HF 2904

1st Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/30/2022 12:50pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; appropriating money for accelerated conservation
planting, living snow fences, and tree planting.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin ACCELERATED CONSERVATION PLANTING PROGRAM;
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $8,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources for an accelerated conservation planting program. This is a onetime
appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026. The work must be carried out consistent
with the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 103C.501, and be used for financial and
technical assistance to landowners via local units of government for the purpose of
establishing or enhancing tree, shrub, and associated conservation practices that will reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and add resiliency to the landscape by sequestering carbon,
conserving energy, and improving water quality and habitat. Of this amount, $500,000 must
be used to address invasive species control via cooperative weed management agreements.
Money appropriated in this section may only be used to acquire and plant trees native to
Minnesota.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin LIVING SNOW FENCE PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of transportation for contracts to build and improve living snow fences consisting of trees,
shrubs, native grasses, and wildflowers. Money appropriated in this section may only be
used to acquire and plant trees native to Minnesota. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2026.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin ASH TREE REPLACEMENT GRANTS; APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin (a) $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of natural resources for grants to local units of government to replace trees
removed to address emerald ash borer. Priority must be given to environmental justice areas.
Money appropriated in this section may only be used to acquire and plant trees native to
Minnesota. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (b) For purposes of this appropriation, an environmental justice area is one or more
census blocks with a history of higher than average cumulative impacts from air pollution
located in Minnesota:
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new text begin (1) in which, based on the most recent data published by the United States Census Bureau:
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new text begin (i) 40 percent or more of the population is nonwhite;
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new text begin (ii) 35 percent or more of the households have an income at or below 200 percent of the
federal poverty level; or
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new text begin (iii) 40 percent or more of the population over the age of five have limited English
proficiency; or
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new text begin (2) within Indian Country, as defined in United States Code, title 18, section 1151.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin SCHOOL TREE PLANTING GRANTS; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of natural resources for grants to schools, including public and private schools, to plant trees
on school grounds while providing hands-on learning opportunities for students. A grant
application under this section must be prepared jointly with the parent-teacher organization
or similar parent organization for the school. This is a onetime appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2024.
new text end