Friends and neighbors,
The Environment Committee heard Senate File 1245, a Democratic proposal that would dramatically restrict where snowmobiles and ATVs may operate on state and county forest land across Minnesota.
Currently, riders north of Highway 2 can use informal, unmapped routes in addition to designated trails. This commonsense system has worked for years. This bill would replace that flexibility with more bureaucracy by requiring the DNR to officially designate every single route where off-highway vehicles would be allowed.
The bill would also:
- Ban new trail construction within 200 feet of waters that support aquatic life and 150 feet of other public waters
- Require full environmental reviews before new trails could be built or expanded
- Give tribal governments effective veto authority over trails in ceded territories
- Allow new restrictions to be applied to existing trails or close them down altogether
Even routine trail maintenance could trigger new regulatory hurdles.
This bill creates real problems for rural Minnesota while solving none. Our state already has strong environmental protections and responsible trail standards. Meanwhile, outdoor recreation supports small businesses across northern Minnesota and brings tens of millions of dollars into rural communities every year.
One of the most troubling provisions allows just 150 people from anywhere in the state to force the DNR to review a trail without proving any actual harm. That means activists in the Twin Cities could target trails in communities they do not live in and may never visit.
Notably, even the bill author chose not to call the bill for a vote. I will continue watching this closely.
Sincerely,