwithstanding subdivision 1' clause referencing subdivision 1.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "97C.401",
"subdivision": "Subd. 4"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee