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.

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 Game and Fish Fund Citizens Oversight Committees were reviewed by the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy (LCPFP) in 2013 as part of their biennial duty required by Minn. Stat. 3.885 Subd. 11. The LCPFP's 2013 Recommendations called for keeping the committees.

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. 

Formerly, each of the three oversight committees had at least ten members. The Budgetary Oversight Committee was formed from the chairs of the FOC, the WOC, and four additional members from each committee. The commissioner of DNR appointed a chair of the the Budgetary Oversight Committee that was not affiliated with either the FOC or WOC.

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