Minnesota State Legislative BWCA Recap

The 2026 Minnesota Legislative Session is over. Join our advocacy team for a candid debrief on what happened, what we won, what we’re still fighting for, and what comes next for the Boundary Waters. From copper-sulfide mining protections to wild rice and water quality, Minnesota’s legislature took up a range of issues with real consequences for the BWCA and the clean water that defines it. Our Government Relations team walks you through each of our policy priorities, share honest assessments of where things stand, and help you understand how state-level action connects to the larger fight to protect the Boundary Waters from mining threats. We’ll we cover the following bills: Prove It First – HF 954 / SF 1382 Bad Actor Bill – HF 1197 / SF 1744 Taxpayer Protection Act – HF 955 / SF 1383 Permanent Protection Bill – HF 309 / SF 875 Plus, we discuss other bills our partnership organizations were spearheading, and the politically-motivated defunding of our educational programs following the Senate vote on ENRTF/LCCMR — and what that means for our educational programs moving forward. Whether you’re a longtime advocate or newly energized to defend clean water and public lands, this is your chance to hear directly from the people doing the work at the Capitol — and to find out how you can stay involved as the fight continues.