HF 3643 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Melissa and Mark Hortman Memorial State Park working group established, report required, and money appropriated.

HF 3643 establishes Melissa and Mark Hortman Memorial State Park in Ramsey County, specifically within St. Paul, as a new public park. The bill designates precise boundaries for the park using 18 directional points in St. Paul and requires that no park permit or entry fee be charged. It directs the commissioner of natural resources to manage the park under standard state park rules, while specifying that the commissioner of administration and Minnesota Historical Society retain authority over existing buildings and monuments within the park. The legislation also appropriates funds for the park’s establishment, directly affecting public access to this newly designated green space in the city.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 23, 2026 Last action Apr 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

1st Engrossment → 2nd Engrossment · 4 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was updated from its first to second engrossment, primarily adjusting the timeline for the Melissa and Mark Hortman Memorial State Park Working Group and increasing its funding. The start date for the group's first meeting was delayed from July to August 2026, and the required appointment deadline was extended to July 15, 2026. Additionally, the appropriation amount was increased from a placeholder to $86,000, and the chair of the working group must now be elected specifically from among the legislative members.

Scope change

The scope of the working group's chair election was narrowed to require the chair to be a legislative member.

TIMELINE

The deadline for the Legislative Coordinating Commission to convene the first meeting was extended from July 15, 2026, to August 15, 2026.

The deadline for appointing authorities to submit their appointments was extended from an unspecified date to July 15, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for electing a chair was clarified to specify that the chair must be chosen from among the legislative members of the working group.

FISCAL

The appropriation amount was finalized at $86,000 from the general fund to cover administrative costs.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Ways and Means

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to State Government Finance and Policy

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 34 co-sponsors