HF 79 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Water appropriation allocation priorities modified.

HF 79 modifies Minnesota's water allocation priority system under Statute 103G.261. It reorders priorities so domestic water supplies (including hospitals, schools, and municipalities), power production meeting contingency plans, and small water uses (<10,000 gallons/day) now rank higher than agricultural irrigation and other large-scale uses. Specifically, it moves domestic uses to first priority (previously fourth), small uses to second priority (previously second), and agricultural irrigation to third priority (previously second). The bill directly affects water users across Minnesota, including municipalities, farms, power plants, and industrial facilities, by changing which water uses get priority during allocation. It maintains the 10,000-gallon daily threshold for certain categories and discourages surface water use from small lakes (<500 acres).
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2025
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Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduction and first reading, referred to Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

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