Certain Chippewa Bands open season for big game establishment in accordance with 1854 treaty authorization provision and appropriation

This bill (SF 1420) allows certain Chippewa Bands, as defined under the 1854 treaty, to independently establish open seasons for big game hunting for their tribal members. It amends Minnesota law to clarify that these bands may set seasons without state approval, while the state commissioner of natural resources retains oversight. The bill also appropriates $3 million annually (fiscal years 2026-2027) from the general fund for payments to tribes under the treaty agreement. It directly affects the Chippewa Bands identified in Minnesota Statutes §97A.157, subdivision 1, and modifies how treaty-related payments are administered.