Critical area reform bill advances
by Tom Elko
A bill to amend the law governing the Mississippi River Critical Area has been passed by the House Environment Policy Committee and will be heard by the House Local Government Division on Monday, March 30. The bill, if approved, would then move through the State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections committee before being receiving a vote on the House floor.
The Mississippi River Critical Area, a corridor that extends from Dayton to Hastings, was given critical area status under the Critical Area Act of 1973. FMR has been leading the effort to update the 30-year old law, a statute that can be difficult to understand and cumbersome to enforce.