Once again, the same metro legislator who brought forward the White Earth Land Transfer is attempting to get another land transfer bill pushed through. Senator Mary Kunesh from New Brighton introduced a bill that transfers the Red Lake State Forest as well as the strip of land that is within 1-mile of the Upper Red Lake shoreline. Like her other bill, this will have negative effects in Senate District 2.

The bill is SF-5080, and it transfers all state-owned land and property administered by the state. Like previous bills brought forward by this author, I was not consulted on a piece of legislation that would greatly affect my district. Members of my district that would be affected weren’t even informed that this bill would be submitted. That isn’t the way things should be done.

I was recently invited to a meeting in the district, which I attended online. Over 300 folks were there to express their concerns and frustrations with the process. Many also expressed an explicit interest in testifying against the bill if and when it comes to committee. It has not been scheduled for a committee hearing yet.

I find this recurring theme alarming. Senators keep introducing bills that infringe on people’s property and their rights, and they’re bringing forward these bills without discussing them with the very people who will be most affected. People are getting blindsided by bad bills. It’s wrong.

This bill was not heard in committee before legislative deadlines. But as we saw last year, deadlines are seen as suggestions. If I hear of any movement on this bill one way or another, I will keep folks in the area updated. If you have any thoughts or concerns on this bill, please reach out to my senate office at any time: [email protected].