Campaign Updates

Save the Boundary Waters Minnesota State Legislative updates

Mar 14, 2025
Amanda Hefner
Amanda Hefner testifying

The 2025 Minnesota legislative session is almost halfway over, and we’ve been busy working to protect the Boundary Waters here at the local level. 

My name is Amanda Hefner, and I manage Save the Boundary Waters’ state legislative work. The Minnesota legislative session runs from approximately January to May each year, so around this time, I’m at the state Capitol in St. Paul nearly every day, working to educate lawmakers and their staff about key bills that will protect the Boundary Waters. I am also fighting dangerous bills and amendments that will hurt the canoe country. Keep reading to learn the latest in the fight for the Boundary Waters here in Minnesota.  

Re-introduction of the Permanent Protection State Bill:

Re-introduction of the Permanent Protection State Bill:

One of the highlights of this legislative session has been the re-introduction of the Boundary Waters Permanent Protection bill (S.F 875 / H.F 309). This important bill, carried by Senator Steve Cwodzinski and Rep. Alex Falconer, would ban copper-nickel mining operations on state-owned lands in the Boundary Waters watershed permanently. 

This bill is a critical step in safeguarding the Boundary Waters from toxic mining pollution that would take place adjacent to the Wilderness. Read more about this important State legislation HERE.

Playing defense against permitting reform

A concerning bill we are currently monitoring has to do with permitting reform (H.F. 8/S.F 577). 
We do not agree with any legislation that would help fast-track non-ferrous mining projects in the watershed of the Boundary Waters, and this permitting reform bill raises two critical concerns that could weaken environmental protections and limit public input.

1. Allowing construction of projects before full permits are in hand
This bill proposes the separation of construction permits and operating permits, which means that companies could begin construction on projects without having all the required permits in hand. This approach not only increases the risk of environmental harm but also undermines the process of ensuring projects are fully vetted before they begin.

2. Limiting public participation and input
The permitting reform bill also seeks to limit Minnesotans’ ability to provide input and petition proposed projects in the State. Under the bill’s current language, only those who live or own property in the county or an adjoining county of a proposed project would be able to request an environmental review. This would bar many Minnesotans, including those who may be impacted by a project but live outside the direct area, from raising concerns, even if a project is on public lands.

Additionally, members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe—whose Treaty rights may be affected by certain projects—would also be excluded from providing input, even though these projects could negatively impact their rights, lands, and cultural resources.

Eliminating public input sets a dangerous precedent. The Boundary Waters is public land and belongs to all of us, so we should all continue to have a voice in environmental reviews of proposed projects. 

Another significant concern is the elimination of the Scoping Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) process. This crucial step allows Minnesotans to identify issues early on that should be studied in a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Removing this process means that communities would no longer have the opportunity to proactively engage in the decision-making process before an issue analysis is completed. Instead, they would only be able to comment after this analysis, which severely limits their ability to influence projects before progressing too far.

Amanda testifying

Testifying against bad bills
 

This session, a number of concerning bills have been moving through the legislature, and our team has been closely monitoring them and their progress through various committees. I recently testified in the Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Committee against H.F. 1425 – a bill that would bar consolidating state land inside the Boundary Waters called “State School Trust Land,” thus inhibiting critical funds from going to Minnesota students.
The sale of school trust lands would be a win-win, as it would generate millions of dollars for the Permanent School Fund, which supports K-12 education in Minnesota, while also consolidating federal land ownership in the BWCA. Our stance aligns with the positions of the DNR, the Minnesota Office of School Trust Lands, and the U.S. Forest Service.

The road ahead

While we will continue to fight tirelessly to advance the Boundary Waters Permanent Protection bill, we remain dedicated to our fight in making sure the Boundary Waters is protected against legislative threats, and bad bills. Your support and voice remains essential to our work. Please contact your State Rep and Senator here and tell them to support the protection of the BWCA!