HF1250

HF1250 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Outdoor heritage fund; leveraging of certain land for federal grant funds provided, and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF770

AI Generated Summary

This bill appropriates funds from Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage Fund for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support various conservation efforts across the state. The key provisions include:

Appropriations and Conservation Initiatives

Total Appropriation: Allocates significant funding to preserve and restore prairies, forests, wetlands, and various wildlife habitats.
Breaking Down the Funds:
- Prairie Conservation: Funding for projects like the Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership, acquisition of conservation easements, and restoring native prairie lands.
- Forest Conservation: Support for forest recovery projects, conservation easements, and protection of Minnesota’s hardwood and northern forests.
- Wetlands Protection: Funds for acquiring conservation easements, restoring wetlands, and protecting shallow lakes and wetland habitats.
- Habitat Restoration: Includes projects like the Cannon River, Mississippi River headwaters, Minnesota River watershed, and fisheries habitat protection.

Administrative and Oversight Measures

Project Oversight: Funds are distributed to various conservation organizations, nonprofits, and public agencies subject to approval and oversight by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
Contract and Grant Management: Funds provided for contract administration, monitoring, enforcement, and personnel expenses to ensure compliance with conservation goals.
Public Mapping and Reporting: Requires recipients to provide maps and reports on land acquired using these funds so the public can access conservation areas.

Additional Regulations

Funds Availability & Carryforward: Specifies timelines for when funds must be spent but allows some extensions for federally matched programs and previously approved projects.
Cancellation of Certain Funds: Cancels unspent funds from prior appropriations if they were not used by June 29, 2025.

Conclusion

This bill aims to ensure the continued conservation and restoration of Minnesota’s natural resources by funding projects that enhance wildlife habitats, restore wetlands, acquire conservation lands, and safeguard water quality. The appropriated funds must be used strictly in line with the objectives of the Outdoor Heritage Fund, and all projects are subject to legislative oversight and evaluation.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
February 19, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Legacy Finance
February 19, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Legacy Finance
February 23, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Author added
March 02, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Author added
March 05, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Author added
March 09, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to	Ways and Means

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Introduction of a subdivision for leveraging certain land for federal grant funds."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This bill appropriates funds for various wildlife and natural resource projects, leveraging outdoor heritage funds and modifying allocation rules under section 97A.056 by introducing a new subdivision.",
      "modified": [
        "Changes to the administration and evaluation of conservation projects related to the outdoor heritage fund."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "97A.056",
    "subdivision": "by adding a subdivision"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Specification of funds for new wildlife management area acquisitions and restoration efforts."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Modifications to wildlife management area acquisitions and management under section 86A.05, subdivision 8.",
      "modified": [
        "Enhancements in management criteria prioritizing certain land acquisitions."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "86A.05",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 8"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Land criteria enhancements increasing focus on native prairie bank eligibility."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Priority is given to lands eligible for the native prairie bank under section 84.96 in various conservation and restoration projects.",
      "modified": [
        "Updated acquisition criteria for protection and enhancement of native prairie lands."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "84.96",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "New conservation easements aimed at grassland and wildlife habitat enhancement."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Provisions for permanent conservation easements related to grassland habitat restoration are included under sections 103F.501 to 103F.531.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifications on easement conditions and associated conservation goals."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "103F.501",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Introduction of monitoring and enforcement fund for easements."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The bill covers riparian buffer program expansion and additional wildlife benefits under section 103F.515.",
      "modified": [
        "Enhancement of habitat restoration and buffer zones for environmental protection."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "103F.515",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Enhanced monitoring and enforcement for conservation easements."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Allocation and administration regarding outdoor heritage fund appropriations are detailed in section 97A.056, subdivision 17.",
      "modified": [
        "Stipulations for funding and oversight of conservation projects."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "97A.056",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 17"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Additional funding provisions for scientific and natural area acquisitions."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Criteria for acquiring lands for scientific and natural area purposes under section 86A.05, subdivision 5 are outlined.",
      "modified": [
        "Prioritization in acquisition of lands for scientific purposes."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "86A.05",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Inclusion of grant program notices in game and fish law summaries."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section mandates the commissioner to provide notice of the grant program in the summary of game and fish law as per 97A.051, subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Modification in the communication process for funding programs."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "97A.051",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Appropriations for website management related to the legacy projects."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The Legacy Website is to be managed as per requirements in section 3.303, subdivision 10.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification of duties and fund allocation for web maintenance."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "3.303",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 10"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Appropriations for administrative expenses are subject to rules under section 16A.281.",
      "modified": [
        "Ensured allocation for administrative expenses within legislative constraints."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "16A.281",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Funding for evaluation panels conducting restoration assessments."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The section covers evaluation of restoration and enhancement under section 97A.056, subdivision 10.",
      "modified": [
        "Procedural enhancements for technical evaluations."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "97A.056",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 10"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Stipulations for conservation easement compliance reinforced."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This bill ensures compliance with conservation easement conditions as per section 97A.056, subdivision 13.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification and enforcement of easement stewardship requirements."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "97A.056",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 13"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Integration of public waters into conservation project planning."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Defining public waters alignment with conservation projects under section 103G.005, subdivision 15.",
      "modified": [
        "Enhancement in definitions and classification for project use."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "103G.005",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 15"
  }
]