The legislation signed into law establishes a Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission and a new state director. The 2.5 million acres of state forest in northern Minnesota is still under the Department of Natural Resources, but it changes how it's managed and demands more emphasis on maximizing revenue.

The 16-member legislative-citizen panel would recommend policies to raise more money from the 2.5 million acres of school trust lands in northern Minnesota. Critics who want the DNR to continue to manage the lands are concerned the change would leave the land vulnerable to degradation. The House has passed a similar measure.

Supporters of the move hope a new permanent board could raise more money from the 2.5 million acres of land that the federal government gave the state in 1858. But those who believe the DNR should retain control say the move would leave the land vulnerable to degradation.

More than 150 years ago the federal government gave a vast swath of land to the state to establish a trust to fund education. But today some people say that trust isn't building up fast enough and that the DNR should no longer manage the land. Critics say the DNR focuses too much on conservation when they should be encouraging more logging and mining. But others say a move to wrest control of the land from the DNR isn't about education at all and just a play to open more land to the mining industry.

State lawmakers were unable to meet their self-imposed adjournment deadline of April 30th. Republican leaders are still negotiating three major pieces of business with Democratic Governor Mark Dayton: a package of tax cuts, a list of state-funded construction projects, and a plan for a new Vikings stadium. The Legislature is not required to adjourn until May 21st.

Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a Republican-backed law last spring that would require voters to show ID at the polls. But now, a group of legislators has introduced a bill that would put the matter in front of voters later this year as a constitutional amendment. Dayton would not be able to override it if approved.