Public waters definition modification
This bill modifies Minnesota's definition of "public waters" to clarify which water bodies require public access or management. It adds specific criteria, such as watercourses over two square miles and designated trout streams, while explicitly stating that public waters aren't determined by land ownership or historical navigability. The bill also eliminates a $1 million annual appropriation for updating the public waters inventory map (previously funded through 2032), removing the dedicated funding stream for this process. These changes directly affect landowners, local governments, and state agencies managing water resources, as they redefine which water bodies fall under public management rules.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 20, 2025
Last action Feb 20, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduction and first reading
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SF 1715
Scope: MN
Hi! I can help you understand SF 1715. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline