Bill would end commercial turtle harvesting in Minnesota It's the second time since 2019 the bill has been introduced in the Minnesota Legislature. Author: A bill aimed at ending the commercial turtle harvest in Minnesota has been reintroduced in the Minnesota Legislature. Rep. Samantha Vang, DFL-Brooklyn Center, introduced the proposed legislation on Jan. 28. She introduced a similar measure in 2019. The bill, H.F. 387, would ban commercial turtle harvesting in Minnesota, which is currently allowed for the common snapping turtle, the painted turtle and the spiny softshell turtle, which can be trapped and sold as pets or as meat, among other things, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.