Minnesota Agencies

The Legislative Water Commission was established to review water policy reports and recommendations of the Environmental Quality Board, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Council, and other water-related reports as may be required by law or the legislature. The commission also coordinates with the Clean Water Council.

The Legislative Water Commission was established in 1989 to oversee programs created under the Comprehensive Groundwater Protection Act. The Commission was given additional responsibilities after 1989 related to the following: water supply, local water planning, nonpoint source water pollution control, wastewater treatment, sustainable agriculture and water quality, water program financing, and drinking water. The Commission oversaw agency programs, held hearings, received and reviewed reports, prepared reports, conducted research, and made recommendations in order to assist the legislature as a whole in the effective protection and management of Minnesota's water resources.

At the time, the commission had 10 members. The former directors were: Susan Schmidt (1994) and Pat Jensen (she was the first and only full-time staffer hired for the commission after its formation in 1989).

The Legislative Library has on file a "Notice of Closure" for The Legislative Water Commission. It states the Commission was abolished effective June 30, 1996 (1995 Minn. Laws, Chapter 248, Article 2, Section 6, Subdivision 1).

In 2014, the Legislative Water Commission was reinstated. The new commission expires July 1, 2019.

The commission's expiration date was not extended in the 2019 session. However, the Legislative Coordinating Commission (LCC) passed a resolution in June 2019 to establish an LCC Subcommittee on Minnesota Water Policy. This group will continue the work of the commission. 

12 members; six members of the senate, including three majority party members appointed by the majority leader and three minority party members appointed by the minority leader; and six members of the house of representatives, including three majority party members appointed by the speaker of the house and three minority party members appointed by the minority leader.

The Legislative Coordinating Commission must employ staff and contract with consultants as necessary to enable the Legislative Water Commission to carry out its duties and functions.