WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HF 5098

Permanent School Trust Lands Task Force established to address permanent school trust lands located within or near the boundaries of Tribal lands, report required, and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sydney Jordan and 2 co-sponsors

Establishes a task force to study permanent school trust lands near Tribal lands, propose land exchanges and transfer mechanisms, and identify funding to implement recommendations.

Authors added Youakim and Sencer-Mura
#appropriations #education-k-12 #nativeamericans #stateagenciesanddepartments
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 5098

Summary: HF 5098 (2025-2026) Permanent School Trust Lands Task Force

Purpose and intent

  • Establish a Permanent School Trust Lands Task Force to examine permanent school trust lands located within or near the boundaries of Tribal lands in Minnesota.
  • Develop recommendations on land exchanges and land management policies to address issues arising from trust lands adjacent to or overlapping with Tribal lands.
  • Identify funding sources and mechanisms to implement any recommended land transfers.

Key provisions and changes

Task Force establishment and scope

  • A new task force is created to study permanent school trust lands located within or near Tribal lands.
  • The focus includes examining land exchanges, obstacles to transfers, and land use and management policies for lands near Tribal boundaries.

Membership and appointments

  • The task force must be composed of diverse representatives with relevant expertise, appointed by August 1, 2026.
  • Appointee categories include:
    • One member from each of the six Tribes with permanent school trust lands within that Tribe’s boundaries.
    • One member from each Tribe without permanent school trust lands within its boundaries, at the Tribe’s discretion.
    • One member appointed by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council.
    • One member appointed by the Tribal Nations Education Committee.
    • The Commissioner of Education (or designee).
    • The Commissioner of Natural Resources (or designee).
    • The Director of the Office of School Trust Lands.
    • One member appointed by the Minnesota Forest Resources Council.
    • One member appointed by the Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission (by vote).
    • Four members appointed by the Legislature (one each by: the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, the House Speaker, and the House Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus Leader).

Leadership, meetings, and support

  • The Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) must call the first meeting by September 1, 2026 and the task force will select its chair at that meeting.
  • The Department of Natural Resources and Department of Education will provide advice and technical assistance as needed.
  • LCC will provide meeting space and administrative support; meetings may be conducted by interactive television.
  • Compensation for task force members is governed by Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 3.

Duties and scope of work

  • Examine policies for land exchanges of permanent school trust lands located within Tribal boundaries.
  • Identify obstacles to land transfers and propose effective transfer mechanisms.
  • Review land use and land management policies for lands located near Tribal boundaries.
  • Make recommendations on funding sources to accomplish any land transfers endorsed by the task force.

Reporting and expiration

  • The task force must submit its recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over the permanent school fund by February 15, 2027.
  • The task force's existence is limited; it expires on February 15, 2027, or earlier if the required report is completed.

Appropriations

  • July 2027 (fiscal year 2027) general fund appropriations are authorized to:
    • The Legislative Coordinating Commission to administer the task force.
    • The Department of Natural Resources to provide technical agency support.

Who is affected

  • Permanent school trust lands and their administration are the primary focus.
  • Minnesota Tribes with permanent school trust lands within their boundaries (and Tribes without such lands, as determined by those Tribes).
  • State agencies involved in education, natural resources, and tribal affairs (Education, Natural Resources, Indian Affairs, Office of School Trust Lands, Forest Resources Council).
  • Legislative bodies and leadership with oversight of the permanent school fund.

Procedural and timeline highlights

  • Appointments due by August 1, 2026.
  • First task force meeting and leadership selection by September 1, 2026.
  • Report due by February 15, 2027, outlining policies, transfer mechanisms, and funding recommendations.
  • Expiration of the task force on February 15, 2027, or upon delivery of the report, whichever comes first.
  • Administrative funding authorized for 2027 to support task force operations and DNR technical support.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.