HF 4350 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Agriculture policy provisions modified.

This bill modifies Minnesota's agriculture laws by adding new definitions and clarifying rules for managing noxious weeds. It directly affects farmers, agricultural businesses, and land managers by updating how certain plant terms are defined and how different categories of noxious weeds are handled. The bill establishes specific definitions for agrivoltaic systems, cultivated varieties, and plant varieties, while also refining the rules for prohibited-eradicate, prohibited-control, restricted, and specially regulated noxious weeds. These changes aim to provide clearer guidance on what actions are required for different types of invasive plants and how they may be imported, sold, or transported within the state.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action Apr 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 6 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates Minnesota's agricultural and food safety laws to modernize disease control protocols for aquatic species, clarify definitions for composting and plant biostimulants, and streamline food handler licensing. It introduces stricter import rules for fish to prevent disease spread, updates fee structures based on business size, and expands the ability for local health boards to handle retail food inspections.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of aquatic disease regulations to include specific pathogens like Renibacterium salmoninarum and modifies the criteria for importing fish from areas with disease histories. It also broadens the delegation of food safety inspection duties to local community health boards.

REQUIREMENT

Updated aquatic import rules to allow fish and eggs testing positive for specific pathogens (like Renibacterium salmoninarum) into areas where those pathogens are already present, while maintaining strict disease-free history requirements for other species.

DEFINITION

Added formal definitions for 'compost,' 'composting,' 'plant amendment,' 'plant biostimulant,' and 'soil amendment' to clarify regulatory boundaries and exclude fertilizers and pesticides.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the requirement for inspectors to contact landowners before entering property for noxious weed inspections, replacing 'shall' with 'must not refuse' to clarify landowner obligations.

FISCAL

Revised food handler license fees and late renewal penalties, introducing risk-based fee tiers and adjusting amounts based on gross sales thresholds.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the delegation of food safety licensing and inspection duties to local community health boards, including new restrictions on delegating duties for certain business types like custom exempt handlers.

TECHNICAL

Added new sections to the bill text that were missing in the introduction version, including specific amendments to sections 17.4986 and 17.4987 regarding aquatic life stocking and transportation permits.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

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Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Agriculture Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors