Minnesota SF 3915: Wild-rice water pesticide protection provisions modifications

Status: Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development (as of 2026-02-26)

State: Minnesota · Session: 2025-2026 · Bill: SF 3915

Subjects: Agriculture and Agriculture Department, Fertilizers and Pesticides, Natural Resources and Natural Resources Department, Pollution and Pollution Control Agency

Sponsors: Kunesh

Bill Text

1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to agriculture; modifying pesticide provisions to protect wild-rice water;
1.3 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 18B.01, by adding a subdivision;
1.4 18B.03, by adding a subdivision; 18B.04; 18B.045; 18B.063; 18B.305.
1.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18B.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.7 to read:
1.8 Subd. 33.Wild-rice water."Wild-rice water" means any body of water:
1.9 (1) identified as supporting or capable of supporting wild rice on any list, inventory, or
1.10 map maintained by the Pollution Control Agency or the Department of Natural Resources;
1.11 (2) that lies within, or abuts and flows into, Indian country, as defined in United States
1.12 Code, title 18, section 1151; or
1.13 (3) identified using the appropriation in Laws 2025, First Special Session chapter 1,
1.14 article 2, section 2, subdivision 3, paragraph (z), as a water in which uncultivated wild rice
1.15 grows.
1.16 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18B.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to
1.17 read:
1.18 Subd. 6.Wild-rice waters enforcement.The commissioner may take enforcement
1.19 action under chapter 18D for a violation of this chapter or any rule adopted under this chapter
1.20 that results in adverse effects to a wild-rice water. Violations that result in adverse effects
1.21 to a wild-rice water are not minor violations for purposes of section 18D.301, subdivision
1Sec. 2.
26-06990 as introduced02/18/26 REVISOR BD/MG
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 3915NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: KUNESH)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading640502/26/2026
Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

2.1 2. The commissioner must deposit any penalty collected under this subdivision in the
2.2 pesticide regulatory account in section 18B.05.
2.3 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18B.04, is amended to read:
2.4 18B.04 PESTICIDE IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT.
2.5 (a) The commissioner shall:
2.6 (1) determine the impact of pesticides on the environment, including the immediate and
2.7 biocumulative impacts on sediment, soil, surface water, and groundwater, including wild-rice
2.8 water, in this state;
2.9 (2) develop best management practices involving pesticide distribution, storage, handling,
2.10 use, and disposal; and
2.11 (3) cooperate with and assist other state agencies; Minnesota Tribal governments, as
2.12 defined in section 10.65; and local governments to protect public health, wild-rice waters,
2.13 pollinators, and the environment from harmful exposure to pesticides.
2.14 (b) The commissioner may assemble a group of experts under section 16C.10, subdivision
2.15 2, to consult in the investigation of pollinator deaths or illnesses or the pollution of wild-rice
2.16 water. The group of experts may include representatives from local, state, and federal
2.17 agencies; Minnesota Tribal governments; academia, including the University of Minnesota;
2.18 the state pollinator bank; or other professionals as deemed necessary by the commissioner.
2.19 The amount necessary for the purposes of this paragraph, not to exceed $100,000 per fiscal
2.20 year, is appropriated from the pesticide regulatory account in section 18B.05.
2.21 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18B.045, is amended to read:
2.22 18B.045 PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
2.23 Subdivision 1.Development.The commissioner shall develop a pesticide management
2.24 plan for the prevention, evaluation, and mitigation of occurrences of pesticides or pesticide
2.25 breakdown products in groundwaters and surface waters, including wild-rice waters, of the
2.26 state. The pesticide management plan must include components promoting prevention,
2.27 developing appropriate responses to the detection of pesticides or pesticide breakdown
2.28 products in groundwater and surface waters, including wild-rice waters, and providing
2.29 responses to reduce or eliminate continued pesticide movement to groundwater and surface
2.30 water, including wild-rice water. By September 1 of each even-numbered year, the
2.31 commissioner must submit a status report on the plan to the Environmental Quality Board
2.32 and Minnesota Indian Affairs Council for review and then to the house of representatives
2Sec. 4.
26-06990 as introduced02/18/26 REVISOR BD/MG

3.1 and senate committees with jurisdiction over the environment, natural resources, and
3.2 agriculture.
3.3 Subd. 2.Coordination.The pesticide management plan shall be coordinated and
3.4 developed with other state agency plans and with other state agencies through the
3.5 Environmental Quality Board and with Minnesota Tribal governments, as defined in section
3.6 10.65, and the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. In addition, the University of Minnesota
3.7 Extension Service, farm organizations,

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