1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to health; establishing an advisory task force to assess the impacts of
1.3 climate change on mental health; appropriating money;amending Minnesota
1.4 Statutes 2024, section 144.9981.
1.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.9981, is amended to read:
1.7 144.9981 CLIMATE RESILIENCY.
1.8 Subdivision 1.Climate resiliency program. The commissioner of health shall implement
1.9 a climate resiliency program to:
1.10 (1) increase awareness of climate change;
1.11 (2) track the public health impacts of climate change and extreme weather events;
1.12 (3) provide technical assistance and tools that support climate resiliency to local public
1.13 health departments, Tribal health departments, soil and water conservation districts, and
1.14 other local governmental and nongovernmental organizations; and
1.15 (4) coordinate with the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency, natural resources,
1.16 and agriculture and other state agencies in climate resiliency related planning and
1.17 implementation.
1.18 Subd. 2.Climate and Mental Health Advisory Task Force. (a) As part of the climate
1.19 resiliency program, the commissioner of health must establish and appoint a Climate and
1.20 Mental Health Advisory Task Force.
2.1 (b) The Climate and Mental Health Advisory Task Force shall consist of 16 members
2.2 as follows:
2.3 (1) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one appointed
2.4 by the minority leader;
2.5 (2) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the
2.6 house and one appointed by the minority leader; and
2.7 (3) 12 members appointed by the commissioner of health which must include two
2.8 individuals who are from, or an executive of an organization advocating for, each of the
2.9 following:
2.10 (i) a community at risk during extreme weather events, including but not limited to
2.11 extreme heat, caused by climate change;
2.12 (ii) a community dependent on stable weather conditions for the community members'
2.13 livelihood, including but not limited to emerging farmers;
2.14 (iii) a community dependent on healthy ecosystems for the community members' diets
2.15 and cultural identities, including but not limited to Indigenous people;
2.16 (iv) a community dependent on healthy ecosystems to maintain the community members'
2.17 mental well-being, including but not limited to those seeking time in nature through
2.18 recreational activities;
2.19 (v) a community exposed to increased air and water pollutants as the result of climate
2.20 change; and
2.21 (vi) a community comprised of youth, elders, or people with disabilities that have
2.22 experienced negative mental health effects as the result of climate change.
2.23 (c) The advisory task force must meet on a regular basis to perform the following duties:
2.24 (1) identify the effects of climate change and related extreme weather events on mental
2.25 health in Minnesota;
2.26 (2) analyze the current and likely future severity of the effects identified in clause (1):
2.27 (i) in the aggregate across all Minnesota residents; and
2.28 (ii) as disaggregated across gender, race, ethnicity, occupation, geography, income, and
2.29 any other factor which the task force identifies as being significantly affected by any climate
2.30 change and related extreme weather events;
3.1 (3) identify those Minnesota communities currently experiencing the most negative
3.2 effects of climate change on mental health and those Minnesota communities likely to
3.3 experience the most negative effects in the future;
3.4 (4) assess strategies to mitigate the effects identified in clause (1), particularly with
3.5 respect to those communities identified in clause (3);
3.6 (5) obtain public comment on the task force's activities and findings;
3.7 (6) report the task force's findings and analyses under clauses (1) to (5) to the
3.8 commissioner of health; and
3.9 (7) make recommendations to the commissioner of health for implementing measures
3.10 to best mitigate the effects of climate change and related extreme weather events on mental
3.11 health in Minnesota. The recommendations must include but are not limited to a targeted
3.12 implementation schedule for the strategies assessed in clause (4) which the task force
3.13 recommends implementing. The implementation schedule must describe measurable goals,
3.14 actions, locations, timelines, estimated costs, methods of evaluation, and identification of
3.15 roles and responsible government units.
3.16 (d) Section 15.059, subdivision 6, governs the terms, expenses, and removal of members
3.17 of the advisory task force. Notwithstanding section 15.059, the advisory task force shall
3.18 continue until it is terminated by the commissioner of health.
3.19 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
3.20 $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
3.21 health for the advisory task force described in Minnesota Statutes, section 144.9981. This
3.22 is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2031.
