HF 934

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/25/2021 05:45pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; modifying provisions for forest nursery sales;
establishing forest carbon sequestration goal; providing for tree planting; requiring
a report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 89.37,
subdivision 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 89.37, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Private lands.

The commissioner may supply only bare root seedlings, woody
cuttings, and transplant material for use on private land, provided that such material must
be sold in lots of not less than deleted text begin 500 deleted text end new text begin 250 new text end for a sum determined by the commissioner to be
equivalent to the cost of the materials and the expenses of their distribution. The
commissioner may not directly or indirectly supply any other planting stock for use on
private lands.

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS; FOREST CARBON SEQUESTRATION GOAL.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Goal. new text end

new text begin It is the goal of the state to plant an additional 1,000,000 trees each
year in fiscal years 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 to provide additional carbon sequestration
and improve forest health.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin State nursery and state forests. new text end

new text begin (a) $1,800,000 in fiscal year 2022 is
appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of natural resources to improve
seed extraction processes, develop native seeds appropriate for the climate, and design and
construct additional cold storage facilities. This is a onetime appropriation and is available
until June 30, 2023.
new text end

new text begin (b) $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of natural resources to produce container-grown trees when appropriate for
state lands. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2023.
new text end

new text begin (c) $....... in fiscal year 2022 and $....... in fiscal year 2023 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of natural resources to enhance and rehabilitate
nonproductive state forest sites, including site preparation, planting and seeding, and seedling
release and protection. The appropriations in this paragraph are onetime appropriations and
are available until June 30, 2025.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Private forests. new text end

new text begin (a) $25,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of natural resources to increase outreach to private landowners
to encourage tree planting. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30,
2023.
new text end

new text begin (b) $....... in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of natural resources to provide additional cost-share incentives for private forest landowners
for reforestation and tree planting. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until
June 30, 2025.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Emerald ash borer response. new text end

new text begin (a) $....... in fiscal year 2022 and $....... in fiscal
year 2023 are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of natural resources,
in cooperation with local units of government, to identify and convert ash stands to more
diverse, climate-adapted species. The appropriations in this paragraph are onetime
appropriations and are available until June 30, 2025.
new text end

new text begin (b) $....... in fiscal year 2022 and $....... in fiscal year 2023 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of natural resources to identify and convert ash forests to
climate-adapted species. The appropriations in this paragraph are onetime appropriations
and are available until June 30, 2025.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By November 15, 2022, the commissioner of natural resources must
submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives
and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over the environment and natural
resources finance and policy on the progress made toward achieving the goal established
in this section and recommendations for funding and any statutory changes necessary to
meet the goal.
new text end