Minnesota Agencies

The Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee is to make recommendations to the legislature and the commissioner for desired outcomes related to:

1. protecting, restoring, and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat;
2. fish and wildlife population management;
3. fish and wildlife monitoring and research;
4. communications and engagement; and
5. improvements in the management and use of money in the game and fish fund.

By September 15 each year, the committee must submit a report to the commissioner and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over natural resources finance and policy. Each even-numbered year, the report must focus on biennial budget outcomes achieved from game and fish fund expenditures. Each odd-numbered year, the report must focus on outcomes related to protecting habitat, fish and wildlife population management, monitoring and research, and communications and engagement.

Annually, the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee must hold a meeting for the public to review proposed priorities for the next reporting period.

Between 1994 and 2023, there were three oversight committees in total: the Fisheries Oversight Committee (FOC), the Wildlife Oversight Committee (WOC), and an umbrella group, the Budgetary Oversight Committee (BOC), made up of members of the previous two committees listed. The Fisheries Oversight Committee (FOC) and the Wildlife Oversight Committee (WOC) continue a citizen oversight function created in 1994.

Game and Fish Fund citizen oversight committees met regularly with leaders of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the purpose of reviewing DNR's budgets, spending plans and other related information related to the Game and Fish Fund under statutory authority in Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.055, subd. 4b. (from DNR website).

The Fisheries Oversight Committee, the Wildlife Oversight Committee, and the Budgetary Oversight Committee were set to expire June 30, 2025, through an extension provided in 2019 (see Laws of Minn. 2019, 1st Spec. Sess., chap. 4, art. 3, sec. 47). 

2024 legislation replaced the three oversight committees with a Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee. The Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee expires June 30, 2033.

As of 2024, 15 members. 

The chair of the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee is appointed by the commissioner of the department of natural resources.