The use of metal detectors on certain land and in lakes and the removal of items found on that land or in those lakes

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill prohibits the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from preventing a person from using a metal detector in areas of lakes that are less than six feet deep (shallow water), on most land under DNR's jurisdiction, and on land acquired with funding from the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program or its predecessor program and that is open to public access. It also prohibits DNR from requiring a person who uses a metal detector on that land or in shallow water to hold a license, permit, or other approval authorizing the use of a metal detector on the land or in the shallow water. The bill provides an exception to these prohibitions so that the prohibitions do not apply to land that is historically significant or to state campgrounds. The bill defines historically significant land to include land that the State Historical Society determines is historic property, land that is included on a map of archaeological resources prepared by the State Historical Society, and land that is listed on the state register of historic places. The bill also allows DNR to prohibit the use of metal detectors on land when that land is open to deer hunting.

This bill also authorizes a person who is allowed to use a metal detector under the bill to use a tool to dig for and remove found items. The bill provides that a tool used for digging may not be more than eight inches wide, any soil that is disturbed or removed by digging must be replaced, and the digging may not occur on a lake bed unless the lake bed is beneath shallow water.

Who's behind it

6 lawmakers are its authors⁠. 3 are Democrats and 3 are Republicans.

4 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.