Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this legislative bill is to facilitate the transfer of certain state-owned lands in Cass County, Minnesota, to a federally recognized Indian Tribe. This transfer aims to return the land to Tribal ownership as it has been deemed not needed for state natural resource purposes.

Main Provisions

• Appropriation of Funds: The bill appropriates $250,000 in fiscal year 2026 to the commissioner of natural resources. This money will cover the costs associated with condemning the specified land, including valuation expenses, legal fees, closings, and other transactional costs.

• Land Condemnation and Transfer: Once the land is condemned, the commissioner of natural resources is authorized to convey the surplus land, which borders public waters, to a federally recognized Indian Tribe without receiving any financial consideration in return.

• Correcting Legal Descriptions: The commissioner is allowed to make necessary adjustments to the legal description of the land to correct errors and ensure it is accurate.

• Land Description: The specific land in question is located in Cass County and includes parts of the Northwest Quarter and Southwest Quarter in Section 27, Township 145 North, Range 28 West.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill allows land to be conveyed to a federally recognized Indian Tribe without consideration, which is not typically permitted under existing Minnesota statutes. This is accomplished by overriding certain state land management statutes to enable the transfer.

Relevant Terms

• Condemnation proceedings
• Federally recognized Indian Tribe
• Natural resource purposes
• State land management interests
• Cass County, Minnesota