Provisions modified and definition for calcareous fens required, rulemaking required, and report required.

HF 1592 modifies Minnesota Statutes to protect calcareous fens - a specific type of wetland ecosystem - by requiring the commissioner of natural resources to adopt a formal definition for these areas through rulemaking. The bill mandates that before denying a permit affecting a calcareous fen, the commissioner must provide the applicant with a detailed report explaining the fen's ecological benefits and potential impacts. It also requires the commissioner to submit a comprehensive report by December 1, 2025, comparing the ecological value of calcareous fens to other wetlands and summarizing permit denials over the past decade. These provisions directly affect the commissioner, permit applicants, and land use decisions involving calcareous fens.