Bill SF1447, HF1370

1.1          A bill for an act
1.2          relating to state government; appropriating money from clean water and parks and
1.3          trails funds.
1.4          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5          ARTICLE 1
1.6          CLEAN WATER FUND

1.8          The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies
1.9          and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the clean water
1.10       fund and are available for the fiscal years indicated for allowable activities under the
1.11       Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 15. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this
1.12       article mean that the appropriations listed under the figure are available for the fiscal year
1.13       ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2026.
1.14       "The second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2026 and 2027. These
1.15       are onetime appropriations.

2.1          This appropriation is from the clean water
2.2          fund. The amounts that may be spent for each
2.3          purpose are specified in the following sections.

2.5          Money appropriated in this article may not be
2.6          spent on activities unless they are directly
2.7          related to and necessary for a specific
2.8          appropriation. Money appropriated in this
2.9          article must be spent in accordance with
2.10       Minnesota Management and Budget MMB
2.11       Guidance to Agencies on Legacy Fund
2.12       Expenditure. Notwithstanding Minnesota
2.13       Statutes, section 16A.28, and unless otherwise
2.14       specified in this article, fiscal year 2026
2.15       appropriations are available until June 30,
2.16       2027, and fiscal year 2027 appropriations are
2.17       available until June 30, 2028. If a project
2.18       receives federal funds, the period of the
2.19       appropriation is extended to equal the
2.20       availability of federal funding.

2.22       Where appropriate, grant recipients of clean
2.23       water funds, in consultation with the Council
2.24       on Disability and other appropriate
2.25       governor-appointed disability councils, boards,
2.26       committees, and commissions, should make
2.27       progress toward providing people with
2.28       disabilities greater access to programs, print
2.29       publications, and digital media related to the
2.30       programs the recipient funds using
2.31       appropriations made in this article.

2.34       Agencies should work to provide opportunities
2.35       that encourage a diversity of students to pursue
3.1          careers in environment and natural resources
3.2          when implementing appropriations in this
3.3          article.

3.5          (a) $370,000 the first year and $370,000 the
3.6          second year are to increase monitoring for
3.7          pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface
3.8          water and groundwater and to use data
3.9          collected to assess pesticide use practices.
3.10       (b) $3,100,000 the first year and $3,100,000
3.11       the second year are for monitoring and
3.12       evaluating trends in the concentration of
3.13       nitrate in groundwater; promoting, developing,
3.14       and evaluating regional and crop-specific
3.15       nutrient best management practices, cover
3.16       crops, and other vegetative cover; assessing
3.17       adoption of best management practices and
3.18       other recommended practices; education and
3.19       technical support from University of
3.20       Minnesota Extension; grants to support
3.21       agricultural demonstration and implementation
3.22       activities, including research activities at the
3.23       Rosholt Research Farm; and other actions to
3.24       protect groundwater from degradation from
3.25       nitrate.
3.26       (c) $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000
3.27       the second year are for the agriculture best
3.28       management practices loan program. Any
3.29       unencumbered balance at the end of the second
3.30       year must be added to the corpus of the loan
3.31       fund.
3.32       (d) $1,600,000 the first year and $1,600,000
3.33       the second year are for technical assistance;
3.34       research, demonstration, and promotion
4.1          projects on properly implementing best
4.2          management practices and vegetative cover;
4.3          and more-precise information on nonpoint
4.4          contributions to impaired waters and for grants
4.5          to support on-farm demonstration of
4.6          agricultural practices.
4.7          (e) $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the
4.8          second year are for maintenance of the
4.9          Minnesota Water Research Digital Library.
4.10       Costs for information technology development
4.11       or support for the digital library may be paid
4.12       to Minnesota IT Services.
4.13       (f) $3,500,000 the first year and $3,500,000
4.14       the second year are to implement the
4.15       Minnesota agricultural water quality
4.16       certification program statewide.
4.17       (g) $155,000 the first year and $155,000 the
4.18       second year are for a regional irrigation water
4.19       quality specialist through University of
4.20       Minnesota Extension.
4.21       (h) $3,000,000 the first year and $3,000,000
4.22       the second year are for grants to the Board of
4.23       Regents of the University of Minnesota to
4.24       fund the Forever Green initiative and to protect
4.25       the state's natural resources while increasing
4.26       the efficiency, profitability, and productivity
4.27       of Minnesota farmers by incorporating
4.28       perennial and winter-annual crops into existing
4.29       agricultural practices.
4.30       (i) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the
4.31       second year are for testing drinking-water
4.32       wells for pesticides.
4.33       (j) $1,750,000 the first year and $1,750,000
4.34       the second year are for conservation
5.1          equipment assistance grants to purchase
5.2          equipment or items to retrofit existing
5.3          equipment that has climate and water quality
5.4          benefits.
5.5          (k) $1,250,000 the first year and $1,250,000
5.6          the second year are for expanding the existing
5.7          state weather station and soil temperature
5.8          network to provide accurate and timely
5.9          weather data to optimize the timing of
5.10       irrigation, fertilizer, pesticide, and manure
5.11       applications and support land management
5.12       decisions.
5.13       (l) Unless otherwise specified, the
5.14       appropriations in this section are available
5.15       until June 30, 2030.

5.17       (a) $9,450,000 the first year and $9,450,000
5.18       the second year are for completing needed
5.19       statewide assessments of surface water quality
5.20       and trends according to Minnesota Statutes,
5.21       chapter 114D.
5.22       (b) $7,250,000 the first year and $7,250,000
5.23       the second year are to support public
5.24       participation in the watershed approach and
5.25       to update watershed restoration and protection
5.26       strategies, which include total maximum daily
5.27       load (TMDL) and other supporting studies
5.28       according to Minnesota Statutes, chapter
5.29       114D, for waters on the impaired waters list
5.30       approved by the United States Environmental
5.31       Protection Agency.
5.32       (c) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000
5.33       the second year are for groundwater
5.34       assessment, including enhancing the ambient
6.1          monitoring network, modeling, and evaluating
6.2          trends.
6.3          (d) $1,600,000 the first year and $1,600,000
6.4          the second year are for national pollutant
6.5          discharge elimination system wastewater and
6.6          stormwater TMDL implementation efforts.
6.7          (e) $3,540,500 the first year and $3,540,500
6.8          the second year are for enhancing the
6.9          county-level delivery systems for subsurface
6.10       sewage treatment system (SSTS) activities
6.11       necessary to implement Minnesota Statutes,
6.12       sections 115.55 and 115.56, for protecting
6.13       groundwater. This appropriation includes base
6.14       grants for all counties with SSTS programs.
6.15       Counties that receive base grants must report
6.16       the number of properties with noncompliant
6.17       systems upgraded through an SSTS
6.18       replacement, connection to a centralized sewer
6.19       system, or other means, including property
6.20       abandonment or buyout. Counties also must
6.21       report the number of existing SSTS
6.22       compliance inspections conducted in areas
6.23       under county jurisdiction. The required reports
6.24       must be part of the established annual
6.25       reporting for SSTS programs. Of this amount,
6.26       at least $900,000 each year is available to
6.27       counties for grants to low-income landowners
6.28       to address systems that pose an imminent
6.29       threat to public health or safety or fail to
6.30       protect groundwater. A county receiving a
6.31       grant under this paragraph must submit a
6.32       report to the agency listing the projects funded,
6.33       including an account of the expenditures.
7.1          (f) $650,000 the first year and $650,000 the
7.2          second year are for activities and grants that
7.3          reduce chloride pollution.
7.4          (g) $461,000 the first year and $461,000 the
7.5          second year are to support activities of the
7.6          Clean Water Council according to Minnesota
7.7          Statutes, section 114D.30, subdivision 1.
7.8          (h) $750,000 the first year and $750,000 the
7.9          second year are for a grant program for
7.10       sanitary sewer projects that are included in the
7.11       draft or any updated Voyageurs National Park
7.12       Clean Water Project Comprehensive Plan to
7.13       restore the water quality of waters in
7.14       Voyageurs National Park. Grants must be
7.15       awarded to local government units for projects
7.16       approved by the Voyageurs National Park
7.17       Clean Water Joint Powers Board and must be
7.18       matched by at least 25 percent from sources
7.19       other than the clean water fund.
7.20       (i) Any unencumbered grant balances in the
7.21       first year do not cancel but are available for
7.22       grants in the second year. Notwithstanding
7.23       Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the
7.24       appropriations in this section are available
7.25       until June 30, 2030.

7.28       (a) $2,825,000 the first year and $2,825,000
7.29       the second year are for stream flow
7.30       monitoring.
7.31       (b) $1,525,000 the first year and $1,525,000
7.32       the second year are for lake Index of
7.33       Biological Integrity (IBI) assessments.
8.1          (c) $550,000 the first year and $550,000 the
8.2          second year are for assessing mercury and
8.3          other fish contaminants, including PFAS
8.4          compounds, and monitoring to track the status
8.5          of impaired waters over time.
8.6          (d) $2,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000
8.7          the second year are for developing targeted,
8.8          science-based watershed restoration and
8.9          protection strategies and for technical
8.10       assistance for local governments.
8.11       (e) $2,350,000 the first year and $2,350,000
8.12       the second year are for water-supply planning,
8.13       aquifer protection, and monitoring activities
8.14       and analysis.
8.15       (f) $2,250,000 the first year and $2,250,000
8.16       the second year are for technical assistance to
8.17       support local implementation of nonpoint
8.18       source restoration and protection activities and
8.19       targeted forest stewardship for water quality.
8.20       (g) $700,000 the first year and $700,000 the
8.21       second year are for tool development and
8.22       evaluation, including maintaining and updating
8.23       spatial data for watershed boundaries, streams,
8.24       and water bodies and integrating
8.25       high-resolution digital elevation data and for
8.26       assessing the effectiveness of forestry best
8.27       management practices for water quality.
8.28       (h) $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the
8.29       second year are for accelerating completion
8.30       of or updates to county geologic atlases and
8.31       supplementing water chemistry or chemical
8.32       movement studies.
8.33       (i) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the
8.34       second year are for increasing native
9.1          freshwater mussel production capacity and
9.2          restoring and monitoring freshwater mussel
9.3          restoration efforts.
9.4          (j) $1,500,000 the first year and $1,500,000
9.5          the second year are for providing technical
9.6          and financial assistance for county and local
9.7          governments to replace failing or ineffective
9.8          culverts using modern designs that restore
9.9          floodplain connectivity, biological
9.10       connectivity, and channel stability. This
9.11       appropriation is available for up to two
9.12       additional years.

9.15       (a) $45,000,000 the first year and $45,000,000
9.16       the second year are for agreements to
9.17       implement state-approved watershed-based
9.18       plans. The agreements may be used to
9.19       implement projects or programs that protect,
9.20       enhance, and restore surface water quality in
9.21       lakes, rivers, and streams; protect groundwater
9.22       from degradation; and protect drinking water
9.23       sources. Activities must be identified in a
9.24       comprehensive watershed plan developed
9.25       under the One Watershed, One Plan program
9.26       and seven-county metropolitan groundwater
9.27       or surface water management frameworks as
9.28       provided for in Minnesota Statutes, chapters
9.29       103B, 103C, 103D, and 114D. Other legacy
9.30       funds may be used to supplement projects
9.31       funded under this paragraph. This
9.32       appropriation may be used for:
9.33       (1) implementing state-approved plans,
9.34       including within the following watershed
9.35       planning areas: Big Fork River, Blue Earth
10.1       River, Bois de Sioux - Mustinka, Buffalo-Red
10.2       River, Cannon River, Cedar - Wapsipinicon,
10.3       Chippewa River, Clearwater River,
10.4       Cottonwood-Middle Minnesota, Crow Wing
10.5       River, Des Moines River, Greater Zumbro
10.6       River, Hawk Creek - Middle Minnesota, Kettle
10.7       and Upper St. Croix, Lac qui Parle-Yellow
10.8       Bank, Lake of the Woods, Lake Superior
10.9       North, Le Sueur River, Leech Lake River,
10.10     Little Fork River, Long Prairie River, Lower
10.11     Minnesota River East, Lower Minnesota River
10.12     West, Lower St. Croix River,
10.13     Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers, Minnesota
10.14     River-Mankato, Mississippi River Brainerd,
10.15     Mississippi River Headwaters, Mississippi
10.16     River St. Cloud, Mississippi River-Sartell,
10.17     Mississippi River Winona/La Crescent,
10.18     Missouri River Basin, Nemadji River, North
10.19     Fork Crow River, Otter Tail, Pine River,
10.20     Pomme de Terre River, Rainy-Rapid River,
10.21     Rainy Headwaters - Vermilion, Rainy
10.22     River-Rainy Lake, Red Lake River, Redeye
10.23     River, Redwood River, Root River, Roseau
10.24     River, Rum River, Sand Hill River, Sauk
10.25     River, Shell Rock and Winnebago River,
10.26     Snake River, South Fork of the Crow River,
10.27     St. Louis River, Thief River, Two Rivers Plus,
10.28     Upper and Lower Red Lake, Upper Minnesota
10.29     River, Upper Mississippi - Grand Rapids,
10.30     Watonwan River, Wild Rice - Marsh, and
10.31     Yellow Medicine River;
10.32     (2) implementing seven-county metropolitan
10.33     groundwater or surface water management
10.34     frameworks; and
11.1       (3) implementing other comprehensive
11.2       watershed management plan planning areas
11.3       that have a board-approved and
11.4       local-government-adopted plan as authorized
11.5       in Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.801.
11.6       The board must establish eligibility criteria
11.7       and determine whether a planning area is ready
11.8       to proceed.
11.9       (b) $3,000,000 the first year and $3,000,000
11.10     the second year are for agreements with local
11.11     government units to protect and restore surface
11.12     water and drinking water; to keep water on
11.13     the land; to protect, enhance, and restore water
11.14     quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; and to
11.15     protect groundwater and drinking water,
11.16     including feedlot water quality and subsurface
11.17     sewage treatment system projects and stream
11.18     bank, stream channel, shoreline restoration,
11.19     and ravine stabilization projects. The projects
11.20     must use practices demonstrated to be
11.21     effective, be of long-lasting public benefit,
11.22     include a match, and be consistent with total
11.23     maximum daily load (TMDL) implementation
11.24     plans, watershed restoration and protection
11.25     strategies (WRAPS), groundwater restoration
11.26     and protection strategies (GRAPS), or local
11.27     water management plans or their equivalents.
11.28     Up to 50 percent of this appropriation is
11.29     available for land-treatment projects and
11.30     practices that benefit drinking water.
11.31     (c) $4,350,000 the first year and $4,350,000
11.32     the second year are for accelerated
11.33     implementation, local resource protection,
11.34     statewide analytical targeting or technology
11.35     tools that fill an identified gap, program
12.1       enhancements for technical assistance, citizen
12.2       and community outreach, compliance, and
12.3       training and certification.
12.4       (d) $1,250,000 the first year and $1,250,000
12.5       the second year are:
12.6       (1) to provide state oversight and
12.7       accountability, evaluate and communicate
12.8       results, provide implementation tools, and
12.9       measure the value of conservation program
12.10     implementation by local governments; and
12.11     (2) to submit to the legislature by December
12.12     15 each even-numbered year a biennial report
12.13     detailing the recipients and projects funded
12.14     and the results accomplished under this
12.15     section.
12.16     (e) $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000
12.17     the second year are to provide assistance,
12.18     oversight, and support for local governments
12.19     in implementing and complying with riparian
12.20     protection and excessive soil loss
12.21     requirements.
12.22     (f) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000
12.23     the second year are for a working lands
12.24     floodplain program and to purchase, restore,
12.25     or preserve riparian land and floodplains
12.26     adjacent to lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams,
12.27     and tributaries, by conservation easements or
12.28     other agreements to keep water on the land,
12.29     to decrease sediment, pollutant, and nutrient
12.30     transport; reduce hydrologic impacts to surface
12.31     waters; and increase protection and recharge
12.32     for groundwater. Up to $60,000 is for deposit
12.33     in a conservation easement stewardship
13.1       account established according to Minnesota
13.2       Statutes, section 103B.103.
13.3       (g) $2,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000
13.4       the second year are for conservation easements
13.5       under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.501
13.6       to 103F.535, or for agreements with local units
13.7       of government or Tribal governments for
13.8       long-term protection of groundwater supply
13.9       sources. Priority must be placed on drinking
13.10     water supply management areas where the
13.11     vulnerability of the drinking water supply is
13.12     designated as high or very high by the
13.13     commissioner of health, that are mitigation
13.14     level 1 or 2 under the groundwater protection
13.15     rule, where drinking water protection plans
13.16     developed by Tribal governments have
13.17     identified high vulnerability, or where drinking
13.18     water protection plans have identified specific
13.19     activities that will achieve long-term
13.20     protection. Up to $200,000 is for deposit in a
13.21     conservation easement stewardship account
13.22     established according to Minnesota Statutes,
13.23     section 103B.103.
13.24     (h) $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the
13.25     second year are for a technical evaluation
13.26     panel to conduct restoration evaluations under
13.27     Minnesota Statutes, section 114D.50,
13.28     subdivision 6.
13.29     (i) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the
13.30     second year are for assistance to, oversight of,
13.31     and agreements with local governments to
13.32     enhance and update comprehensive watershed
13.33     management plans developed under Minnesota
13.34     Statutes, section 103B.801.
14.1       (j) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000
14.2       the second year are for technical and financial
14.3       assistance for the conservation drainage
14.4       program, in consultation with the Drainage
14.5       Work Group, coordinated under Minnesota
14.6       Statutes, section 103B.101, subdivision 13,
14.7       and including projects to improve
14.8       multipurpose water management under
14.9       Minnesota Statutes, section 103E.015.
14.10     (k) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the
14.11     second year are to purchase permanent
14.12     conservation easements to protect lands
14.13     adjacent to public waters that have good water
14.14     quality but that are threatened with
14.15     degradation. Up to $60,000 is for deposit in a
14.16     conservation easement stewardship account
14.17     established according to Minnesota Statutes,
14.18     section 103B.103.
14.19     (l) $425,000 the first year and $425,000 the
14.20     second year are to systematically collect data
14.21     and produce county, watershed, and statewide
14.22     estimates of soil erosion caused by water and
14.23     wind, and track adoption of conservation
14.24     measures, including cover crops, to address
14.25     erosion. This appropriation may be used for
14.26     agreements with the University of Minnesota
14.27     to complete this work.
14.28     (m) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the
14.29     second year are for implementing a water
14.30     legacy program to expand partnerships for
14.31     clean water.
14.32     (n) $2,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000
14.33     the second year are for permanent
14.34     conservation easements to protect and restore
14.35     wetlands and associated uplands. Up to
15.1       $100,000 is for deposit in a conservation
15.2       easement stewardship account established
15.3       according to Minnesota Statutes, section
15.4       103B.103.
15.5       (o) $5,926,000 the first year and $5,926,000
15.6       the second year are for financial and technical
15.7       assistance to enhance adoption of cover crops
15.8       and other soil health practices to achieve water
15.9       quality or drinking water benefits. The board
15.10     may use agreements with local governments,
15.11     the United States Department of Agriculture,
15.12     AgCentric at Minnesota State Center for
15.13     Excellence, and other practitioners and
15.14     partners to accomplish this work. Up to
15.15     $450,000 is for an agreement with the
15.16     University of Minnesota Office for Soil Health
15.17     for applied research and education on
15.18     Minnesota's agroecosystems and soil health
15.19     management systems. This appropriation may
15.20     be extended to leverage available federal
15.21     funds.
15.22     (p) $750,000 the first year and $750,000 the
15.23     second year are to contract for delivery of
15.24     services with Conservation Corps Minnesota
15.25     and Iowa for restoration, maintenance,
15.26     training, and other activities consistent with
15.27     this section.
15.28     (q) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the
15.29     second year are to provide support to soil and
15.30     water conservation districts and other local
15.31     governments and partner organizations in the
15.32     Lake Superior basin to leverage Great Lakes
15.33     Restoration Initiative or other federal funding
15.34     to implement prioritized activities.
16.1       (r) The board may shift funds in this section
16.2       and may adjust the technical and
16.3       administrative assistance portion of the funds
16.4       to leverage federal or other nonstate funds, to
16.5       facilitate oversight responsibilities, or to
16.6       address high-priority activities identified by
16.7       the board consistent with local water
16.8       management plans.
16.9       (s) The board must require grantees to specify
16.10     the outcomes that will be achieved by the
16.11     grants.
16.12     (t) The appropriations in this section are
16.13     available until June 30, 2030, except grant or
16.14     easement funds are available for five years
16.15     after the date a grant or other agreement is
16.16     executed. Returned funds must be repurposed
16.17     consistent with the purposes of this section.

16.19     (a) $5,925,000 the first year and $5,925,000
16.20     the second year are to develop health risk
16.21     limits and other health-based guidance and
16.22     conduct outreach activities for contaminants
16.23     found or anticipated to be found in Minnesota
16.24     drinking water; to accredit private laboratories
16.25     to conduct analyses for these contaminants;
16.26     and to increase the capacity of the
16.27     department's laboratory to analyze for these
16.28     contaminants.
16.29     (b) $3,000,000 the first year and $3,000,000
16.30     the second year are for ensuring safe drinking
16.31     water for private well users in southeast
16.32     Minnesota and statewide by designing and
16.33     implementing voluntary interventions to
16.34     reduce health risks to private well users,
17.1       including identifying private well locations,
17.2       studying the occurrence and magnitude of
17.3       contaminants in private wells, developing
17.4       guidance and conducting outreach and
17.5       education about well testing and mitigation,
17.6       awarding grants to local governments, and
17.7       offering well testing.
17.8       (c) $3,870,000 the first year and $3,920,000
17.9       the second year are for protecting sources of
17.10     drinking water, including planning,
17.11     implementation, and monitoring activities and
17.12     grants to local governments and public water
17.13     systems.
17.14     (d) $1,750,000 the first year and $1,750,000
17.15     the second year are to develop and deliver
17.16     groundwater restoration and protection
17.17     strategies on a watershed scale for use in local
17.18     comprehensive water planning efforts, to
17.19     provide resources to local governments for
17.20     activities that sustain groundwater and protect
17.21     sources of drinking water, and to enhance
17.22     approaches that improve the capacity of local
17.23     governmental units to protect and restore
17.24     groundwater resources.
17.25     (e) $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the
17.26     second year are to develop public health
17.27     policies and approaches to address threats to
17.28     safe drinking water, including implementation
17.29     of a statewide action plan for protecting
17.30     drinking water.
17.31     (f) $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the
17.32     second year are for optimizing the statewide
17.33     recreational water portal that includes an
17.34     inventory of public beaches and information
17.35     about local monitoring results and closures
18.1       and that provides information about preventing
18.2       illness and recreational water stewardship.
18.3       (g) Unless otherwise specified, the
18.4       appropriations in this section are available
18.5       until June 30, 2029.

18.7       (a) $1,375,000 the first year and $1,375,000
18.8       the second year are to support communities
18.9       implementing projects that address emerging
18.10     drinking water supply threats and overall water
18.11     sustainability, provide cost-effective regional
18.12     solutions, leverage interjurisdictional
18.13     coordination, support local implementation of
18.14     wellhead protection plans, and prevent
18.15     degradation of groundwater and surface water
18.16     resources. These activities will provide
18.17     communities with:
18.18     (1) potential solutions to better connect land
18.19     use impacts on water supply and overall water
18.20     sustainability;
18.21     (2) ways to balance regional water use by
18.22     using surface water, stormwater, wastewater,
18.23     and groundwater;
18.24     (3) an analysis of infrastructure requirements
18.25     needed to maintain and strengthen the
18.26     reliability of water systems;
18.27     (4) development of planning-level cost
18.28     estimates, including capital costs and operating
18.29     costs;
18.30     (5) funding mechanisms and an equitable
18.31     cost-sharing structure for regionally beneficial
18.32     water supply development projects;
19.1       (6) information and tools to use to address
19.2       climate change impacts on overall water
19.3       supply systems and overall water
19.4       sustainability; and
19.5       (7) ways to reduce impacts on the groundwater
19.6       system through stormwater reuse grants to
19.7       assist communities in reducing water use.
19.8       (b) $750,000 the first year and $750,000 the
19.9       second year are for grants that implement
19.10     water demand reduction measures. The grants
19.11     are to assist municipalities in the metropolitan
19.12     area with implementing water demand
19.13     reduction measures to ensure the reliability
19.14     and protection of drinking water supplies.

19.16     (a) $400,000 the first year and $400,000 the
19.17     second year are for developing Part A of
19.18     county geologic atlases. This appropriation is
19.19     available until June 30, 2030.
19.20     (b) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000
19.21     the second year are for a program to evaluate
19.22     performance and technology transfer for
19.23     stormwater best management practices, to
19.24     evaluate best management performance and
19.25     effectiveness to support meeting total
19.26     maximum daily loads, to develop standards
19.27     and incorporate state-of-the-art guidance using
19.28     minimal impact design standards as the model,
19.29     and to implement a system to transfer
19.30     knowledge and technology across the local
19.31     government, industry, and regulatory sectors.
19.32     This appropriation is available until June 30,
19.33     2032.

20.1       $7,000 the first year is for the Legislative
20.2       Coordinating Commission for the website
20.3       required under Minnesota Statutes, section
20.4       3.303, subdivision 10.

20.6       (a) $8,250,000 the first year and $8,250,000
20.7       the second year are for the point source
20.8       implementation grants program under
20.9       Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.073. This
20.10     appropriation is available until June 30, 2032.
20.11     (b) $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the
20.12     second year are for small community
20.13     wastewater treatment grants and loans under
20.14     Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.075. This
20.15     appropriation is available until June 30, 2032.
20.16     (c) If there is any uncommitted money at the
20.17     end of each fiscal year under paragraph (a) or
20.18     (b), the Public Facilities Authority may
20.19     transfer the remaining funds to eligible
20.20     projects under any of the programs listed in
20.21     this section according to a project's priority
20.22     rank on the Pollution Control Agency's project
20.23     priority list.

20.24     ARTICLE 2
20.25     PARKS AND TRAILS FUND

20.27     The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies
20.28     and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the parks and
20.29     trails fund and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. The figures
20.30     "2026" and "2027" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under the figure
20.31     are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The
20.32     first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" is
20.33     fiscal years 2026 and 2027. These are onetime appropriations.

21.7       The amounts that may be spent for each
21.8       purpose are specified in the following sections.

21.10     Money appropriated in this article may not be
21.11     spent on activities unless they are directly
21.12     related to and necessary for a specific
21.13     appropriation. Money appropriated in this
21.14     article must be spent in accordance with
21.15     Minnesota Management and Budget MMB
21.16     Guidance to Agencies on Legacy Fund
21.17     Expenditure. Notwithstanding Minnesota
21.18     Statutes, section 16A.28, and unless otherwise
21.19     specified in this article, fiscal year 2026
21.20     appropriations are available until June 30,
21.21     2028, and fiscal year 2027 appropriations are
21.22     available until June 30, 2029. If a project
21.23     receives federal funds, the period of the
21.24     appropriation is extended to equal the
21.25     availability of federal funding.

21.27     Where appropriate, grant recipients of parks
21.28     and trails funds, in consultation with the
21.29     Council on Disability and other appropriate
21.30     governor-appointed disability councils, boards,
21.31     committees, and commissions, should make
21.32     progress toward providing people with
21.33     disabilities greater access to programs, print
21.34     publications, and digital media related to the
22.1       programs the recipient funds using
22.2       appropriations made in this article.

22.4       Grant recipients of parks and trails funds
22.5       should prioritize water and energy
22.6       conservation technology and the use of
22.7       renewable energy for construction and
22.8       building projects funded with an appropriation
22.9       made in this article.

22.12     (a) $25,855,000 the first year and $26,866,000
22.13     the second year are for state parks, recreation
22.14     areas, and trails to:
22.15     (1) connect people to the outdoors;
22.16     (2) acquire land and create opportunities;
22.17     (3) maintain existing holdings; and
22.18     (4) improve cooperation by coordinating with
22.19     partners to implement the 25-year long-range
22.20     parks and trails legacy plan.
22.21     (b) The commissioner may spend money
22.22     appropriated under paragraph (a) on I Can!
22.23     programs, including but not limited to
22.24     programs designed to provide underserved
22.25     youth and youth who identify as lesbian, gay,
22.26     bisexual, transgender, and queer the
22.27     opportunity to experience the outdoors with
22.28     similar peers.
22.29     (c) $12,927,000 the first year and $13,434,000
22.30     the second year are for grants for parks and
22.31     trails of regional significance outside the
22.32     seven-county metropolitan area under
22.33     Minnesota Statutes, section 85.535. The grants
23.1       awarded under this paragraph must be based
23.2       on the lists of recommended projects
23.3       submitted to the legislative committees under
23.4       Minnesota Statutes, section 85.536,
23.5       subdivision 10, from the Greater Minnesota
23.6       Regional Parks and Trails Commission
23.7       established under Minnesota Statutes, section
23.8       85.536. Grants funded under this paragraph
23.9       must support parks and trails of regional or
23.10     statewide significance that meet the applicable
23.11     definitions and criteria for regional parks and
23.12     trails contained in the Greater Minnesota
23.13     Regional Parks and Trails Strategic Plan
23.14     adopted by the Greater Minnesota Regional
23.15     Parks and Trails Commission on April 22,
23.16     2015. Grant recipients identified under this
23.17     paragraph must submit a grant application to
23.18     the commissioner of natural resources. Up to
23.19     2.5 percent of the appropriation may be used
23.20     by the commissioner for the actual cost of
23.21     issuing and monitoring the grants for the
23.22     commission. Up to 4.5 percent of the
23.23     appropriation may be used by the Greater
23.24     Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails
23.25     Commission to carry out its duties under
23.26     Minnesota Statutes, section 85.536, including
23.27     the continued development of a statewide
23.28     system plan for regional parks and trails
23.29     outside the seven-county metropolitan area.
23.30     (d) By January 15, 2026, the Greater
23.31     Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails
23.32     Commission must submit a list of projects that
23.33     contains the commission's recommendations
23.34     for funding from the parks and trails fund for
23.35     fiscal year 2027 to the chairs and ranking
23.36     minority members of the legislative
24.1       committees and divisions with jurisdiction
24.2       over environment and natural resources and
24.3       the parks and trails fund.
24.4       (e) By January 15, 2026, the Greater
24.5       Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails
24.6       Commission must submit a report that contains
24.7       the commission's criteria for funding from the
24.8       parks and trails fund, including the criteria
24.9       used to determine if a park or trail is of
24.10     regional significance, to the chairs and ranking
24.11     minority members of the legislative
24.12     committees and divisions with jurisdiction
24.13     over environment and natural resources and
24.14     the parks and trails fund.
24.15     (f) $653,000 the first year and $678,000 the
24.16     second year are for coordination and projects
24.17     between the department, the Metropolitan
24.18     Council, and the Greater Minnesota Regional
24.19     Parks and Trails Commission; enhanced
24.20     web-based information for park and trail users;
24.21     and support of activities of the Parks and
24.22     Trails Legacy Advisory Committee.
24.23     (g) The commissioner must contract for
24.24     services with Conservation Corps Minnesota
24.25     and Iowa for restoration, maintenance, and
24.26     other activities under this section for at least
24.27     $850,000 the first year and $850,000 the
24.28     second year.
24.29     (h) Grant recipients of an appropriation under
24.30     this section must give consideration to
24.31     contracting with Conservation Corps
24.32     Minnesota and Iowa for restoration,
24.33     maintenance, and other activities.
25.1       (i) In addition to the requirements under
25.2       paragraph (g), the commissioner should work
25.3       to provide other opportunities that encourage
25.4       a diversity of students to pursue careers in
25.5       environment and natural resources when
25.6       implementing appropriations in this section.

25.8       (a) $25,855,000 the first year and $26,867,000
25.9       the second year are for distribution according
25.10     to Minnesota Statutes, section 85.53,
25.11     subdivision 3.
25.12     (b) Money appropriated under this section and
25.13     distributed to implementing agencies must be
25.14     used only to fund the list of projects approved
25.15     by the elected representatives of each of the
25.16     metropolitan parks implementing agencies.
25.17     Projects funded by the money appropriated
25.18     under this section must be substantially
25.19     consistent with the project descriptions and
25.20     dollar amounts approved by each elected body.
25.21     Any money remaining after completing the
25.22     listed projects may be spent by the
25.23     implementing agencies on projects to support
25.24     parks and trails.
25.25     (c) Grant agreements entered into by the
25.26     Metropolitan Council and recipients of money
25.27     appropriated under this section must ensure
25.28     that the money is used to supplement and not
25.29     substitute for traditional sources of funding.
25.30     (d) The implementing agencies receiving
25.31     appropriations under this section must give
25.32     consideration to contracting with Conservation
25.33     Corps Minnesota for restoration, maintenance,
25.34     and other activities.