SAINT PAUL, Minn. – A bill in the Minnesota Legislature would ban snowmobile and ATV use on county and township roads and ditches unless part of a government mapped and approved trail system, prohibit them from going on state forest land and on trails within 200 feet of water with no exclusions for frozen water.
The Senate bill was co-authored by DFL State Senators Foung Hawj of St. Paul and Jennifer McEwen of Duluth. The House version is co-authored by DFL State Representatives Kristi Pursell of Northfield and Larry Kraft of St. Louis Park.
The legislation would allow 50 county petitioners to demand trails be investigated for closure and allow anyone to sue for trail closure for environmental concerns even if the Department of Natural Resources disagrees with it. It would also give $1.4 million to shut down trails and put up signs.
Republican State Representative Jim Joy of Hawley believes this bill will die in the House because it’s tied between DFLers and Republicans.
“Here we are in Minnesota trying to attract people to use forests and trails and get out and see things. Now we’re going to change the whole process and move a bill, that’s what they want to do, to eliminate things,” Joy said on “The Jay Thomas Show”.
Flag Family News reached out to Hawj and McEwen for comment, but we haven’t heard back.
