House passes DNR land lease and property sale bill

The House voted 128-0 Thursday to authorize certain land sales and make a number of modifications to state land lease and public property sale requirements.

Sponsored by Rep. Clark Johnson (DFL-North Mankato) and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), HF3424/SF3168* includes a number of provisions recommended by the Department of Natural Resources. Passed unanimously one week earlier by the Senate, it now goes to the governor.

“This bill allows the DNR to do some land sales, some land transactions, and to manage our state lands,” Johnson said.

The bill would alter state land lease requirements by authorizing the DNR to require lessees to submit a security deposit to ensure that improvements and personal property are not left on state land when a lease expires. Current law allows the department to require a performance bond for this purpose.

The DNR would also be allowed to conduct sales of surplus state-owned land through online auctions, and sell certain parcels of property in five counties.