1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing a budget for the Department of 
1.3 	Agriculture, the Board of Animal Health, the Agricultural Utilization Research 
1.4 	Institute, and the Office of Broadband Development; making policy and technical 
1.5 	changes to agriculture provisions; modifying livestock marketing agency and 
1.6 	dealer licensing provisions; modifying food handler licensing provisions; modifying 
1.7 	the cottage foods licensing exemption; modifying and establishing fees; requiring 
1.8 	reports; transferring money; appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 
1.9 	2024, sections 17.1017; 17.1018; 17.117, subdivisions 1, 3; 17.118, subdivisions 
1.10 	1, 2, 3; 17.133, subdivisions 1, 2; 17A.03, subdivisions 8, 10, 11, by adding a 
1.11 	subdivision; 17A.04, subdivisions 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8; 17A.06, subdivisions 2, 3; 17A.07; 
1.12 	17A.08; 17A.15; 18.79, subdivision 3; 18B.26, subdivision 8; 18B.37, subdivision 
1.13 	6; 18C.111, by adding a subdivision; 25.391, subdivisions 1, 2; 28A.03, subdivision 
1.14 	7, by adding subdivisions; 28A.04; 28A.05; 28A.06; 28A.07; 28A.0753, subdivision 
1.15 	3; 28A.08; 28A.081, subdivision 1; 28A.085, subdivision 1; 28A.14; 28A.151, 
1.16 	subdivision 2; 28A.152, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, by adding a subdivision; 28A.17; 
1.17 	32D.01, by adding a subdivision; 35.155, subdivision 12; 41A.16, subdivision 7; 
1.18 	41B.039, subdivision 2; 41B.0391, subdivisions 1, 2, 4, by adding a subdivision; 
1.19 	41B.04, subdivision 8; 41B.042, subdivision 4; 41B.043, subdivision 1b; 41B.045, 
1.20 	subdivision 2; 41B.047, subdivision 3; 41B.056, subdivision 1; 41B.057, 
1.21 	subdivisions 1, 3; 223.17, subdivision 3; 232.22, subdivision 3; Laws 2021, First 
1.22 	Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 2, subdivision 4, as amended; Laws 
1.23 	2023, chapter 43, article 1, section 2, subdivision 4, as amended; proposing coding 
1.24 	for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 32D; repealing Minnesota Statutes 
1.25 	2024, sections 35.68; 35.830; 239.77, subdivision 5.
1.26 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.27 	ARTICLE 1
1.28 	APPROPRIATIONS

1.29	Section 1. AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
1.30 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies 
1.31 	and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the general fund, 
1.32 	or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. 
2.1 	The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under 
2.2 	them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. 
2.3 	"The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" 
2.4 	is fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

2.5				APPROPRIATIONS
	
2.6				Available for the Year
	
2.7				Ending June 30
	
2.8					2026
		2027

2.9	Sec. 2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

2.10	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	58,957,000
	$
	56,052,000

2.11	Appropriations by Fund
	
2.12		2026
	2027
	
2.13	General
	58,558,000
	55,653,000
	
2.14	Remediation
	399,000
	399,000
	
2.15 	The amounts that may be spent for each 
2.16 	purpose are specified in the following 
2.17 	subdivisions. Notwithstanding Minnesota 
2.18 	Statutes, section 16B.98, subdivision 14, 
2.19 	unless otherwise specified in this section, the 
2.20 	commissioner of agriculture may use up to 7.5 
2.21 	percent of money appropriated for costs 
2.22 	incurred to administer the Department of 
2.23 	Agriculture's grant and financial assistance 
2.24 	programs.

2.25	Subd. 2.Protection Services

2.26	Appropriations by Fund
	
2.27	General
	20,828,000
	21,207,000
	
2.28	Remediation
	399,000
	399,000
	
2.29 	(a) $399,000 the first year and $399,000 the 
2.30 	second year are from the remediation fund for 
2.31 	administrative funding of the voluntary 
2.32 	cleanup program.
2.33 	(b) $639,000 the first year and $639,000 the 
2.34 	second year are for the soil health financial 
2.35 	assistance program under Minnesota Statutes, 
3.1 	section 17.134. The commissioner may award 
3.2 	no more than $50,000 of the appropriation 
3.3 	each year to a single recipient. 
3.4 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.5 	16B.98, subdivision 14, the commissioner may 
3.6 	use up to 6.5 percent of this appropriation for 
3.7 	costs incurred to administer the program. Any 
3.8 	unencumbered balance does not cancel at the 
3.9 	end of the first year and is available in the 
3.10 	second year. Appropriations encumbered 
3.11 	under contract on or before June 30, 2027, for 
3.12 	soil health financial assistance grants are 
3.13 	available until June 30, 2029.
3.14 	(c) $275,000 the first year and $250,000 the 
3.15 	second year are for compensation for livestock 
3.16 	destroyed or crippled by a wolf under 
3.17 	Minnesota Statutes, section 3.737. The first 
3.18 	year appropriation may be spent to compensate 
3.19 	for livestock that were destroyed or crippled 
3.20 	during fiscal year 2025. If the amount in the 
3.21 	first year is insufficient, the amount in the 
3.22 	second year is available in the first year. The 
3.23 	commissioner may use up to $5,000 each year 
3.24 	to reimburse expenses incurred by university 
3.25 	extension educators to provide fair market 
3.26 	values of destroyed or crippled livestock. If 
3.27 	the commissioner receives federal money to 
3.28 	pay claims for destroyed or crippled livestock, 
3.29 	an equivalent amount of this appropriation 
3.30 	may be used to reimburse nonlethal prevention 
3.31 	methods performed by federal wildlife services 
3.32 	staff. The base for this appropriation is 
3.33 	$175,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year 
3.34 	thereafter.
4.1 	(d) $255,000 the first year and $230,000 the 
4.2 	second year are for compensation for crop or 
4.3 	fence damage caused by elk under Minnesota 
4.4 	Statutes, section 3.7371. If the amount in the 
4.5 	first year is insufficient, the amount in the 
4.6 	second year is available in the first year. The 
4.7 	commissioner may use up to $10,000 of the 
4.8 	appropriation each year to reimburse expenses 
4.9 	incurred by the commissioner or the 
4.10 	commissioner's approved agent to investigate 
4.11 	and resolve claims, as well as for costs 
4.12 	associated with training for approved agents. 
4.13 	The commissioner may use up to $40,000 of 
4.14 	the appropriation each year for grants to 
4.15 	producers for measures to protect stored crops 
4.16 	from elk damage. If the commissioner 
4.17 	determines that claims made under Minnesota 
4.18 	Statutes, section 3.737 or 3.7371, are 
4.19 	unusually high, amounts appropriated for 
4.20 	either program may be transferred to the 
4.21 	appropriation for the other program. The base 
4.22 	for this appropriation is $155,000 in fiscal year 
4.23 	2028 and each year thereafter.
4.24 	(e) $825,000 the first year and $825,000 the 
4.25 	second year are to replace capital equipment 
4.26 	in the Department of Agriculture's analytical 
4.27 	laboratory.
4.28 	(f) $750,000 the first year and $750,000 the 
4.29 	second year are for additional meat and poultry 
4.30 	inspection services. The commissioner is 
4.31 	encouraged to seek inspection waivers, match 
4.32 	federal money, and offer more online 
4.33 	inspections for the purposes of this paragraph. 
4.34 	This is a onetime appropriation.
5.1 	(g) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the 
5.2 	second year are for grants to counties to 
5.3 	support county agricultural inspectors. The 
5.4 	commissioner may use up to three percent of 
5.5 	the appropriation each year for administration. 
5.6 	This is a onetime appropriation. County 
5.7 	agricultural inspectors and county-designated 
5.8 	employees must annually submit an 
5.9 	application, on a form approved by the 
5.10 	commissioner, to be eligible for funding 
5.11 	during a given year. The commissioner must 
5.12 	equally divide available grant money among 
5.13 	eligible counties. To be eligible for grants 
5.14 	under this section, a county must employ a 
5.15 	county agricultural inspector or a 
5.16 	county-designated employee who:
5.17 	(1) has attended training for new county 
5.18 	agricultural inspectors offered by the 
5.19 	commissioner;
5.20 	(2) coordinates with the commissioner  to 
5.21 	review applicable laws and enforcement 
5.22 	procedures;
5.23 	(3) compiles and submits to the commissioner 
5.24 	local weed inspector annual report data;
5.25 	(4) conducts an annual meeting and training 
5.26 	for local weed inspectors; and
5.27 	(5) assists the commissioner with control 
5.28 	programs and other agricultural programs 
5.29 	when requested under Minnesota Statutes, 
5.30 	section 18.81, subdivision 1b, as directed by 
5.31 	the county board.
5.32 	(h) $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the 
5.33 	second year are appropriated to establish and 
5.34 	administer the biofertilizer innovation and 
6.1 	efficiency program under Minnesota Statutes, 
6.2 	section 18C.113. The commissioner may use 
6.3 	up to 6.5 percent of this appropriation for costs 
6.4 	incurred to administer the program. 
6.5 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
6.6 	16A.28, any unencumbered balance at the end 
6.7 	of fiscal year 2026 does not cancel and is 
6.8 	available until June 30, 2027. This is a onetime 
6.9 	appropriation.
6.10 	(j) $75,000 the first year is to conduct an 
6.11 	evaluation of the practice performance and 
6.12 	economic performance of the Olmsted County 
6.13 	groundwater protection and soil health 
6.14 	initiative, including the cover crop program, 
6.15 	alternative crops program, and haying, 
6.16 	grazing, and pasture enhancement program. 
6.17 	The evaluation must look at environmental 
6.18 	outcomes, include a cost-benefit analysis, and 
6.19 	be submitted to the chairs and ranking 
6.20 	minority members of the legislative 
6.21 	committees and divisions with jurisdiction 
6.22 	over agriculture policy and finance by June 1, 
6.23 	2027. The commissioner may contract with 
6.24 	an independent third party to conduct the 
6.25 	evaluation.
6.26 	(k) $420,000 the first year and $924,000 the 
6.27 	second year are to support current services.

6.28
6.29	Subd. 3.Agricultural Marketing and 
Development
 		22,851,000
		22,601,000
	
6.30 	(a) $634,000 the first year and $634,000 the 
6.31 	second year are for the continuation of the 
6.32 	dairy development and profitability 
6.33 	enhancement program, including dairy 
6.34 	profitability teams and dairy business planning 
7.1 	grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 
7.2 	32D.30.
7.3 	(b) The commissioner may use funds 
7.4 	appropriated in this subdivision for annual 
7.5 	cost-share payments to resident farmers or 
7.6 	entities that sell, process, or package 
7.7 	agricultural products in this state for the costs 
7.8 	of organic certification. The commissioner 
7.9 	may allocate these funds for assistance to 
7.10 	persons transitioning from conventional to 
7.11 	organic agriculture.
7.12 	(c) $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the 
7.13 	second year are for mental health outreach and 
7.14 	support to farmers, ranchers, farm workers 
7.15 	and employees, and others in the agricultural 
7.16 	community and profession and for farm and 
7.17 	farm worker safety grant and outreach 
7.18 	programs under Minnesota Statutes, section 
7.19 	17.1195. Mental health outreach and support 
7.20 	may include a 24-hour hotline, stigma 
7.21 	reduction, and education. Notwithstanding 
7.22 	Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, any 
7.23 	unencumbered balance does not cancel at the 
7.24 	end of the first year and is available in the 
7.25 	second year. The base for this appropriation 
7.26 	is $50,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year 
7.27 	thereafter.
7.28 	(d) $18,257,000 the first year and $18,007,000 
7.29 	the second year are for the agricultural growth, 
7.30 	research, and innovation program under 
7.31 	Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12. The base 
7.32 	for this appropriation is $17,449,000 in fiscal 
7.33 	year 2028 and each year thereafter.
7.34 	(e) Except as provided in paragraph (f), the 
7.35 	commissioner may allocate the appropriation 
8.1 	in paragraph (d) each year among the 
8.2 	following areas: facilitating the startup, 
8.3 	modernization, improvement, or expansion of 
8.4 	livestock operations, including beginning and 
8.5 	transitioning livestock operations with 
8.6 	preference given to robotic dairy-milking 
8.7 	equipment; assisting value-added agricultural 
8.8 	businesses to begin or expand, to access new 
8.9 	markets, or to diversify, including aquaponics 
8.10 	systems, with preference given to hemp fiber 
8.11 	processing equipment; facilitating the startup, 
8.12 	modernization, or expansion of other 
8.13 	beginning and transitioning farms, including 
8.14 	by providing loans under Minnesota Statutes, 
8.15 	section 41B.056; sustainable agriculture 
8.16 	on-farm research and demonstration; the 
8.17 	development or expansion of food hubs and 
8.18 	other alternative community-based food 
8.19 	distribution systems; enhancing renewable 
8.20 	energy infrastructure and use; crop research, 
8.21 	including basic and applied turf seed research; 
8.22 	Farm Business Management tuition assistance; 
8.23 	supporting the commercialization of an 
8.24 	innovative material additive utilizing 
8.25 	agricultural coproducts or waste streams to 
8.26 	produce fiber-based barrier packaging to 
8.27 	reduce perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl 
8.28 	substances (PFAS) and plastics in packaging 
8.29 	products; and good agricultural practices and 
8.30 	good handling practices certification 
8.31 	assistance. Notwithstanding Minnesota 
8.32 	Statutes, section 16B.98, subdivision 14, the 
8.33 	commissioner may use up to 7.5 percent of 
8.34 	the appropriation in paragraph (d) for costs 
8.35 	incurred to administer the program.
9.1 	(f) Of the amount appropriated for the 
9.2 	agricultural growth, research, and innovation 
9.3 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
9.4 	41A.12:
9.5 	(1) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 
9.6 	the second year are for distribution in equal 
9.7 	amounts to each of the state's county fairs to 
9.8 	preserve and promote Minnesota agriculture;
9.9 	(2) $3,000,000 the first year and $3,000,000 
9.10 	the second year are for incentive payments 
9.11 	under Minnesota Statutes, sections 41A.16, 
9.12 	41A.17, 41A.18, and 41A.20. If this 
9.13 	appropriation exceeds the total amount for 
9.14 	which all producers are eligible in a fiscal 
9.15 	year, the balance of the appropriation is 
9.16 	available for other purposes under this 
9.17 	paragraph;
9.18 	(3) $2,750,000 the first year and $2,750,000 
9.19 	the second year are for grants that enable retail 
9.20 	petroleum dispensers, fuel storage tanks, and 
9.21 	other equipment to dispense biofuels to the 
9.22 	public in accordance with the biofuel 
9.23 	replacement goals established under 
9.24 	Minnesota Statutes, section 239.7911. A retail 
9.25 	petroleum dispenser selling petroleum for use 
9.26 	in spark ignition engines for vehicle model 
9.27 	years after 2000 is eligible for grant money 
9.28 	under this clause if the retail petroleum 
9.29 	dispenser has no more than 20 retail petroleum 
9.30 	dispensing sites and each site is located in 
9.31 	Minnesota. The grant money must be used to 
9.32 	replace or upgrade equipment that does not 
9.33 	have the ability to be certified for E25. A grant 
9.34 	award must not exceed 65 percent of the cost 
9.35 	of the appropriate technology. A grant award 
10.1 	must not exceed $200,000 per station. The 
10.2 	commissioner must cooperate with biofuel 
10.3 	stakeholders in the implementation of the grant 
10.4 	program. The commissioner, in cooperation 
10.5 	with any economic or community development 
10.6 	financial institution and any other entity with 
10.7 	which the commissioner contracts, must 
10.8 	submit a report on the biofuels infrastructure 
10.9 	financial assistance program by January 15 
10.10 	each year to the chairs and ranking minority 
10.11 	members of the legislative committees and 
10.12 	divisions with jurisdiction over agriculture 
10.13 	policy and finance. The annual report must 
10.14 	include but not be limited to a summary of the 
10.15 	following metrics: (i) the number and types 
10.16 	of projects financed; (ii) the amount of dollars 
10.17 	leveraged or matched per project; (iii) the 
10.18 	geographic distribution of financed projects; 
10.19 	(iv) any market expansion associated with 
10.20 	upgraded infrastructure; (v) the demographics 
10.21 	of the areas served; (vi) the costs of the 
10.22 	program; and (vii) the number of grants to 
10.23 	minority-owned or female-owned businesses;
10.24 	(4) $350,000 the first year and $250,000 the 
10.25 	second year are for grants to facilitate the 
10.26 	startup, modernization, or expansion of meat, 
10.27 	poultry, egg, and milk processing facilities. A 
10.28 	grant award under this clause must not exceed 
10.29 	$200,000;
10.30 	(5) $1,594,000 the first year and $1,544,000 
10.31 	the second year are for providing more fruits, 
10.32 	vegetables, meat, poultry, grain, and dairy for 
10.33 	children in school and early childhood 
10.34 	education settings, including, at the 
10.35 	commissioner's discretion, providing grants 
11.1 	to reimburse schools and early childhood 
11.2 	education and child care providers for 
11.3 	purchasing equipment and agricultural 
11.4 	products. Of the amount appropriated, 
11.5 	$150,000 each year is for a statewide 
11.6 	coordinator of farm-to-institution strategy and 
11.7 	programming. The coordinator must consult 
11.8 	with relevant stakeholders and provide 
11.9 	technical assistance and training for 
11.10 	participating farmers and eligible grant 
11.11 	recipients. The base for this appropriation is 
11.12 	$1,636,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year 
11.13 	thereafter. At the commissioner's discretion, 
11.14 	for state administration of federal cooperative 
11.15 	agreements for purchasing Minnesota grown 
11.16 	and raised foods for schools, child care 
11.17 	providers, food banks, and other institutions, 
11.18 	the commissioner may use an amount of state 
11.19 	funds equal to no more than 7.5 percent of the 
11.20 	total federal funds awarded to the state. The 
11.21 	commissioner shall expend any available 
11.22 	federal administrative funds awarded for this 
11.23 	purpose before using state funds;
11.24 	(6) up to $1,750,000 the first year and up to 
11.25 	$1,750,000 the second year are for grants to 
11.26 	facilitate the development of urban agriculture, 
11.27 	including projects related to youth education, 
11.28 	community and economic development, 
11.29 	value-added processing, and vocational 
11.30 	training;
11.31 	(7) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 
11.32 	the second year are for the food retail 
11.33 	improvement and development program under 
11.34 	Minnesota Statutes, section 17.1017;
12.1 	(8) up to $200,000 the first year and up to 
12.2 	$200,000 the second year are for cooperative 
12.3 	development grants under Minnesota Statutes, 
12.4 	section 17.1016;
12.5 	(9) $250,000 the first year and $150,000 the 
12.6 	second year are for the protecting livestock 
12.7 	grant program for producers to support the 
12.8 	installation of measures to prevent the 
12.9 	transmission of avian influenza. For the 
12.10 	appropriation in this clause, a grant applicant 
12.11 	must document a cost-share of 20 percent. An 
12.12 	applicant's cost-share amount may be reduced 
12.13 	up to $2,000 to cover time and labor costs. 
12.14 	This is a onetime appropriation; and
12.15 	(10) up to $525,000 the first year and up to 
12.16 	$525,000 the second year are to award AGRI 
12.17 	Works grants to institutions and organizations 
12.18 	to provide regional and statewide services. 
12.19 	Preference shall be given to legislatively 
12.20 	created entities and organizations that enhance 
12.21 	agricultural, horticultural, or rural community 
12.22 	and economic development, marketing, and 
12.23 	promotion, and research and education. A 
12.24 	grant award under this clause must not exceed 
12.25 	$200,000. Grants made under this paragraph 
12.26 	are subject to the requirements in Minnesota 
12.27 	Statutes, sections 16B.98 and 16B.981. This 
12.28 	is a onetime appropriation.
12.29 	(g) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, 
12.30 	section 16A.28, the appropriation in paragraph 
12.31 	(d) does not cancel at the end of the second 
12.32 	year and is available until June 30, 2029. 
12.33 	Appropriations encumbered under contract on 
12.34 	or before June 30, 2029, for agricultural 
12.35 	growth, research, and innovation grants are 
13.1 	available until June 30, 2032. At the end of 
13.2 	fiscal year 2027, the commissioner must 
13.3 	prioritize any money resulting from canceled 
13.4 	contracts to be used for AGRI Works grants 
13.5 	under paragraph (f), clause (10).

13.6
13.7	Subd. 4.Administration and Financial 
Assistance
 		14,879,000
		11,845,000
	
13.8 	(a) $474,000 the first year and $474,000 the 
13.9 	second year are for payments to county and 
13.10 	district agricultural societies and associations 
13.11 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 38.02, 
13.12 	subdivision 1. Aid payments to county and 
13.13 	district agricultural societies and associations 
13.14 	must be disbursed no later than July 15 each 
13.15 	year. These payments are the amount of aid 
13.16 	from the state for an annual fair held in the 
13.17 	previous calendar year.
13.18 	(b) $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the 
13.19 	second year are for grants to the Minnesota 
13.20 	Agricultural Education and Leadership 
13.21 	Council for programs of the council under 
13.22 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 41D. The base for 
13.23 	this appropriation is $250,000 in fiscal year 
13.24 	2028 and each year thereafter.
13.25 	(c) $1,250,000 the first year and $1,250,000 
13.26 	the second year are to award and administer 
13.27 	farm down payment assistance grants under 
13.28 	Minnesota Statutes, section 17.133, with 
13.29 	priority given to eligible applicants with no 
13.30 	more than $100,000 in annual gross farm 
13.31 	product sales and eligible applicants who are 
13.32 	producers of industrial hemp, cannabis, or one 
13.33 	or more of the following specialty crops as 
13.34 	defined by the United States Department of 
13.35 	Agriculture for purposes of the specialty crop 
14.1 	block grant program: fruits and vegetables, 
14.2 	tree nuts, dried fruits, medicinal plants, 
14.3 	culinary herbs and spices, horticulture crops, 
14.4 	floriculture crops, and nursery crops. 
14.5 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
14.6 	16A.28, any unencumbered balance at the end 
14.7 	of the first year does not cancel and is 
14.8 	available in the second year and appropriations 
14.9 	encumbered under contract by June 30, 2027, 
14.10 	are available until June 30, 2029. The base for 
14.11 	this appropriation is $1,000,000 in fiscal year 
14.12 	2028 and each year thereafter.
14.13 	(d) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 
14.14 	the second year are for the purchase of milk 
14.15 	for distribution to Minnesota's food shelves 
14.16 	and other charitable organizations that are 
14.17 	eligible to receive food from the food banks. 
14.18 	Milk purchased with grant money must be 
14.19 	acquired from Minnesota milk processors and 
14.20 	based on low-cost bids. The milk must be 
14.21 	allocated to each Feeding America food bank 
14.22 	serving Minnesota according to the formula 
14.23 	used in the distribution of United States 
14.24 	Department of Agriculture commodities under 
14.25 	The Emergency Food Assistance Program. 
14.26 	The commissioner may enter into contracts or 
14.27 	agreements with food banks for shared funding 
14.28 	or reimbursement of the direct purchase of 
14.29 	milk. Each food bank that receives funding 
14.30 	under this paragraph may use up to two 
14.31 	percent for administrative expenses. 
14.32 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
14.33 	16A.28, any unencumbered balance the first 
14.34 	year does not cancel and is available the 
14.35 	second year.
15.1 	(e) $260,000 the first year and $260,000 the 
15.2 	second year are for a pass-through grant to 
15.3 	Region Five Development Commission to 
15.4 	provide, in collaboration with Farm Business 
15.5 	Management, statewide mental health 
15.6 	counseling support to Minnesota farm 
15.7 	operators, families, and employees, and 
15.8 	individuals who work with Minnesota farmers 
15.9 	in a professional capacity. Region Five 
15.10 	Development Commission may use up to 7.5 
15.11 	percent of the grant awarded under this 
15.12 	paragraph for administration.
15.13 	(f) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 
15.14 	the second year are to expand the Emerging 
15.15 	Farmers Office and provide services to 
15.16 	beginning and emerging farmers to increase 
15.17 	connections between farmers and market 
15.18 	opportunities throughout the state. This 
15.19 	appropriation may be used for grants, 
15.20 	translation services, training programs, or 
15.21 	other purposes in line with the 
15.22 	recommendations of the emerging farmer 
15.23 	working group established under Minnesota 
15.24 	Statutes, section 17.055, subdivision 1.
15.25 	(g) $137,000 the first year and $203,000 the 
15.26 	second year are to support current services.
15.27 	(h) $337,000 the first year and $337,000 the 
15.28 	second year are for farm advocate services. 
15.29 	Of these amounts, $50,000 the first year and 
15.30 	$50,000 the second year are for the 
15.31 	continuation of the farmland transition 
15.32 	programs and may be used for grants to 
15.33 	farmland access teams to provide technical 
15.34 	assistance to potential beginning farmers. 
15.35 	Farmland access teams must assist existing 
16.1 	farmers and beginning farmers with 
16.2 	transitioning farm ownership and farm 
16.3 	operation. Services provided by teams may 
16.4 	include but are not limited to mediation 
16.5 	assistance, designing contracts, financial 
16.6 	planning, tax preparation, estate planning, and 
16.7 	housing assistance.
16.8 	(i) $3,000,000 the first year is for transfer to 
16.9 	the Public Facilities Authority for a grant to 
16.10 	First District Association to acquire land for 
16.11 	and to design, engineer, construct, equip, and 
16.12 	furnish a wastewater treatment project. This 
16.13 	appropriation is in addition to the 
16.14 	appropriation in Laws 2023, chapter 71, article 
16.15 	1, section 15, subdivision 7. This appropriation 
16.16 	is available until the project is completed or 
16.17 	abandoned, subject to Minnesota Statutes, 
16.18 	section 16A.642.
16.19 	(k) $50,000 the first year is to be awarded as 
16.20 	a grant in a competitive bid process to an 
16.21 	entity that is not a for-profit entity to conduct 
16.22 	a study of market and workforce factors that 
16.23 	may contribute to the incorrect marking for 
16.24 	the installation of underground 
16.25 	telecommunications infrastructure that is 
16.26 	located within ten feet of existing underground 
16.27 	utilities or that crosses the existing 
16.28 	underground utilities. The study must include 
16.29 	recommendations to the legislature and be 
16.30 	submitted to the chairs and ranking minority 
16.31 	members of the legislative committees and 
16.32 	divisions with jurisdiction over agriculture 
16.33 	policy and finance by June 1, 2027.
16.34 	(r) $50,000 the first year is to conduct a study 
16.35 	and develop recommendations for establishing 
17.1 	an incentive-based program to support and 
17.2 	encourage agricultural retailers in promoting 
17.3 	4R nutrient management practices. The 4R 
17.4 	nutrient management practices include: the 
17.5 	right source of nutrients, at the right rate and 
17.6 	right time, in the right place.
17.7 	(1) As part of the study, the department must 
17.8 	evaluate strategies for leveraging cost-share 
17.9 	programs, including the feasibility of 
17.10 	coordinating with the Agricultural Water 
17.11 	Quality Certification Program and other efforts 
17.12 	related to the state's Nutrient Reduction 
17.13 	Strategy.
17.14 	(2) The commissioner must submit a report 
17.15 	detailing its findings, including potential 
17.16 	funding sources and proposal outlines for 
17.17 	funding requests where appropriate. The 
17.18 	commissioner must submit the report to the 
17.19 	chairs and ranking minority members of the 
17.20 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
17.21 	agriculture and environment by March 15, 
17.22 	2026.
17.23 	(s) $700,000 the first year and $700,000 the 
17.24 	second year are for the local food purchasing 
17.25 	assistance grant program under article 3, 
17.26 	section 35. Notwithstanding Minnesota 
17.27 	Statutes, section 16A.28, any unencumbered 
17.28 	balance does not cancel at the end of the first 
17.29 	year and is available in the second year.
17.30 	(t) The commissioner shall continue to 
17.31 	increase connections with ethnic minority and 
17.32 	immigrant farmers to farming opportunities 
17.33 	and farming programs throughout the state.

17.34	Sec. 3. BOARD OF ANIMAL HEALTH
 	$
	6,675,000
	$
	6,800,000
	
18.1 	$265,000 the first year and $390,000 the 
18.2 	second year are to maintain the current level 
18.3 	of service delivery.

18.4
18.5	Sec. 4. AGRICULTURAL UTILIZATION 
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
 	$
	4,388,000
	$
	4,434,000
	
18.6 	$45,000 the first year and $91,000 the second 
18.7 	year are to maintain the current level of service 
18.8 	delivery.

18.9 	Sec. 5. TRANSFERS; ADMINISTRATION.
 18.10 	Positions, salary money, and nonsalary administrative money may be transferred within 
18.11 	the Department of Agriculture as the commissioner of agriculture considers necessary, with 
18.12 	the advanced approval of the commissioner of management and budget. The commissioner 
18.13 	of agriculture shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative 
18.14 	committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance quarterly about the transfers made 
18.15 	under this section.

18.16 	Sec. 6. TRANSFERS.
 18.17 	(a) The commissioner of agriculture, in consultation with the commissioner of 
18.18 	management and budget, must transfer $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2026 from the general fund 
18.19 	to the agricultural emergency account established under Minnesota Statutes, section 17.041.
18.20 	(b) Of the amount transferred to the agricultural emergency account under Minnesota 
18.21 	Statutes, section 17.041, up to $750,000 may be used for the following purposes:
18.22 	(1) to test milk, milk products, poultry products, and pet food before retail sale for the 
18.23 	presence of avian influenza;
18.24 	(2) to transfer money to the commissioner of health for biomonitoring for the presence 
18.25 	of avian influenza in agricultural workers, farm workers, and poultry or livestock processing 
18.26 	employees who volunteer to participate; and
18.27 	(3) to transfer money to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to develop 
18.28 	rapid testing, quantification, and human exposure risk assessment models for avian influenza 
18.29 	in urban wastewater treatment processes, drinking water treatment processes, and public 
18.30 	and private wells.
18.31 	Prior to using or transferring money under this paragraph, the commissioner of agriculture 
18.32 	must communicate the intended use and the estimated amount of money to the chairs and 
19.1 	ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees with 
19.2 	jurisdiction over agriculture finance.
19.3 	(c) The commissioner of agriculture, in consultation with the commissioner of 
19.4 	management and budget, must transfer $100,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 in fiscal 
19.5 	year 2027 from the general fund to the pollinator research account established under 
19.6 	Minnesota Statutes, section 18B.051. The commissioner of management and budget must 
19.7 	include a transfer of $100,000 each year from the general fund to the pollinator research 
19.8 	account established under Minnesota Statutes, section 18B.051, in each forecast prepared 
19.9 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.103, from the effective date of this section through 
19.10 	the February 2027 forecast.
19.11 	(d) The commissioner of agriculture, in consultation with the commissioner of 
19.12 	management and budget, must transfer $186,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $186,000 in fiscal 
19.13 	year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota grown account under Minnesota Statutes, 
19.14 	section 17.102, subdivision 4. The transferred money may be used as grants for Minnesota 
19.15 	grown promotion under Minnesota Statutes, section 17.102. Notwithstanding Minnesota 
19.16 	Statutes, section 16A.28, the appropriations encumbered under contract on or before June 
19.17 	30, 2027, for Minnesota grown grants in this paragraph are available until June 30, 2029. 
19.18 	The commissioner of management and budget must include a transfer of $186,000 each 
19.19 	year from the general fund to the Minnesota grown account established under Minnesota 
19.20 	Statutes, section 17.102, subdivision 4, in each forecast prepared under Minnesota Statutes, 
19.21 	section 16A.103, from the effective date of this section through the February 2027 forecast.
19.22 	(e) The commissioner of agriculture, in consultation with the commissioner of 
19.23 	management and budget, must transfer $10,677,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $10,677,000 in 
19.24 	fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the agriculture research, education, extension, and 
19.25 	technology transfer account under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 3, for 
19.26 	purposes of the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer grant 
19.27 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14. The commissioner of agriculture shall 
19.28 	transfer money each year to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for purposes 
19.29 	of Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), and must 
19.30 	supplement and not supplant existing sources and levels of funding. The commissioner may 
19.31 	use up to one percent of this transfer for costs incurred to administer this program. Of the 
19.32 	amount transferred for the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology transfer 
19.33 	grant program under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14:
20.1 	(1) $600,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $600,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for the Minnesota 
20.2 	Agricultural Experiment Station's agriculture rapid response fund under Minnesota Statutes, 
20.3 	section 41A.14, subdivision 1, clause (2);
20.4 	(2) up to $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and up to $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for 
20.5 	research on avian influenza, salmonella, and other turkey related diseases and disease 
20.6 	prevention measures;
20.7 	(3) $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for grants to 
20.8 	the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council to enhance agricultural education 
20.9 	with priority given to Farm Business Management challenge grants. This allocation is 
20.10 	$2,250,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each year thereafter;
20.11 	(4) $350,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $350,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for potato research;
20.12 	(5) $802,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $802,000 in fiscal year 2027 are to fund the Forever 
20.13 	Green Initiative and protect Minnesota's natural resources while increasing the efficiency, 
20.14 	profitability, and productivity of Minnesota farmers by incorporating perennial and winter 
20.15 	annual crops into existing agricultural practices. By February 1 each year, the dean of the 
20.16 	College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences must submit a report to the 
20.17 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
20.18 	agriculture finance and policy and higher education detailing uses of the money in this 
20.19 	clause, including administrative costs, and the achievements this money contributed to;
20.20 	(6) $200,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for research on 
20.21 	natural stands of wild rice;
20.22 	(7) $250,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for the cultivated 
20.23 	wild rice forward selection project at the North Central Research and Outreach Center, 
20.24 	including a tenure track or research associate plant scientist;
20.25 	(8) $290,000 in fiscal year 2026 is for the Board of Regents of the University of 
20.26 	Minnesota for purposes of research on crop contamination and exposure to prions deposited 
20.27 	by animals infected with chronic wasting disease. This is a onetime allocation; and
20.28 	(9) $75,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $75,000 in fiscal year 2027 are for grants to the 
20.29 	Southwest Minnesota State University Foundation to support the Minnesota Agriculture 
20.30 	and Rural Leadership program. This is a onetime allocation.
20.31 	The commissioner of management and budget must include a transfer of $10,352,000 each 
20.32 	year from the general fund to the agriculture research, education, extension, and technology 
20.33 	transfer account under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 3, in each forecast 
21.1 	prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.103, from the effective date of this section 
21.2 	through the February 2027 forecast.
21.3 	(f) The commissioner of agriculture, in consultation with the commissioner of 
21.4 	management and budget, must transfer $1,425,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,425,000 in 
21.5 	fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the agricultural and environmental revolving loan 
21.6 	account established under Minnesota Statutes, section 17.117, subdivision 5a, for low-interest 
21.7 	or no-interest loans issued through the agriculture best management practices loan program 
21.8 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 17.117. The commissioner of management and budget 
21.9 	must include a transfer of $1,425,000 each year from the general fund to the agricultural 
21.10 	and environmental revolving loan account under Minnesota Statutes, section 17.117, 
21.11 	subdivision 5a, in each forecast prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.103, from 
21.12 	the effective date of this section through the February 2027 forecast.
21.13 	(g) The commissioner of agriculture, in consultation with the commissioner of 
21.14 	management and budget, must transfer $500,000 in fiscal year 2026 from the grain indemnity 
21.15 	account under Minnesota Statutes, section 223.24, subdivision 1, in the agricultural fund 
21.16 	to the grain buyers and storage account under Minnesota Statutes, section 232.22, subdivision 
21.17 	3, in the agricultural fund.

21.18 	Sec. 7. CANCELLATIONS.
 21.19 	(a) $3,000,000 of the appropriation in fiscal year 2024 from the general fund for green 
21.20 	fertilizer production facilities under Laws 2023, chapter 60, article 10, section 4, is canceled 
21.21 	to the general fund by June 30, 2025.
21.22 	(b) $1,000,000 of the fiscal year 2025 general fund appropriation for the agricultural 
21.23 	growth, research, and innovation program under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12, that 
21.24 	was allocated for Dairy Assistance, Investment, Relief Initiative (DAIRI) grants under Laws 
21.25 	2024, chapter 126, article 1, section 1, subdivision 4, paragraph (d), clause (6), is canceled 
21.26 	to the general fund by June 30, 2025.

21.27 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

22.1 	Sec. 8. Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 3, article 1, section 2, subdivision 4, as 
22.2 	amended by Laws 2022, chapter 95, article 1, section 1, is amended to read:

22.3
22.4	Subd. 4.Agriculture, Bioenergy, and Bioproduct 
Advancement
 		25,343,000
		27,257,000
	
22.5 	(a) $9,300,000 the first year and $9,300,000 
22.6 	the second year are for transfer to the 
22.7 	agriculture research, education, extension, and 
22.8 	technology transfer account under Minnesota 
22.9 	Statutes, section 41A.14, subdivision 3. Of 
22.10 	these amounts: at least $600,000 the first year 
22.11 	and $600,000 the second year are for the 
22.12 	Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station's 
22.13 	agriculture rapid response fund under 
22.14 	Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14, 
22.15 	subdivision 1, clause (2); $2,000,000 the first 
22.16 	year and $2,000,000 the second year are for 
22.17 	grants to the Minnesota Agriculture Education 
22.18 	Leadership Council to enhance agricultural 
22.19 	education with priority given to Farm Business 
22.20 	Management challenge grants; $350,000 the 
22.21 	first year and $350,000 the second year are 
22.22 	for potato breeding; and $450,000 the first 
22.23 	year and $450,000 the second year are for the 
22.24 	cultivated wild rice breeding project at the 
22.25 	North Central Research and Outreach Center 
22.26 	to include a tenure track/research associate 
22.27 	plant breeder. The commissioner shall transfer 
22.28 	the remaining funds in this appropriation each 
22.29 	year to the Board of Regents of the University 
22.30 	of Minnesota for purposes of Minnesota 
22.31 	Statutes, section 41A.14. Of the amount 
22.32 	transferred to the Board of Regents, up to 
22.33 	$1,000,000 each year is for research on avian 
22.34 	influenza, salmonella, and other turkey-related 
22.35 	diseases. By January 15, 2023, entities 
22.36 	receiving grants for potato breeding and wild 
23.1 	rice breeding are requested to report to the 
23.2 	chairs and ranking minority members of the 
23.3 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over 
23.4 	agriculture and higher education regarding the 
23.5 	use of the grant money and to provide an 
23.6 	update on the status of research and related 
23.7 	accomplishments.
23.8 	To the extent practicable, money expended 
23.9 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14, 
23.10 	subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), must 
23.11 	supplement and not supplant existing sources 
23.12 	and levels of funding. The commissioner may 
23.13 	use up to one percent of this appropriation for 
23.14 	costs incurred to administer the program.
23.15 	(b) $16,028,000 the first year and $17,928,000 
23.16 	the second year are for the agricultural growth, 
23.17 	research, and innovation program under 
23.18 	Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12. Except 
23.19 	as provided below, the commissioner may 
23.20 	allocate the appropriation each year among 
23.21 	the following areas: facilitating the start-up, 
23.22 	modernization, improvement, or expansion of 
23.23 	livestock operations including beginning and 
23.24 	transitioning livestock operations with 
23.25 	preference given to robotic dairy-milking 
23.26 	equipment; providing funding not to exceed 
23.27 	$800,000 each year to develop and enhance 
23.28 	farm-to-school markets for Minnesota farmers 
23.29 	by providing more fruits, vegetables, meat, 
23.30 	grain, and dairy for Minnesota children in 
23.31 	school and child care settings including, at the 
23.32 	commissioner's discretion, reimbursing 
23.33 	schools for purchases from local farmers; 
23.34 	assisting value-added agricultural businesses 
23.35 	to begin or expand, to access new markets, or 
24.1 	to diversify, including aquaponics systems; 
24.2 	providing funding not to exceed $600,000 
24.3 	each year for urban youth agricultural 
24.4 	education or urban agriculture community 
24.5 	development of which $10,000 each year is 
24.6 	for transfer to the emerging farmer account 
24.7 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 17.055, 
24.8 	subdivision 1a; providing funding not to 
24.9 	exceed $450,000 each year for the good food 
24.10 	access program under Minnesota Statutes, 
24.11 	section 17.1017; facilitating the start-up, 
24.12 	modernization, or expansion of other 
24.13 	beginning and transitioning farms including 
24.14 	by providing loans under Minnesota Statutes, 
24.15 	section 41B.056; sustainable agriculture 
24.16 	on-farm research and demonstration; 
24.17 	development or expansion of food hubs and 
24.18 	other alternative community-based food 
24.19 	distribution systems; enhancing renewable 
24.20 	energy infrastructure and use; crop research; 
24.21 	Farm Business Management tuition assistance; 
24.22 	and good agricultural practices and good 
24.23 	handling practices certification assistance. The 
24.24 	commissioner may use up to 6.5 percent of 
24.25 	this appropriation for costs incurred to 
24.26 	administer the program.
24.27 	Of the amount appropriated for the agricultural 
24.28 	growth, research, and innovation program 
24.29 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12:
24.30 	(1) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 
24.31 	the second year are for distribution in equal 
24.32 	amounts to each of the state's county fairs to 
24.33 	preserve and promote Minnesota agriculture;
24.34 	(2) $4,500,000 the first year and $5,750,000 
24.35 	the second year are for incentive payments 
25.1 	under Minnesota Statutes, sections 41A.16, 
25.2 	41A.17, 41A.18, and 41A.20. Notwithstanding 
25.3 	Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the first 
25.4 	year appropriation is available until June 30, 
25.5 	2023, and the second year appropriation is 
25.6 	available until June 30, 2024. If this 
25.7 	appropriation exceeds the total amount for 
25.8 	which all producers are eligible in a fiscal 
25.9 	year, the balance of the appropriation is 
25.10 	available for other purposes under this 
25.11 	paragraph. The base appropriation under this 
25.12 	clause is $5,750,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
25.13 	thereafter;
25.14 	(3) $3,000,000 the first year and $3,000,000 
25.15 	the second year are for grants that enable retail 
25.16 	petroleum dispensers, fuel storage tanks, and 
25.17 	other equipment to dispense biofuels to the 
25.18 	public in accordance with the biofuel 
25.19 	replacement goals established under 
25.20 	Minnesota Statutes, section 239.7911. A retail 
25.21 	petroleum dispenser selling petroleum for use 
25.22 	in spark ignition engines for vehicle model 
25.23 	years after 2000 is eligible for grant money 
25.24 	under this clause if the retail petroleum 
25.25 	dispenser has no more than 10 retail petroleum 
25.26 	dispensing sites and each site is located in 
25.27 	Minnesota. The grant money must be used to 
25.28 	replace or upgrade equipment that does not 
25.29 	have the ability to be certified for E25. A grant 
25.30 	award must not exceed 65 percent of the cost 
25.31 	of the appropriate technology. A grant award 
25.32 	must not exceed $200,000 per station. The 
25.33 	commissioner must cooperate with biofuel 
25.34 	stakeholders in the implementation of the grant 
25.35 	program. The commissioner, in cooperation 
25.36 	with any economic or community development 
26.1 	financial institution and any other entity with 
26.2 	which it contracts, must submit a report on the 
26.3 	biofuels infrastructure financial assistance 
26.4 	program by January 15 of each year to the 
26.5 	chairs and ranking minority members of the 
26.6 	legislative committees and divisions with 
26.7 	jurisdiction over agriculture policy and 
26.8 	finance. The annual report must include but 
26.9 	not be limited to a summary of the following 
26.10 	metrics: (i) the number and types of projects 
26.11 	financed; (ii) the amount of dollars leveraged 
26.12 	or matched per project; (iii) the geographic 
26.13 	distribution of financed projects; (iv) any 
26.14 	market expansion associated with upgraded 
26.15 	infrastructure; (v) the demographics of the 
26.16 	areas served; (vi) the costs of the program; 
26.17 	and (vii) the number of grants to 
26.18 	minority-owned or female-owned businesses;
26.19 	(4) $750,000 the first year and $1,400,000 the 
26.20 	second year are for grants to facilitate the 
26.21 	start-up, modernization, or expansion of meat, 
26.22 	poultry, egg, and milk processing facilities. A 
26.23 	grant award under this clause must not exceed 
26.24 	$200,000. Any unencumbered balance at the 
26.25 	end of the second year does not cancel until 
26.26 	June 30, 2024, and may be used for other 
26.27 	purposes under this paragraph. The base 
26.28 	appropriation under this clause is $250,000 in 
26.29 	fiscal year 2024 and thereafter; and
26.30 	(5) $1,400,000 the first year and $1,400,000 
26.31 	the second year are for livestock investment 
26.32 	grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 
26.33 	17.118. Any unencumbered balance at the end 
26.34 	of the second year does not cancel until June 
26.35 	30, 2024, and may be used for other purposes 
27.1 	under this paragraph. The appropriations under 
27.2 	this clause are onetime.
27.3 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
27.4 	16A.28, any unencumbered balance does not 
27.5 	cancel at the end of the first year and is 
27.6 	available for the second year, and this 
27.7 	appropriation does not cancel at the end of the 
27.8 	second year and is available until June 30, 
27.9 	2029. Appropriations encumbered under 
27.10 	contract on or before June 30, 2023 2029, for 
27.11 	agricultural growth, research, and innovation 
27.12 	grants are available until June 30, 2026 2032.
27.13 	The base amount for the agricultural growth, 
27.14 	research, and innovation program is 
27.15 	$17,553,000 in fiscal year 2024 and 
27.16 	$17,553,000 in fiscal year 2025, and includes 
27.17 	funding for incentive payments under 
27.18 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 41A.16, 41A.17, 
27.19 	41A.18, and 41A.20.
27.20 	(c) $15,000 the first year and $29,000 the 
27.21 	second year are to maintain the current level 
27.22 	of service delivery.

27.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

27.24 	Sec. 9. Laws 2023, chapter 43, article 1, section 2, subdivision 4, as amended by Laws 
27.25 	2024, chapter 126, article 1, section 1, is amended to read:

27.26
27.27	Subd. 4.Agriculture, Bioenergy, and Bioproduct 
Advancement
 		34,034,000
		38,159,000
	
27.28 	(a) $10,702,000 the first year and $10,702,000 
27.29 	the second year are for the agriculture 
27.30 	research, education, extension, and technology 
27.31 	transfer program under Minnesota Statutes, 
27.32 	section 41A.14. Except as provided below, 
27.33 	the appropriation each year is for transfer to 
27.34 	the agriculture research, education, extension, 
28.1 	and technology transfer account under 
28.2 	Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.14, 
28.3 	subdivision 3, and the commissioner shall 
28.4 	transfer funds each year to the Board of 
28.5 	Regents of the University of Minnesota for 
28.6 	purposes of Minnesota Statutes, section 
28.7 	41A.14. To the extent practicable, money 
28.8 	expended under Minnesota Statutes, section 
28.9 	41A.14, subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), 
28.10 	must supplement and not supplant existing 
28.11 	sources and levels of funding. The 
28.12 	commissioner may use up to one percent of 
28.13 	this appropriation for costs incurred to 
28.14 	administer the program.
28.15 	Of the amount appropriated for the agriculture 
28.16 	research, education, extension, and technology 
28.17 	transfer grant program under Minnesota 
28.18 	Statutes, section 41A.14:
28.19 	(1) $600,000 the first year and $600,000 the 
28.20 	second year are for the Minnesota Agricultural 
28.21 	Experiment Station's agriculture rapid 
28.22 	response fund under Minnesota Statutes, 
28.23 	section 41A.14, subdivision 1, clause (2);
28.24 	(2) up to $1,000,000 the first year and up to 
28.25 	$1,000,000 the second year are for research 
28.26 	on avian influenza, salmonella, and other 
28.27 	turkey-related diseases and disease prevention 
28.28 	measures;
28.29 	(3) $2,250,000 the first year and $2,250,000 
28.30 	the second year are for grants to the Minnesota 
28.31 	Agricultural Education Leadership Council to 
28.32 	enhance agricultural education with priority 
28.33 	given to Farm Business Management 
28.34 	challenge grants;
29.1 	(4) $450,000 the first year is for the cultivated 
29.2 	wild rice breeding project at the North Central 
29.3 	Research and Outreach Center to include a 
29.4 	tenure track/research associate plant breeder;
29.5 	(5) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the 
29.6 	second year are for potato breeding;
29.7 	(6) $802,000 the first year and $802,000 the 
29.8 	second year are to fund the Forever Green 
29.9 	Initiative and protect the state's natural 
29.10 	resources while increasing the efficiency, 
29.11 	profitability, and productivity of Minnesota 
29.12 	farmers by incorporating perennial and 
29.13 	winter-annual crops into existing agricultural 
29.14 	practices. The base for the allocation under 
29.15 	this clause is $802,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
29.16 	each year thereafter. By February 1 each year, 
29.17 	the dean of the College of Food, Agricultural 
29.18 	and Natural Resource Sciences must submit 
29.19 	a report to the chairs and ranking minority 
29.20 	members of the legislative committees with 
29.21 	jurisdiction over agriculture finance and policy 
29.22 	and higher education detailing uses of the 
29.23 	funds in this paragraph, including 
29.24 	administrative costs, and the achievements 
29.25 	these funds contributed to;
29.26 	(7) $350,000 each year is for farm-scale winter 
29.27 	greenhouse research and development 
29.28 	coordinated by University of Minnesota 
29.29 	Extension Regional Sustainable Development 
29.30 	Partnerships. The allocation in this clause is 
29.31 	onetime;
29.32 	(8) $200,000 the second year is for research 
29.33 	on natural stands of wild rice; and
30.1 	(9) $250,000 the second year is for the 
30.2 	cultivated wild rice forward selection project 
30.3 	at the North Central Research and Outreach 
30.4 	Center, including a tenure track or research 
30.5 	associate plant scientist.
30.6 	(b) The base for the agriculture research, 
30.7 	education, extension, and technology transfer 
30.8 	program is $10,352,000 in fiscal year 2026 
30.9 	and $10,352,000 in fiscal year 2027.
30.10 	(c) $23,332,000 the first year is for the 
30.11 	agricultural growth, research, and innovation 
30.12 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
30.13 	41A.12. Except as provided below, the 
30.14 	commissioner may allocate this appropriation 
30.15 	among the following areas: facilitating the 
30.16 	start-up, modernization, improvement, or 
30.17 	expansion of livestock operations, including 
30.18 	beginning and transitioning livestock 
30.19 	operations with preference given to robotic 
30.20 	dairy-milking equipment; assisting 
30.21 	value-added agricultural businesses to begin 
30.22 	or expand, to access new markets, or to 
30.23 	diversify, including aquaponics systems, with 
30.24 	preference given to hemp fiber processing 
30.25 	equipment; facilitating the start-up, 
30.26 	modernization, or expansion of other 
30.27 	beginning and transitioning farms, including 
30.28 	by providing loans under Minnesota Statutes, 
30.29 	section 41B.056; sustainable agriculture 
30.30 	on-farm research and demonstration; the 
30.31 	development or expansion of food hubs and 
30.32 	other alternative community-based food 
30.33 	distribution systems; enhancing renewable 
30.34 	energy infrastructure and use; crop research, 
30.35 	including basic and applied turf seed research; 
31.1 	Farm Business Management tuition assistance; 
31.2 	and good agricultural practices and good 
31.3 	handling practices certification assistance. The 
31.4 	commissioner may use up to 6.5 percent of 
31.5 	this appropriation for costs incurred to 
31.6 	administer the program.
31.7 	Of the amount appropriated for the agricultural 
31.8 	growth, research, and innovation program 
31.9 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12:
31.10 	(1) $1,000,000 the first year is for distribution 
31.11 	in equal amounts to each of the state's county 
31.12 	fairs to preserve and promote Minnesota 
31.13 	agriculture;
31.14 	(2) $5,750,000 the first year is for incentive 
31.15 	payments under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
31.16 	41A.16, 41A.17, 41A.18, and 41A.20. 
31.17 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
31.18 	16A.28, the first year appropriation is 
31.19 	available until June 30, 2025. If this 
31.20 	appropriation exceeds the total amount for 
31.21 	which all producers are eligible in a fiscal 
31.22 	year, the balance of the appropriation is 
31.23 	available for other purposes under this 
31.24 	paragraph;
31.25 	(3) $3,375,000 the first year is for grants that 
31.26 	enable retail petroleum dispensers, fuel storage 
31.27 	tanks, and other equipment to dispense 
31.28 	biofuels to the public in accordance with the 
31.29 	biofuel replacement goals established under 
31.30 	Minnesota Statutes, section 239.7911. A retail 
31.31 	petroleum dispenser selling petroleum for use 
31.32 	in spark ignition engines for vehicle model 
31.33 	years after 2000 is eligible for grant money 
31.34 	under this clause if the retail petroleum 
31.35 	dispenser has no more than 10 retail petroleum 
32.1 	dispensing sites and each site is located in 
32.2 	Minnesota. The grant money must be used to 
32.3 	replace or upgrade equipment that does not 
32.4 	have the ability to be certified for E25. A grant 
32.5 	award must not exceed 65 percent of the cost 
32.6 	of the appropriate technology. A grant award 
32.7 	must not exceed $200,000 per station. The 
32.8 	commissioner must cooperate with biofuel 
32.9 	stakeholders in the implementation of the grant 
32.10 	program. The commissioner, in cooperation 
32.11 	with any economic or community development 
32.12 	financial institution and any other entity with 
32.13 	which the commissioner contracts, must 
32.14 	submit a report on the biofuels infrastructure 
32.15 	financial assistance program by January 15 of 
32.16 	each year to the chairs and ranking minority 
32.17 	members of the legislative committees and 
32.18 	divisions with jurisdiction over agriculture 
32.19 	policy and finance. The annual report must 
32.20 	include but not be limited to a summary of the 
32.21 	following metrics: (i) the number and types 
32.22 	of projects financed; (ii) the amount of dollars 
32.23 	leveraged or matched per project; (iii) the 
32.24 	geographic distribution of financed projects; 
32.25 	(iv) any market expansion associated with 
32.26 	upgraded infrastructure; (v) the demographics 
32.27 	of the areas served; (vi) the costs of the 
32.28 	program; and (vii) the number of grants to 
32.29 	minority-owned or female-owned businesses;
32.30 	(4) $1,250,000 the first year is for grants to 
32.31 	facilitate the start-up, modernization, or 
32.32 	expansion of meat, poultry, egg, and milk 
32.33 	processing facilities. A grant award under this 
32.34 	clause must not exceed $200,000. Any 
32.35 	unencumbered balance at the end of the second 
32.36 	year does not cancel until June 30, 2026, and 
33.1 	may be used for other purposes under this 
33.2 	paragraph;
33.3 	(5) $1,150,000 the first year is for providing 
33.4 	more fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, grain, 
33.5 	and dairy for children in school and early 
33.6 	childhood education settings, including, at the 
33.7 	commissioner's discretion, providing grants 
33.8 	to reimburse schools and early childhood 
33.9 	education and child care providers for 
33.10 	purchasing equipment and agricultural 
33.11 	products. Organizations must participate in 
33.12 	the National School Lunch Program or the 
33.13 	Child and Adult Care Food Program to be 
33.14 	eligible. Of the amount appropriated, $150,000 
33.15 	is for a statewide coordinator of 
33.16 	farm-to-institution strategy and programming. 
33.17 	The coordinator must consult with relevant 
33.18 	stakeholders and provide technical assistance 
33.19 	and training for participating farmers and 
33.20 	eligible grant recipients;
33.21 	(6) $2,000,000 the first year is for urban youth 
33.22 	agricultural education or urban agriculture 
33.23 	community development;
33.24 	(7) $1,000,000 the first year is for the good 
33.25 	food access program under Minnesota 
33.26 	Statutes, section 17.1017; and
33.27 	(8) $225,000 the first year is to provide grants 
33.28 	to secondary career and technical education 
33.29 	programs for the purpose of offering 
33.30 	instruction in meat cutting and butchery. 
33.31 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
33.32 	16B.98, subdivision 14, the commissioner may 
33.33 	use up to 6.5 percent of this appropriation for 
33.34 	administrative costs. This is a onetime 
34.1 	appropriation. Grants may be used for costs, 
34.2 	including but not limited to:
34.3 	(i) equipment required for a meat cutting 
34.4 	program;
34.5 	(ii) facility renovation to accommodate meat 
34.6 	cutting; and
34.7 	(iii) training faculty to teach the fundamentals 
34.8 	of meat processing.
34.9 	A grant recipient may be awarded a grant of 
34.10 	up to $75,000 and may use up to ten percent 
34.11 	of the grant for faculty training. Priority may 
34.12 	be given to applicants who are coordinating 
34.13 	with meat cutting and butchery programs at 
34.14 	Minnesota State Colleges and Universities 
34.15 	institutions or with local industry partners.
34.16 	By January 15, 2025, the commissioner must 
34.17 	report to the chairs and ranking minority 
34.18 	members of the legislative committees with 
34.19 	jurisdiction over agriculture finance and 
34.20 	education finance by listing the grants made 
34.21 	under this paragraph by county and noting the 
34.22 	number and amount of grant requests not 
34.23 	fulfilled. The report may include additional 
34.24 	information as determined by the 
34.25 	commissioner, including but not limited to 
34.26 	information regarding the outcomes produced 
34.27 	by these grants. If additional grants are 
34.28 	awarded under this paragraph that were not 
34.29 	covered in the report due by January 15, 2025, 
34.30 	the commissioner must submit an additional 
34.31 	report to the chairs and ranking minority 
34.32 	members of the legislative committees with 
34.33 	jurisdiction over agriculture finance and 
35.1 	education finance regarding all grants issued 
35.2 	under this paragraph by November 1, 2025.
35.3 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
35.4 	16A.28, any unencumbered balance does not 
35.5 	cancel at the end of the first year and is 
35.6 	available for the second year, and 
35.7 	appropriations encumbered under contract on 
35.8 	or before June 30, 2025, for agricultural 
35.9 	growth, research, and innovation grants are 
35.10 	available until June 30, 2028.
35.11 	(d) $27,457,000 the second year is for the 
35.12 	agricultural growth, research, and innovation 
35.13 	program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
35.14 	41A.12. Except as provided below, the 
35.15 	commissioner may allocate this appropriation 
35.16 	among the following areas: facilitating the 
35.17 	start-up, modernization, improvement, or 
35.18 	expansion of livestock operations, including 
35.19 	beginning and transitioning livestock 
35.20 	operations with preference given to robotic 
35.21 	dairy-milking equipment; assisting 
35.22 	value-added agricultural businesses to begin 
35.23 	or expand, to access new markets, or to 
35.24 	diversify, including aquaponics systems, with 
35.25 	preference given to hemp fiber processing 
35.26 	equipment; facilitating the start-up, 
35.27 	modernization, or expansion of other 
35.28 	beginning and transitioning farms, including 
35.29 	by providing loans under Minnesota Statutes, 
35.30 	section 41B.056; sustainable agriculture 
35.31 	on-farm research and demonstration; the 
35.32 	development or expansion of food hubs and 
35.33 	other alternative community-based food 
35.34 	distribution systems; enhancing renewable 
35.35 	energy infrastructure and use; crop research, 
36.1 	including basic and applied turf seed research; 
36.2 	Farm Business Management tuition assistance; 
36.3 	and good agricultural practices and good 
36.4 	handling practices certification assistance. The 
36.5 	commissioner may use up to 6.5 percent of 
36.6 	this appropriation for costs incurred to 
36.7 	administer the program.
36.8 	Of the amount appropriated for the agricultural 
36.9 	growth, research, and innovation program 
36.10 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.12:
36.11 	(1) $1,000,000 the second year is for 
36.12 	distribution in equal amounts to each of the 
36.13 	state's county fairs to preserve and promote 
36.14 	Minnesota agriculture;
36.15 	(2) $5,750,000 the second year is for incentive 
36.16 	payments under Minnesota Statutes, sections 
36.17 	41A.16, 41A.17, 41A.18, and 41A.20. 
36.18 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
36.19 	16A.28, this appropriation is available until 
36.20 	June 30, 2027. If this appropriation exceeds 
36.21 	the total amount for which all producers are 
36.22 	eligible in a fiscal year, the balance of the 
36.23 	appropriation is available for other purposes 
36.24 	under this paragraph. The base under this 
36.25 	clause is $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
36.26 	each year thereafter;
36.27 	(3) $3,375,000 the second year is for grants 
36.28 	that enable retail petroleum dispensers, fuel 
36.29 	storage tanks, and other equipment to dispense 
36.30 	biofuels to the public in accordance with the 
36.31 	biofuel replacement goals established under 
36.32 	Minnesota Statutes, section 239.7911. A retail 
36.33 	petroleum dispenser selling petroleum for use 
36.34 	in spark ignition engines for vehicle model 
36.35 	years after 2000 is eligible for grant money 
37.1 	under this clause if the retail petroleum 
37.2 	dispenser has no more than ten retail 
37.3 	petroleum dispensing sites and each site is 
37.4 	located in Minnesota. The grant money must 
37.5 	be used to replace or upgrade equipment that 
37.6 	does not have the ability to be certified for 
37.7 	E25. A grant award must not exceed 65 
37.8 	percent of the cost of the appropriate 
37.9 	technology. A grant award must not exceed 
37.10 	$200,000 per station. The commissioner must 
37.11 	cooperate with biofuel stakeholders in the 
37.12 	implementation of the grant program. The 
37.13 	commissioner, in cooperation with any 
37.14 	economic or community development 
37.15 	financial institution and any other entity with 
37.16 	which the commissioner contracts, must 
37.17 	submit a report on the biofuels infrastructure 
37.18 	financial assistance program by January 15 of 
37.19 	each year to the chairs and ranking minority 
37.20 	members of the legislative committees and 
37.21 	divisions with jurisdiction over agriculture 
37.22 	policy and finance. The annual report must 
37.23 	include but not be limited to a summary of the 
37.24 	following metrics: (i) the number and types 
37.25 	of projects financed; (ii) the amount of money 
37.26 	leveraged or matched per project; (iii) the 
37.27 	geographic distribution of financed projects; 
37.28 	(iv) any market expansion associated with 
37.29 	upgraded infrastructure; (v) the demographics 
37.30 	of the areas served; (vi) the costs of the 
37.31 	program; and (vii) the number of grants to 
37.32 	minority-owned or female-owned businesses. 
37.33 	The base under this clause is $3,000,000 for 
37.34 	fiscal year 2026 and each year thereafter;
37.35 	(4) $1,250,000 the second year is for grants 
37.36 	to facilitate the start-up, modernization, or 
38.1 	expansion of meat, poultry, egg, and milk 
38.2 	processing facilities. A grant award under this 
38.3 	clause must not exceed $200,000. Any 
38.4 	unencumbered balance at the end of the second 
38.5 	year does not cancel until June 30, 2027, and 
38.6 	may be used for other purposes under this 
38.7 	paragraph. The base under this clause is 
38.8 	$250,000 in fiscal year 2026 and each year 
38.9 	thereafter;
38.10 	(5) $1,275,000 the second year is for providing 
38.11 	more fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, grain, 
38.12 	and dairy for children in school and early 
38.13 	childhood education settings, including, at the 
38.14 	commissioner's discretion, providing grants 
38.15 	to reimburse schools and early childhood 
38.16 	education and child care providers for 
38.17 	purchasing equipment and agricultural 
38.18 	products. Organizations must participate in 
38.19 	the National School Lunch Program or the 
38.20 	Child and Adult Care Food Program to be 
38.21 	eligible. Of the amount appropriated, $150,000 
38.22 	is for a statewide coordinator of 
38.23 	farm-to-institution strategy and programming. 
38.24 	The coordinator must consult with relevant 
38.25 	stakeholders and provide technical assistance 
38.26 	and training for participating farmers and 
38.27 	eligible grant recipients. The base under this 
38.28 	clause is $1,294,000 in fiscal year 2026 and 
38.29 	each year thereafter;
38.30 	(6) $4,000,000 the second year is for Dairy 
38.31 	Assistance, Investment, Relief Initiative 
38.32 	(DAIRI) grants and other forms of financial 
38.33 	assistance to Minnesota dairy farms that enroll 
38.34 	in coverage under a federal dairy risk 
38.35 	protection program and produced no more 
39.1 	than 16,000,000 pounds of milk in 2022. The 
39.2 	commissioner must make DAIRI payments 
39.3 	based on the amount of milk produced in 
39.4 	2022, up to 5,000,000 pounds per participating 
39.5 	farm, at a rate determined by the commissioner 
39.6 	within the limits of available funding. Any 
39.7 	unencumbered balance on June 30, 2026, may 
39.8 	be used for other purposes under this 
39.9 	paragraph. The allocation in this clause is 
39.10 	onetime;
39.11 	(7) $2,000,000 the second year is for urban 
39.12 	youth agricultural education or urban 
39.13 	agriculture community development;
39.14 	(8) $1,000,000 the second year is for the good 
39.15 	food access program under Minnesota 
39.16 	Statutes, section 17.1017; and
39.17 	(9) $225,000 the second year is for the 
39.18 	protecting livestock grant program for 
39.19 	producers to support the installation of 
39.20 	measures to prevent the transmission of avian 
39.21 	influenza. For the appropriation in this 
39.22 	paragraph, a grant applicant must document 
39.23 	a cost-share of 20 percent. An applicant's 
39.24 	cost-share amount may be reduced up to 
39.25 	$2,000 to cover time and labor costs. 
39.26 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
39.27 	16B.98, subdivision 14, the commissioner may 
39.28 	use up to 6.5 percent of this appropriation for 
39.29 	administrative costs. This appropriation is 
39.30 	available until June 30, 2027. This is a onetime 
39.31 	appropriation.
39.32 	(e) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, 
39.33 	section 16A.28, this the appropriation in 
39.34 	paragraph (d) does not cancel at the end of the 
39.35 	second year and is available until June 30, 
40.1 	2027. Appropriations encumbered under 
40.2 	contract on or before June 30, 2027, for 
40.3 	agricultural growth, research, and innovation 
40.4 	grants are available until June 30, 2030.
40.5 	(e) (f) The base for the agricultural growth, 
40.6 	research, and innovation program is 
40.7 	$17,582,000 in fiscal year 2026 and each year 
40.8 	thereafter and includes $200,000 each year for 
40.9 	cooperative development grants.

40.10 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

40.11 	ARTICLE 2
40.12 	BROADBAND

40.13	Section 1. BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
40.14 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies 
40.15 	and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the general fund, 
40.16 	or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. 
40.17 	The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under 
40.18 	them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. 
40.19 	"The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" 
40.20 	is fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

40.21				APPROPRIATIONS
	
40.22				Available for the Year
	
40.23				Ending June 30
	
40.24					2026
		2027

40.25
40.26	Sec. 2. DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT 
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
 	$
	1,001,000
	$
	1,001,000
	
40.27 	$1,001,000 each year is for the Office of 
40.28 	Broadband Development.

41.1 	ARTICLE 3
41.2 	POLICY PROVISIONS

41.3 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17.1017, is amended to read:
41.4 	17.1017 GOOD FOOD ACCESS RETAIL IMPROVEMENT AND 
41.5 	DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
41.6 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, unless the language or 
41.7 	context indicates that a different meaning is intended, the following terms have the meanings 
41.8 	given them.
41.9 	(b) "Account" means the good food access retail improvement and development account 
41.10 	established in subdivision 3.
41.11 	(c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of agriculture.
41.12 	(d) "Economic or community development financial institution (ECDFI)" means a lender, 
41.13 	including but not limited to a community development financial institution (CDFI), an 
41.14 	economic development district (EDD), a political subdivision of the state, a microenterprise 
41.15 	firm, or a nonprofit community lending organization that has previous experience lending 
41.16 	to a food retailer, producer, or another healthy food enterprise in an underserved community 
41.17 	in a low-income or moderate-income area, as defined in this section; has been in existence 
41.18 	and operating prior to January 1, 2014; has demonstrated the ability to raise matching capital 
41.19 	and in-kind services to leverage appropriated money; has the demonstrated ability to 
41.20 	underwrite loans and grants; and has partnered previously with nonprofit healthy food 
41.21 	access, public health, or related governmental departments or community organizations.
41.22 	(e) "Farmers' market" means an association of three or more persons who assemble at 
41.23 	a defined location that is open to the public for the purpose of selling directly to the consumer 
41.24 	the products of a farm or garden occupied and cultivated by the person selling the product.
41.25 	(f) "Financing" means loans, including low-interest loans, zero-interest loans, forgivable 
41.26 	loans, and other types of financial assistance other than grants.
41.27 	(g) "Food hub" means a centrally located facility with a business management structure 
41.28 	that facilitates the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, marketing, and sale of 
41.29 	locally or regionally produced food products, and which may include a small-scale retail 
41.30 	grocery operation.
41.31 	(h) "Good Food Access Program Advisory Committee" means the Good Food Access 
41.32 	Program Advisory Committee under section 17.1018.
42.1 	(h) "Food Retail Improvement and Development Program Advisory Committee" means 
42.2 	the Food Retail Improvement and Development Program Advisory Committee under section 
42.3 	17.1018.
42.4 	(i) "Grocery store" means a for-profit, not-for-profit, or cooperative self-service retail 
42.5 	establishment that sells primarily meat, fish, seafood, fruits, vegetables, dry groceries, and 
42.6 	dairy products and may also sell household products, sundries, and other products. Grocery 
42.7 	store includes a supermarket or a large-, mid-, or small-scale retail grocery establishment 
42.8 	and may include a mobile food market or a delivery service operation.
42.9 	(j) "Low-income area" means a census tract as reported in the most recently completed 
42.10 	decennial census published by the United States Bureau of the Census that has a poverty 
42.11 	rate of at least 20 percent or in which the median family income does not exceed 80 percent 
42.12 	of the greater of the statewide or metropolitan median family income.
42.13 	(k) "Moderate-income area" means a census tract as reported in the most recently 
42.14 	completed decennial census published by the United States Bureau of the Census in which 
42.15 	the median family income is between 81 percent and 95 percent of the median family income 
42.16 	for that area.
42.17 	(l) "Mobile food market" means a self-contained for-profit, not-for-profit, or cooperative 
42.18 	retail grocery operation located in a movable new or renovated truck, bus, or other vehicle 
42.19 	that is used to store, prepare, display, and sell primarily meat, fish, seafood, fruits, vegetables, 
42.20 	dry groceries, and dairy products and may also be used to sell a nominal supply of cooking 
42.21 	utensils and equipment and other household products and sundries.
42.22 	(m) "Program" means the good food access retail improvement and development program 
42.23 	established in this section.
42.24 	(n) "Small food retailer" means a small-scale retail food outlet, other than a grocery store 
42.25 	as defined in this section. Small food retailer includes, but is not limited to, a corner store, 
42.26 	convenience store, farmers' market, mobile food market, and a retail food outlet operated 
42.27 	by an emergency food program or food hub.
42.28 	(o) "Technical assistance" means needs-based project assistance provided through the 
42.29 	program, including sustainability-focused individualized guidance, presentations, workshops, 
42.30 	trainings, printed materials, mentorship opportunities, peer-to-peer opportunities, or other 
42.31 	guidance and resources on relevant topics such as business planning, sales projections, cash 
42.32 	flow, succession planning, financing, fundraising, marketing, food preparation 
42.33 	demonstrations, and workforce training.
43.1 	(p) "Underserved community" means a census tract that is federally designated as a food 
43.2 	desert by the United States Department of Agriculture, or a census tract in a low-income or 
43.3 	moderate-income area that includes a substantial subpopulation such as the elderly or the 
43.4 	disabled that has low supermarket access, regardless of distance, due to lack of transportation
43.5 	geographic area or group of people whose food access needs are not met by existing retail 
43.6 	options, including a low-income and moderate-income area, a census tract that is federally 
43.7 	designated as a food desert by the United States Department of Agriculture, an area where 
43.8 	there is a limited number of grocery stores, or a group of people with particular needs such 
43.9 	as the aging population, people with disabilities, or people with special dietary needs or 
43.10 	preferences, or as otherwise defined by the commissioner.
43.11 		Subd. 2.Program established. (a) A good food access retail improvement and 
43.12 	development program is established within the Department of Agriculture to increase the 
43.13 	availability of and access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food, including 
43.14 	fresh fruits and vegetables, for underserved communities in low-income and moderate-income 
43.15 	areas by providing financial support and sustainable public-private projects to open, renovate, 
43.16 	or expand the operations of grocery stores and small food retailers; expanding access to 
43.17 	credit and reducing barriers to investment in underserved communities in low- and 
43.18 	moderate-income areas; and to provide technical assistance, primarily for small food retailers 
43.19 	with demonstrated need, to increase availability and sustainable sales of affordable, nutritious, 
43.20 	and culturally appropriate food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, to underserved 
43.21 	communities in low-income and moderate-income areas. The commissioner, in cooperation 
43.22 	with public and private partners, shall establish and implement the program as provided in 
43.23 	this section.
43.24 	(b) The good food access retail improvement and development program shall be 
43.25 	comprised of state or private grants, loans, or other types of financial and technical assistance 
43.26 	for the establishment, construction, expansion of operations, or renovation of grocery stores 
43.27 	and small food retailers to increase the availability of and access to affordable fresh produce 
43.28 	and other nutritious, culturally appropriate food to underserved communities in low-income 
43.29 	and moderate-income areas.
43.30 		Subd. 3.Good Food access retail improvement and development account. A good
43.31 	food access retail improvement and development account is established in the agricultural 
43.32 	fund. The account consists of money appropriated by the legislature to the commissioner, 
43.33 	as provided by law, and any other money donated, allotted, transferred, or otherwise provided 
43.34 	to the account. Money in the account, including interest, is appropriated to the commissioner 
44.1 	for the purposes of this section, and shall be used, to the extent practicable, to leverage other 
44.2 	forms of public and private financing or financial assistance for the projects.
44.3 		Subd. 4.Program administration. (a) The commissioner shall be the administrator of 
44.4 	the account for auditing purposes and shall establish program requirements and a competitive 
44.5 	process for projects applying for financial and technical assistance.
44.6 	(b) The commissioner may receive money or other assets from any source, including 
44.7 	but not limited to philanthropic foundations and financial investors, for deposit into the 
44.8 	account.
44.9 	(c) Through issuance of requests for proposals, the commissioner may contract with one 
44.10 	or more qualified economic or community development financial institutions to manage 
44.11 	the financing component of the program and with one or more qualified organizations or 
44.12 	public agencies with financial or other program-related expertise to manage the provision 
44.13 	of technical assistance to project grantees.
44.14 	(d) Money in the account at the close of each fiscal year shall remain in the account and 
44.15 	shall not cancel. In each biennium, the commissioner shall determine the appropriate 
44.16 	proportion of money to be allocated to loans, grants, technical assistance, and any other 
44.17 	types of financial assistance.
44.18 	(e) To encourage public-private, cross-sector collaboration and investment in the account 
44.19 	and program and to ensure that the program intent is maintained throughout implementation, 
44.20 	the commissioner shall convene and maintain the Good Food Access Retail Improvement 
44.21 	and Development Program Advisory Committee.
44.22 	(f) The commissioner, in cooperation with the Good Food Access Retail Improvement 
44.23 	and Development Program Advisory Committee, shall manage the program, establish 
44.24 	program criteria, facilitate leveraging of additional public and private investment, and 
44.25 	promote the program statewide.
44.26 	(g) The commissioner, in cooperation with the Good Food Access Retail Improvement 
44.27 	and Development Program Advisory Committee, shall establish annual monitoring and 
44.28 	accountability mechanisms for all projects receiving financing or other financial or technical 
44.29 	assistance through this program.
44.30 		Subd. 5.Eligible projects. (a) The commissioner, in cooperation with the program 
44.31 	partners and advisers, shall establish project eligibility guidelines and application processes 
44.32 	to be used to review and select project applicants for financing or other financial or technical 
45.1 	assistance. All projects must be located in serve an underserved community or must serve 
45.2 	primarily underserved communities in low-income and moderate-income areas.
45.3 	(b) Projects eligible for financing include, but are not limited to, new construction, 
45.4 	renovations, expansions of operations, and infrastructure upgrades of grocery stores and 
45.5 	small food retailers to improve the availability of and access to affordable, nutritious food, 
45.6 	including fresh fruits and vegetables, and build capacity in areas of greatest need.
45.7 	(c) Projects eligible for other types of financial assistance such as grants or technical 
45.8 	assistance are primarily projects throughout the state, including, but not limited to, feasibility 
45.9 	studies, new construction, renovations, expansion of operations, and infrastructure upgrades 
45.10 	of small food retailers.
45.11 		Subd. 6.Qualifications for receipt of financing and other financial or technical 
45.12 	assistance. (a) An applicant for receipt of financing through an economic or community 
45.13 	development financial institution, or an applicant for a grant or other financial or technical
45.14 	assistance, may be a for-profit or not-for-profit entity, including, but not limited to, a sole 
45.15 	proprietorship, limited liability company, corporation, cooperative, nonprofit organization, 
45.16 	or nonprofit community development organization. Each applicant must:
45.17 	(1) demonstrate community engagement in and support for the project;
45.18 	(2) demonstrate the capacity to successfully implement the project;
45.19 	(3) demonstrate a viable plan for long-term sustainability, including the ability to increase 
45.20 	the availability of and access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food, 
45.21 	including fresh fruits and vegetables, for underserved communities in low-income and 
45.22 	moderate-income areas; and
45.23 	(4) demonstrate the ability to repay the debt, to the extent that the financing requires 
45.24 	repayment.
45.25 	(b) Each applicant must also agree to comply with the following conditions for a period 
45.26 	of at least five years, except as otherwise specified in this section:
45.27 	(1) accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits;
45.28 	(2) allocate at least 30 percent of retail space for the sale of affordable, nutritious, and 
45.29 	culturally appropriate foods, including fruits and vegetables, low-fat and nonfat dairy, 
45.30 	fortified dairy substitute beverages such as soy-based or nut-based dairy substitute beverages, 
45.31 	whole grain-rich staple foods, meats, poultry, fish, seafood, and other proteins, consistent 
45.32 	with nutrition standards in national guidelines described in the current United States 
45.33 	Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans; and
46.1 	(3) comply with all data collection and reporting requirements established by the 
46.2 	commissioner; and.
46.3 	(4) promote the hiring, training, and retention of local or regional residents from 
46.4 	low-income and moderate-income areas that reflect area demographics, including 
46.5 	communities of color.
46.6 	(c) A selected project that is a small food retailer is not subject to the allocation agreement 
46.7 	under paragraph (b), clause (2), and may use financing, grants, or other financial or technical 
46.8 	assistance for refrigeration, displays, or onetime capital expenditures for the promotion and 
46.9 	sale of perishable foods, including a combination of affordable, nutritious, and culturally 
46.10 	appropriate fresh or frozen dairy, dairy substitute products, produce, meats, poultry, and 
46.11 	fish, consistent with nutrition standards in national guidelines described in the current United 
46.12 	States Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
46.13 		Subd. 7.Additional selection criteria. In determining which qualified projects to 
46.14 	finance, and in determining which qualified projects to provide with grants or other types 
46.15 	of financial or technical assistance, the commissioner, in cooperation with any entities with 
46.16 	which the commissioner contracts for those purposes and the Good Food Access Retail 
46.17 	Improvement and Development Program Advisory Committee, shall may also consider:
46.18 	(1) the level of need in the area to be served;
46.19 	(2) the degree to which the project requires an investment of public support, or technical 
46.20 	assistance where applicable, to move forward, build capacity, create community impact, or 
46.21 	be competitive;
46.22 	(3) the likelihood that the project will have positive economic and health impacts on the 
46.23 	underserved community, including creation and retention of jobs for local or regional 
46.24 	residents from low-income and moderate-income areas that reflect area demographics, 
46.25 	including Indigenous communities and communities of color;
46.26 	(4) the degree to which the project will participate in state and local health department 
46.27 	initiatives to educate consumers on nutrition, promote healthy eating and healthy weight, 
46.28 	and support locally grown food products through programs such as Minnesota Grown; and
46.29 	(5) any other criteria that the commissioner, in cooperation with public and private 
46.30 	partners, determines to be consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
46.31 		Subd. 8.Eligible costs. Financing for project loans, including low-interest, zero-interest, 
46.32 	and forgivable loans, grants, and other financial or technical assistance, may be used to 
46.33 	support one or more of the following purposes:
47.1 	(1) site acquisition and preparation;
47.2 	(2) predevelopment costs, including but not limited to feasibility studies, market studies, 
47.3 	and appraisals;
47.4 	(3) construction and build-out costs;
47.5 	(4) equipment and furnishings;
47.6 	(5) workforce or retailer training; and
47.7 	(6) working capital.
47.8 		Subd. 9.Legislative report. The commissioner, in cooperation with any economic or 
47.9 	community development financial institution and any other entity with which it contracts, 
47.10 	shall submit an annual report on the good food access program by January 15 of each year 
47.11 	to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate 
47.12 	committees and divisions with jurisdiction over agriculture policy and finance. The annual 
47.13 	report shall include, but not be limited to, a summary of the following metrics:
47.14 	(1) the number and types of projects financed;
47.15 	(2) the amount of dollars leveraged or matched per project;
47.16 	(3) the geographic distribution of financed projects;
47.17 	(4) the number and types of technical assistance recipients;
47.18 	(5) any market or commodity expansion associated with increased access;
47.19 	(6) (5) the demographics of the areas served;
47.20 	(7) (6) the costs of the program;
47.21 	(8) (7) the number of SNAP and WIC dollars spent;
47.22 	(9) (8) any increase in retail square footage;
47.23 	(10) (9) the number of loans or grants to minority-owned or female-owned businesses
47.24 	businesses owned by women and Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color; and
47.25 	(11) (10) measurable economic and health outcomes, including, but not limited to, 
47.26 	increases in sales and consumption of locally sourced and other fresh fruits and vegetables, 
47.27 	the number of construction and retail jobs retained or created, and any health initiatives 
47.28 	associated with the program.

48.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17.1018, is amended to read:
48.2 	17.1018 GOOD FOOD ACCESS RETAIL IMPROVEMENT AND 
48.3 	DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
48.4 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the meanings 
48.5 	given them:
48.6 	(1) "program" means the good food access program under section 17.1017; and
48.7 	(2) "commissioner" means the commissioner of agriculture.
48.8 		Subd. 2.Creation. The Good Food Access Retail Improvement and Development
48.9 	Program Advisory Committee consists of the following members, appointed by the 
48.10 	commissioner of agriculture, unless otherwise specified:
48.11 	(1) the commissioners of health,; employment and economic development,; and human 
48.12 	services children, youth, and families, or their respective designees;
48.13 	(2) one person representing the grocery industry;
48.14 	(3) two people representing economic or community development, one rural member 
48.15 	and one urban or suburban member;
48.16 	(4) two people representing political subdivisions of the state;
48.17 	(5) one person designated by the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage;
48.18 	(6) one person designated by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council;
48.19 	(7) one person designated by the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans;
48.20 	(8) one person designated by the Chicano Latino Affairs Council on Latino Affairs;
48.21 	(9) one person designated by the Minnesota Farmers Union;
48.22 	(10) one person representing public health experts;
48.23 	(11) one person representing philanthropic foundations;
48.24 	(12) one person representing economic or community development financial institutions;
48.25 	(13) one person representing the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable 
48.26 	Development Partnerships;
48.27 	(14) two people representing organizations engaged in addressing food security, one 
48.28 	representative from a statewide hunger relief organization and one from a community-based 
48.29 	organization;
49.1 	(15) one person representing immigrant farmer-led organizations;
49.2 	(16) one person representing small business technical assistance with experience in food 
49.3 	retail; and
49.4 	(17) up to four additional members with economic development, health equity, financial, 
49.5 	or other relevant expertise.
49.6 	At least half of the members must reside in or their organizations must serve rural 
49.7 	Minnesota. The commissioner may remove members and fill vacancies as provided in 
49.8 	section 15.059, subdivision 4.
49.9 		Subd. 3.Duties. The advisory committee must advise the commissioner of agriculture 
49.10 	on managing the program, establishing program criteria, establishing project eligibility 
49.11 	guidelines, establishing application processes and additional selection criteria, establishing 
49.12 	annual monitoring and accountability mechanisms, facilitating leveraging of additional 
49.13 	public and private investments, and promoting the program statewide.
49.14 		Subd. 4.Meetings. The commissioner must convene the advisory committee at least 
49.15 	two times per year to achieve the committee's duties.
49.16 		Subd. 5.Administrative support. The commissioner of agriculture must provide staffing, 
49.17 	meeting space, and administrative services for the advisory committee.
49.18 		Subd. 6.Chair. The commissioner of agriculture or the commissioner's designee shall 
49.19 	serve as chair of the committee.
49.20 		Subd. 7.Compensation. The public members of the advisory committee serve without 
49.21 	compensation or payment of expenses.
49.22 		Subd. 8.Expiration. The advisory committee does not expire.

49.23 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17.117, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
49.24 		Subdivision 1.Purpose. The purpose of the agriculture best management practices loan 
49.25 	program is to provide low or no interest financing to farmers, agriculture supply businesses, 
49.26 	rural landowners, and water-quality cooperatives for the implementation of agriculture and 
49.27 	other best management practices that reduce environmental pollution.

49.28 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17.117, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
49.29 		Subd. 3.Appropriations. Up to $140,000,000 $280,000,000 of the balance in the clean 
49.30 	water revolving fund in section 446A.07, as determined by the Public Facilities Authority, 
49.31 	is appropriated to the commissioner for the establishment of this program. In addition, the 
50.1 	commissioner may receive appropriations from the legislature and grants or funds from 
50.2 	other sources for implementation of the program.

50.3 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17.118, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
50.4 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The commissioner may award a livestock investment 
50.5 	grant to a person an eligible applicant who raises livestock in this state equal to ten percent 
50.6 	of the first $500,000 of qualifying expenditures, provided the person makes qualifying 
50.7 	expenditures of at least $4,000 50 percent of the first $20,000 of qualifying expenditures 
50.8 	and 25 percent of the next $220,000 of qualifying expenditures. The commissioner may 
50.9 	award multiple livestock investment grants to a person over the life of the program and shall 
50.10 	give preference to applicants who have not previously received a grant under this section.

50.11 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17.118, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
50.12 		Subd. 2.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this 
50.13 	subdivision have the meanings given them.
50.14 	(b) "Livestock" means animals raised for the production of fiber, meat, and animal 
50.15 	by-products for sale or as breeding stock, including but not limited to beef cattle, dairy 
50.16 	cattle, swine, poultry, goats, mules, farmed Cervidae, Ratitae, bison, sheep, horses, 
50.17 	aquaculture, and llamas.
50.18 	(c) "Qualifying expenditures" means the amount spent for:
50.19 	(1) the acquisition, construction, or improvement of buildings or facilities for the 
50.20 	production of livestock or livestock products;
50.21 	(2) the development of pasture for use by livestock including, but not limited to, the 
50.22 	acquisition, development, or improvement of:
50.23 	(i) lanes used by livestock that connect pastures to a central location;
50.24 	(ii) watering systems for livestock on pasture including water lines, booster pumps, and 
50.25 	well installations;
50.26 	(iii) livestock stream crossing stabilization; and
50.27 	(iv) fences; or
50.28 	(3) the acquisition of equipment for livestock housing, confinement, feeding, and waste 
50.29 	management including, but not limited to, the following:
50.30 	(i) freestall barns;
51.1 	(ii) watering facilities;
51.2 	(iii) feed storage and handling equipment;
51.3 	(iv) milking parlors;
51.4 	(v) robotic equipment;
51.5 	(vi) scales;
51.6 	(vii) milk storage and cooling facilities;
51.7 	(viii) bulk tanks;
51.8 	(ix) computer hardware and software and associated equipment used to monitor the 
51.9 	productivity and feeding of livestock;
51.10 	(x) manure pumping and storage facilities;
51.11 	(xi) swine farrowing facilities;
51.12 	(xii) swine and cattle finishing barns;
51.13 	(xiii) calving facilities;
51.14 	(xiv) digesters;
51.15 	(xv) equipment used to produce energy;
51.16 	(xvi) on-farm processing facilities equipment;
51.17 	(xvii) fences, including but not limited to farmed Cervidae perimeter fences required 
51.18 	under section 35.155, subdivision 4; and
51.19 	(xviii) livestock pens and corrals and sorting, restraining, and loading chutes.
51.20 	Except for qualifying pasture development expenditures under clause (2), qualifying 
51.21 	expenditures only include amounts that are allowed to be capitalized and deducted under 
51.22 	either section 167 or 179 of the Internal Revenue Code in computing federal taxable income. 
51.23 	Qualifying expenditures do not include an amount paid to refinance existing debt.

51.24 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17.118, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
51.25 		Subd. 3.Eligibility.  To be eligible for a livestock investment grant, a person an applicant
51.26 	must:
51.27 	(1) be a resident of Minnesota, a unit of Tribal government, or an entity specifically 
51.28 	defined in section 500.24, subdivision 2, that is eligible to own farmland and operate a farm 
51.29 	in this state under section 500.24;
52.1 	(2) be the principal operator of the farm;
52.2 	(3) hold a feedlot registration, if required; and
52.3 	(4) apply to the commissioner on forms prescribed by the commissioner including a 
52.4 	statement of the qualifying expenditures made during the qualifying period along with any 
52.5 	proof or other documentation the commissioner may require.

52.6 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17.133, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
52.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
52.8 	the meanings given.
52.9 	(b) "Eligible farmer" means an individual who at the time that the grant is awarded:
52.10 	(1) is a resident of Minnesota who intends to acquire farmland located within the state 
52.11 	and provide the majority of the day-to-day physical labor and management of the farm;
52.12 	(2) grosses no more than $250,000 per year from the sale of farm products;
52.13 	(3) has not, and whose spouse has not, at any time had a direct or indirect ownership 
52.14 	interest in farmland; and
52.15 	(4) is not, and whose spouse is not, related by blood or marriage to an owner a family 
52.16 	member of the owner of the farmland that the individual intends to acquire. "Family member" 
52.17 	has the meaning given in section 267(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.
52.18 	(c) "Farm down payment" means an initial, partial payment required by a lender or seller 
52.19 	to purchase farmland.
52.20 	(d) "Incubator farm" means a farm where:
52.21 	(1) individuals are given temporary, exclusive, and affordable access to small parcels 
52.22 	of land, infrastructure, and often training, for the purpose of honing skills and launching a 
52.23 	farm business; and
52.24 	(2) a majority of the individuals farming the small parcels of land grow industrial hemp, 
52.25 	cannabis, or one or more of the following specialty crops as defined by the United States 
52.26 	Department of Agriculture for purposes of the specialty crop block grant program: fruits 
52.27 	and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, medicinal plants, culinary herbs and spices, horticulture 
52.28 	crops, floriculture crops, and nursery crops.
52.29 	(e) "Limited land access" means farming without ownership of land and:
53.1 	(1) the individual or the individual's child rents or leases the land, with the term of each 
53.2 	rental or lease agreement not exceeding three years in duration, from a person who is not 
53.3 	related to the individual or the individual's spouse by blood or marriage; or
53.4 	(2) the individual rents the land from an incubator farm.
53.5 	(f) "Limited market access" means the individual has gross sales of no more than 
53.6 	$100,000 per year from the sale of farm products.

53.7 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17.133, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
53.8 		Subd. 2.Grants. The commissioner may award farm down payment assistance grants 
53.9 	of up to $15,000 $20,000 per eligible farmer. Each award must be matched with at least 
53.10 	$8,000 of other funding. Grants under this subdivision may be awarded by a randomized 
53.11 	selection process after applications are collected over a period of no less than 30 calendar 
53.12 	days. An eligible farmer must commit to own and farm the land purchased with assistance 
53.13 	provided under this section for at least five years. For each year that a grant recipient does 
53.14 	not own and farm the land during the five-year period, the grant recipient must pay a penalty 
53.15 	to the commissioner equal to 20 percent of the grant amount.

53.16 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18.79, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
53.17 		Subd. 3.Entry upon land. To administer and enforce sections 18.76 to 18.91, an 
53.18 	inspector or county-designated employee shall contact a landowner through direct 
53.19 	communication prior to entering upon the land for a noxious weed inspection. If a landowner 
53.20 	cannot be contacted, an inspector or county-designated employee may enter upon land 
53.21 	without consent of the owner and without being subject to an action for trespass or any 
53.22 	damages. For the purposes of this subdivision, "direct communication" may include contact 
53.23 	with the landowner through an in-person visit, phone call, voice mail, text message, mail, 
53.24 	or email. A landowner cannot refuse an inspector or county-designated employee having 
53.25 	probable cause to conduct an inspection for noxious weeds on their lands. Within five 
53.26 	business days of a completed inspection, the inspector or county-designated employee shall 
53.27 	provide the landowner with a copy of the inspection report, including further actions if 
53.28 	applicable.

53.29 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18B.26, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
53.30 		Subd. 8.PFAS prohibitions. (a) Beginning January 1, 2026, the commissioner may not 
53.31 	register a cleaning product in the categories listed in section 116.943, subdivision 5, paragraph 
54.1 	(a), if the product contains intentionally added PFAS unless the commissioner determines 
54.2 	that the use of PFAS is a currently unavoidable use.
54.3 	(b) Beginning January 1, 2032, the commissioner may not register a pesticide product 
54.4 	that contains intentionally added PFAS unless the commissioner determines that the use of 
54.5 	PFAS is a currently unavoidable use.

54.6 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18B.37, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
54.7 		Subd. 6.Access to pesticide application information. (a) A physician licensed to 
54.8 	practice in Minnesota, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, or a Minnesota licensed 
54.9 	veterinarian, may submit a request to the commissioner for access to available information 
54.10 	on the application of pesticides by a commercial or noncommercial pesticide applicator 
54.11 	related to a course of diagnosis, care, or treatment of a patient under the care of the physician 
54.12 	or veterinarian. For purposes of this subdivision, the physician, physician assistant, or nurse 
54.13 	practitioner making the request must be licensed to practice in Minnesota.
54.14 	(b) A request for pesticide application information under this subdivision must include 
54.15 	available details as to the specific location of a known or suspected application that occurred 
54.16 	on one or more specified dates and times. The request must also include information on 
54.17 	symptoms displayed by the patient that prompted the physician or veterinarian to suspect 
54.18 	pesticide exposure. The request must indicate that any information discovered will become 
54.19 	part of the confidential patient record and will not be released publicly.
54.20 	(c) Upon receipt of a request under paragraph (a), the commissioner, in consultation 
54.21 	with the commissioner of health, shall promptly review the information contained in the 
54.22 	request and determine if release of information held by the department may be beneficial 
54.23 	for the medical diagnosis, care, and treatment of the patient.
54.24 	(d) The commissioner may release to the requester available information on the pesticide. 
54.25 	The commissioner shall withhold nonessential information such as total acres treated, the 
54.26 	specific amount of pesticides applied, and the identity of the applicator or property owner.

54.27 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 18C.111, is amended by adding a subdivision 
54.28 	to read:
54.29 		Subd. 6.Fertilizers and fertilizer by-products. The commissioner may coordinate the 
54.30 	protection of public health and the environment from the unreasonable adverse effects of 
54.31 	fertilizers and fertilizer by-products among state agencies and local governments and may 
54.32 	assist other state agencies and local governments in providing such protection.

55.1 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 25.391, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
55.2 		Subdivision 1.Exemption. The provisions of this chapter do not apply to an individual
55.3 	a person who prepares and sells home-processed pet treats for dogs and cats, provided the 
55.4 	following conditions are met:
55.5 	(1) the person is an individual, a sole proprietorship, a single-member limited liability 
55.6 	company owned by one individual, or a limited liability company owned by two individuals 
55.7 	residing at the same residence;
55.8 	(2) the person does not hold a commercial feed license under section 25.341;
55.9 	(3) the individual person is registered with the commissioner under section 28A.152, 
55.10 	subdivision 4;
55.11 	(2)(4) the pet treats are not potentially hazardous food, as defined in Minnesota Rules, 
55.12 	part 4626.0020, subpart 62, that is safe for human consumption and for consumption by the 
55.13 	intended species;
55.14 	(3)(5) the pet treats are baked or dehydrated;
55.15 	(4)(6) the individual person displays at the point of sale a clearly legible sign or placard 
55.16 	stating, "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."; and
55.17 	(5) (7) each individual pet treat package is labeled with the following: (i) the name and 
55.18 	registration number or address of the individual preparing the pet treat; (ii) the date on which 
55.19 	the pet treat was prepared; (iii) the ingredients listed; and (iv) the statement "These products 
55.20 	are homemade and not subject to state inspection."

55.21 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2027.

55.22 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 25.391, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
55.23 		Subd. 2.Direct sales to consumers. An individual A person qualifying for the exemption 
55.24 	under subdivision 1 may sell the exempt pet treats to consumers in accordance with section 
55.25 	28A.152, except that pet treats may also be delivered by mail or commercial delivery.

55.26 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2027.

56.1 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 32D.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
56.2 	read:
56.3 		Subd. 12a.Milk marketer. "Milk marketer" means any person who collects or procures 
56.4 	milk from dairy producers in Minnesota or markets milk on behalf of Minnesota dairy 
56.5 	producers. Milk marketer does not include:
56.6 	(1) a person who only brokers a contract between a milk producer and a milk contractor 
56.7 	but does not become a party to the contract, take control of the milk, or accept payment on 
56.8 	behalf of the milk producer;
56.9 	(2) a person who only buys or sells milk on a board of trade or commodity exchange;
56.10 	(3) a person who collects milk solely from their own farm, for use in their own dairy 
56.11 	plant; or
56.12 	(4) a person who only sells milk direct to the end consumer, from their own farm.

56.13 	Sec. 17. [32D.31] MILK MARKETING LICENSE.
56.14 		Subdivision 1.License requirement and eligibility. A current milk marketing license 
56.15 	is required for any milk marketer who procures more than 700,000 pounds of milk annually 
56.16 	from Minnesota farms. Before a milk marketing license is issued, the commissioner must 
56.17 	determine that the applicant meets the relevant licensing requirements.
56.18 		Subd. 2.Application. An applicant for a milk marketing license must apply on a form 
56.19 	provided by the commissioner. An applicant must also submit:
56.20 	(1) a report of the total milk payroll obligations that the applicant incurred during the 
56.21 	applicant's last completed fiscal year. If the applicant has not yet operated as a milk marketer 
56.22 	in Minnesota, the applicant shall estimate the total milk payroll obligations that the applicant 
56.23 	will incur during the applicant's first complete fiscal year;
56.24 	(2) a report of any milk payroll obligations to dairy producers that were unpaid during 
56.25 	the applicant's last completed fiscal year and the payroll amount; and
56.26 	(3) the total amount of hundredweights procured, collected, or marketed from Minnesota 
56.27 	milk producers during the applicant's last completed fiscal year.
56.28 		Subd. 3.Term of license; transferability. A milk marketing license issued by the 
56.29 	commissioner expires on December 31 of each year, must be renewed annually, and is not 
56.30 	transferable.
56.31 		Subd. 4.Fees and penalties. (a) The fee for a milk marketing license is:
57.1 	(1) $100 for an initial license; and
57.2 	(2) $250 annually for a license renewal.
57.3 	(b) The fee must be paid to the commissioner before the commissioner issues an initial 
57.4 	or renewal license. If a person has not applied for a milk marketing license renewal before 
57.5 	January 1, a late fee of $100 must be imposed. After January 1, 2026, any person who 
57.6 	requires a milk marketing license and conducts activities subject to licensing within 365 
57.7 	days prior to obtaining a milk marketing license must pay a penalty of $250 to receive the 
57.8 	person's initial license.
57.9 		Subd. 5.License requirements. An applicant for a milk marketing license must:
57.10 	(1) complete monthly procurement payments under section 32D.11, if applicable;
57.11 	(2) provide, upon request of the commissioner, a list of dairy producers from whom the 
57.12 	applicant collects milk;
57.13 	(3) provide dairy field service as described in section 32D.02, subdivision 6;
57.14 	(4) submit associated farm inspection fees as required under sections 32D.06 and 32D.08;
57.15 	(5) provide, upon the request of the commissioner, a financial statement to demonstrate 
57.16 	that sufficient financial resources are available to satisfy payroll obligations for milk that 
57.17 	is procured or collected from Minnesota dairy producers; and
57.18 	(6) satisfy all contractual payments and agreements made with any Minnesota dairy 
57.19 	producer that maintains a permit or certification as required under section 32D.05 or 32D.07. 
57.20 	A person's failure to pay dairy producers in accordance with contracts may result in the 
57.21 	revocation or suspension of the person's milk marketing license.
57.22 		Subd. 6.Permit requirement. (a) A person conducting the following activities must 
57.23 	hold a valid milk marketing permit:
57.24 	(1) any activities subject to a milk marketing license; or
57.25 	(2) if the person is a Minnesota milk producer, marketing milk on the producer's own 
57.26 	behalf.
57.27 	(b) An applicant must apply for a milk marketing permit on a form provided by the 
57.28 	commissioner. A milk marketing permit must be issued to an applicant in conjunction with 
57.29 	the initial license issued and must contain a milk marketing permit number. An applicant 
57.30 	for a milk marketing permit must not be required to pay a fee to the commissioner when 
57.31 	applying. A milk marketing permit is valid if the holder of the permit maintains a current 
58.1 	milk marketing license or continues to market the permit holder's own milk, with no renewals 
58.2 	required.

58.3 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 35.155, subdivision 12, is amended to read:
58.4 		Subd. 12.Importation. (a) A person must not import live Cervidae into the state from 
58.5 	a state or province where chronic wasting disease has been detected in the farmed or wild 
58.6 	cervid population in the last five years unless the animal has tested not detected for chronic 
58.7 	wasting disease with a validated live-animal test.
58.8 	(b) Live Cervidae or Cervidae semen must originate from a herd that has been subject 
58.9 	to a state-, federal-, or provincial-approved chronic wasting disease herd certification program 
58.10 	and that has reached a status equivalent to the highest certification.
58.11 	(c) Cervidae imported in violation of this section may be seized and destroyed by the 
58.12 	commissioner of natural resources.
58.13 	(d) This subdivision does not apply to the interstate transfer of animals between two 
58.14 	facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
58.15 	(e) Notwithstanding this subdivision, the commissioner of natural resources may issue 
58.16 	a permit allowing the importation of orphaned wild cervid species that are not susceptible 
58.17 	to chronic wasting disease from another state to an Association of Zoos and Aquariums 
58.18 	accredited institution in Minnesota following a joint risk-based assessment conducted by 
58.19 	the commissioner and the institution.
58.20 	(f) Notwithstanding this subdivision, the state veterinarian may issue a permit to a zoo 
58.21 	that is a United States Department of Agriculture licensed exhibitor of regulated animals 
58.22 	to import live reindeer from another state if the reindeer are part of a herd that is:
58.23 	(1) in the United States Department of Agriculture Herd Certification Program; or
58.24 	(2) subject to similar equivalent disease surveillance at the discretion of the state 
58.25 	veterinarian.

58.26 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41A.16, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
58.27 		Subd. 7.Eligibility for participants after April 1, 2023. (a) A facility eligible for 
58.28 	payment under this section must source at least 80 percent raw materials from Minnesota. 
58.29 	If a facility is sited 50 miles or less from the state border, raw materials may be sourced 
58.30 	from within a 100-mile radius. Raw materials must be from agricultural or forestry sources 
58.31 	or from solid waste. The facility must be located in Minnesota, must begin production at a 
59.1 	specific location after April 1, 2023, and before June 30, 2025, and must not begin operating 
59.2 	above 23,750 MMbtu of quarterly advanced biofuel production before July 1, 2015. Eligible 
59.3 	facilities include existing companies and facilities that are adding advanced biofuel 
59.4 	production capacity, or retrofitting existing capacity, as well as new companies and facilities. 
59.5 	Production of conventional corn ethanol and conventional biodiesel is not eligible. Eligible 
59.6 	advanced biofuel facilities must produce at least 23,750 MMbtu of biofuel quarterly.
59.7 	(b) No payments shall be made for advanced biofuel production that occurs after June 
59.8 	30, 2035, for those eligible biofuel producers under paragraph (a).
59.9 	(c) An eligible producer of advanced biofuel shall not transfer the producer's eligibility 
59.10 	for payments under this section to an advanced biofuel facility at a different location.
59.11 	(d) A producer that ceases production for any reason is ineligible to receive payments 
59.12 	under this section until the producer resumes production.
59.13 	(e) Renewable chemical production for which payment has been received under section 
59.14 	41A.17, and biomass thermal production for which payment has been received under section 
59.15 	41A.18, are not eligible for payment under this section.
59.16 	(f) Biobutanol is eligible under this section.

59.17 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.039, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
59.18 		Subd. 2.State participation. The state may participate in a new real estate loan with 
59.19 	an eligible lender to a beginning farmer to the extent of 45 percent of the principal amount 
59.20 	of the loan or. Individual loans must be no less than $20,000 and no more than $500,000, 
59.21 	whichever is less. The interest rates and repayment terms of the authority's participation 
59.22 	interest may be different than the interest rates and repayment terms of the lender's retained 
59.23 	portion of the loan.

59.24 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.0391, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
59.25 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
59.26 	the meanings given.
59.27 	(b) "Agricultural assets" means agricultural land, livestock, facilities, buildings, and 
59.28 	machinery used for farming in Minnesota.
59.29 	(c) "Beginning farmer" means an individual who:
59.30 	(1) is a resident of Minnesota;
59.31 	(2) is seeking entry, or has entered within the last ten years, into farming;
60.1 	(3) intends to farm land located within the state borders of Minnesota;
60.2 	(4) except as provided in subdivision 2, paragraph (f), is not and whose spouse is not a 
60.3 	family member of the owner of the agricultural assets from whom the beginning farmer is 
60.4 	seeking to purchase or rent agricultural assets;
60.5 	(5) except as provided in subdivision 2, paragraph (f), is not and whose spouse is not a 
60.6 	family member of a partner, member, shareholder, or trustee of the owner of agricultural 
60.7 	assets from whom the beginning farmer is seeking to purchase or rent agricultural assets; 
60.8 	and
60.9 	(6) meets the following eligibility requirements as determined by the authority:
60.10 	(i) has a net worth that does not exceed the limit provided under section 41B.03, 
60.11 	subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (2);
60.12 	(ii) provides the majority of the day-to-day physical labor and management of the farm;
60.13 	(iii) has, by the judgment of the authority, adequate farming experience or demonstrates 
60.14 	knowledge in the type of farming for which the beginning farmer seeks assistance from the 
60.15 	authority;
60.16 	(iv) demonstrates to the authority a profit potential by submitting projected earnings 
60.17 	statements;
60.18 	(v) asserts to the satisfaction of the authority that farming will be a significant source 
60.19 	of income for the beginning farmer;
60.20 	(vi) is enrolled in or has completed within ten years of their first year of farming a 
60.21 	financial management program approved by the authority or the commissioner of agriculture;
60.22 	(vii) agrees to notify the authority if the beginning farmer no longer meets the eligibility 
60.23 	requirements within the three-year certification period, in which case the beginning farmer 
60.24 	is no longer eligible for credits under this section; and
60.25 	(viii) has other qualifications as specified by the authority.
60.26 	The authority may waive the requirement in item (vi) if the participant requests a waiver 
60.27 	and has a four-year degree in an agricultural program or related field, reasonable agricultural 
60.28 	job-related experience, or certification as an adult farm management instructor.
60.29 	(d) "Emerging farmer" means an emerging farmer within the meaning of section 17.055, 
60.30 	subdivision 1.
61.1 	(e) (d) "Family member" means a family member within the meaning of the Internal 
61.2 	Revenue Code, section 267(c)(4).
61.3 	(f) (e) "Farm product" means plants and animals useful to humans and includes, but is 
61.4 	not limited to, forage and sod crops, oilseeds, grain and feed crops, dairy and dairy products, 
61.5 	poultry and poultry products, livestock, fruits, and vegetables.
61.6 	(g) (f) "Farming" means the active use, management, and operation of real and personal 
61.7 	property for the production of a farm product.
61.8 	(g) "Limited land access farmer" means a farmer experiencing limited land access as 
61.9 	defined in section 17.133, subdivision 1.
61.10 	(h) "Owner of agricultural assets" means an individual, trust, or pass-through entity that 
61.11 	is the owner in fee of agricultural land or has legal title to any other agricultural asset. Owner 
61.12 	of agricultural assets does not mean an equipment dealer, livestock dealer defined in section 
61.13 	17A.03, subdivision 7, or comparable entity that is engaged in the business of selling 
61.14 	agricultural assets for profit and that is not engaged in farming as its primary business 
61.15 	activity. An owner of agricultural assets approved and certified by the authority under 
61.16 	subdivision 4 must notify the authority if the owner no longer meets the definition in this 
61.17 	paragraph within the three year certification period and is then no longer eligible for credits 
61.18 	under this section.
61.19 	(i) "Resident" has the meaning given in section 290.01, subdivision 7.
61.20 	(j) "Share rent agreement" means a rental agreement in which the principal consideration 
61.21 	given to the owner of agricultural assets is a predetermined portion of the production of 
61.22 	farm products produced from the rented agricultural assets and which provides for sharing 
61.23 	production costs or risk of loss, or both.

61.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December 
61.25 	31, 2024.

61.26 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.0391, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
61.27 		Subd. 2.Tax credit for owners of agricultural assets. (a) An owner of agricultural 
61.28 	assets may take a credit against the tax due under chapter 290 for the sale or rental of 
61.29 	agricultural assets to a beginning farmer in the amount allocated by the authority under 
61.30 	subdivision 4. An owner of agricultural assets is eligible for allocation of a credit equal to:
61.31 	(1) eight percent of the lesser of the sale price or the fair market value of the agricultural 
61.32 	asset, up to a maximum of $50,000;
62.1 	(2) ten percent of the gross rental income in each of the first, second, and third years of 
62.2 	a rental agreement, up to a maximum of $7,000 per year; or
62.3 	(3) 15 percent of the cash equivalent of the gross rental income in each of the first, 
62.4 	second, and third years of a share rent agreement, up to a maximum of $10,000 per year.
62.5 	(b) A qualifying rental agreement includes cash rent of agricultural assets or a share rent 
62.6 	agreement. The agricultural asset must be rented at prevailing community rates as determined 
62.7 	by the authority.
62.8 	(c) The credit may be claimed only after approval and certification by the authority, and 
62.9 	is limited to the amount stated on the certificate issued under subdivision 4. An owner of 
62.10 	agricultural assets must apply to the authority for certification and allocation of a credit, in 
62.11 	a form and manner prescribed by the authority.
62.12 	(d) An owner of agricultural assets or beginning farmer may terminate a rental agreement, 
62.13 	including a share rent agreement, for reasonable cause upon approval of the authority. If a 
62.14 	rental agreement is terminated without the fault of the owner of agricultural assets, the tax 
62.15 	credits shall not be retroactively disallowed. In determining reasonable cause, the authority 
62.16 	must look at which party was at fault in the termination of the agreement. If the authority 
62.17 	determines the owner of agricultural assets did not have reasonable cause, the owner of 
62.18 	agricultural assets must repay all credits received as a result of the rental agreement to the 
62.19 	commissioner of revenue. The repayment is additional income tax for the taxable year in 
62.20 	which the authority makes its decision or when a final adjudication under subdivision 5, 
62.21 	paragraph (a), is made, whichever is later.
62.22 	(e) The credit is limited to the liability for tax as computed under chapter 290 for the 
62.23 	taxable year. If the amount of the credit determined under this section for any taxable year 
62.24 	exceeds this limitation, the excess is a beginning farmer incentive credit carryover according 
62.25 	to section 290.06, subdivision 37.
62.26 	(f) For purposes of the credit for the sale of agricultural land only, the family member 
62.27 	definitional exclusions in subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clauses (4) and (5), do not apply. 
62.28 	For a sale to a family member to qualify for the credit, the sales price of the agricultural 
62.29 	land must equal or exceed the assessed value of the land as of the date of the sale. For 
62.30 	purposes of this paragraph, "sale to a family member" means a sale to a beginning farmer 
62.31 	in which the beginning farmer or the beginning farmer's spouse is a family member of:
62.32 	(1) the owner of the agricultural land; or
62.33 	(2) a partner, member, shareholder, or trustee of the owner of the agricultural land.
63.1 	(g) For a sale to an emerginga limited land access farmer, the credit rate under paragraph 
63.2 	(a), clause (1), is twelve percent rather than eight percent.

63.3 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December 
63.4 	31, 2024.

63.5 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.0391, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
63.6 		Subd. 4.Authority duties. (a) The authority shall:
63.7 	(1) approve and certify or recertify beginning farmers as eligible for the program under 
63.8 	this section;
63.9 	(2) approve and certify or recertify owners of agricultural assets as eligible for the tax 
63.10 	credit under subdivision 2 subject to the allocation limits in paragraph (c);
63.11 	(3) provide necessary and reasonable assistance and support to beginning farmers for 
63.12 	qualification and participation in financial management programs approved by the authority;
63.13 	(4) refer beginning farmers to agencies and organizations that may provide additional 
63.14 	pertinent information and assistance; and
63.15 	(5) notwithstanding section 41B.211, the Rural Finance Authority must share information 
63.16 	with the commissioner of revenue to the extent necessary to administer provisions under 
63.17 	this subdivision and section 290.06, subdivisions 37 and 38. The Rural Finance Authority 
63.18 	must annually notify the commissioner of revenue of approval and certification or 
63.19 	recertification of beginning farmers and owners of agricultural assets under this section. 
63.20 	For credits under subdivision 2, the notification must include the amount of credit approved 
63.21 	by the authority and stated on the credit certificate.
63.22 	(b) The certification of a beginning farmer or an owner of agricultural assets under this 
63.23 	section is valid for the year of the certification and the two following years, after which 
63.24 	time the beginning farmer or owner of agricultural assets must apply to the authority for 
63.25 	recertification.
63.26 	(c) For credits for owners of agricultural assets allowed under subdivision 2, the authority 
63.27 	must not allocate more than $6,500,000 for taxable years beginning after December 31, 
63.28 	2022, and before January 1, 2024, and $4,000,000 for taxable years beginning after December 
63.29 	31, 2023. The authority must allocate credits on a first-come, first-served basis beginning 
63.30 	on January 1 of each year, except that recertifications for the second and third years of 
63.31 	credits under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), have first priority. Any 
63.32 	amount authorized but not allocated for taxable years ending before January 1, 2023, is 
64.1 	canceled and is not allocated for future taxable years. For taxable years beginning after 
64.2 	December 31, 2022, any amount authorized but not allocated in any taxable year does not 
64.3 	cancel and is added to the allocation for the next taxable year. For each taxable year, 50 
64.4 	percent of newly allocated credits must be allocated to emerging limited land access farmers. 
64.5 	Any portion of a taxable year's newly allocated credits that is reserved for emerging limited 
64.6 	land access farmers that is not allocated by September 30 of the taxable year is available 
64.7 	for allocation to other credit allocations beginning on October 1.

64.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for taxable years beginning after December 
64.9 	31, 2024.

64.10 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.0391, is amended by adding a subdivision 
64.11 	to read:
64.12 		Subd. 6a.Report to legislature. (a) No later than February 1 each year the Rural Finance 
64.13 	Authority, in consultation with the commissioner of revenue, must provide a report to the 
64.14 	chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees having jurisdiction over 
64.15 	agriculture, economic development, rural development, and taxes, in compliance with 
64.16 	sections 3.195 and 3.197, on the beginning farmer tax credits under this section.
64.17 	(b) The report must include background information on beginning farmers in Minnesota 
64.18 	and any other information the commissioner and authority find relevant to evaluating the 
64.19 	effect of the credits on increasing opportunities for and the number of beginning farmers.
64.20 	(c) For credits issued under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (3), the report 
64.21 	must include:
64.22 	(1) the number and amount of credits issued under each clause;
64.23 	(2) the geographic distribution of credits issued under each clause;
64.24 	(3) the type of agricultural assets for which credits were issued under clause (1);
64.25 	(4) the number and geographic distribution of beginning farmers whose purchase or 
64.26 	rental of assets resulted in credits for the seller or owner of the asset;
64.27 	(5) the number and amount of credits disallowed under subdivision 2, paragraph (d);
64.28 	(6) data on the number of beginning farmers by geographic region, including:
64.29 	(i) the number of beginning farmers by race and ethnicity, as those terms are applied in 
64.30 	the 2020 United States Census; and
65.1 	(ii) to the extent available, the number of beginning farmers who are limited land access 
65.2 	farmers; and
65.3 	(7) the number and amount of credit applications that exceeded the allocation available 
65.4 	in each year.
65.5 	(d) For credits issued under subdivision 3, the report must include:
65.6 	(1) the number and amount of credits issued;
65.7 	(2) the geographic distribution of credits;
65.8 	(3) a listing and description of each approved financial management program for which 
65.9 	credits were issued; and
65.10 	(4) a description of the approval procedure for financial management programs not on 
65.11 	the list maintained by the authority, as provided in subdivision 3, paragraph (a).

65.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective for reports due for credits issued for 
65.13 	taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

65.14 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.04, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
65.15 		Subd. 8.State participation. With respect to loans that are eligible for restructuring 
65.16 	under sections 41B.01 to 41B.23 and upon acceptance by the authority, the authority shall 
65.17 	enter into a participation agreement or other financial arrangement whereby it shall participate 
65.18 	in a restructured loan to the extent of 45 percent of the primary principal or. Individual loans 
65.19 	must be no less than $20,000 and no more than $625,000, whichever is less. The authority's 
65.20 	portion of the loan must be protected during the authority's participation by the first mortgage 
65.21 	held by the eligible lender to the extent of its participation in the loan.

65.22 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.042, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
65.23 		Subd. 4.Participation limit; interest. The authority may participate in new 
65.24 	seller-sponsored loans to the extent of 45 percent of the principal amount of the loan or. 
65.25 	Individual loans must be no less than $20,000 and no more than $500,000, whichever is 
65.26 	less. The interest rates and repayment terms of the authority's participation interest may be 
65.27 	different than the interest rates and repayment terms of the seller's retained portion of the 
65.28 	loan.

66.1 	Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.043, subdivision 1b, is amended to read:
66.2 		Subd. 1b.Loan participation. The authority may participate in an agricultural 
66.3 	improvement loan with an eligible lender to a farmer who meets the requirements of section 
66.4 	41B.03, subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), and who is actively engaged in farming. 
66.5 	Participation is limited to 45 percent of the principal amount of the loan or. Individual loans 
66.6 	must be no less than $20,000 and no more than $500,000, whichever is less. The interest 
66.7 	rates and repayment terms of the authority's participation interest may be different than the 
66.8 	interest rates and repayment terms of the lender's retained portion of the loan.

66.9 	Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.045, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
66.10 		Subd. 2.Loan participation. The authority may participate in a livestock expansion 
66.11 	and modernization loan with an eligible lender to a livestock farmer who meets the 
66.12 	requirements of section 41B.03, subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), and who are actively 
66.13 	engaged in a livestock operation. A prospective borrower must have a total net worth, 
66.14 	including assets and liabilities of the borrower's spouse and dependents, of less than 
66.15 	$1,700,000 in 2017 and an amount in subsequent years which is adjusted for inflation by 
66.16 	multiplying that amount by the cumulative inflation rate as determined by the United States 
66.17 	All-Items Consumer Price Index.
66.18 	Participation is limited to 45 percent of the principal amount of the loan or. Individual 
66.19 	loans must be no less than $20,000 and no more than $625,000, whichever is less. The 
66.20 	interest rates and repayment terms of the authority's participation interest may be different 
66.21 	from the interest rates and repayment terms of the lender's retained portion of the loan.

66.22 	Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.047, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
66.23 		Subd. 3.Eligibility. To be eligible for this program, a borrower must:
66.24 	(1) meet the requirements of section 41B.03, subdivision 1;
66.25 	(2) certify that the damage or loss was: (i) sustained within a county that was the subject 
66.26 	of a state or federal disaster declaration; (ii) due to the confirmed presence of a highly 
66.27 	contagious animal disease in Minnesota; (iii) due to an infectious human disease for which 
66.28 	the governor has declared a peacetime emergency; or (iv) due to an emergency as determined 
66.29 	by the authority;
66.30 	(3) demonstrate an ability to repay the loan; and
66.31 	(4) have received at least 25 percent of annual gross income from farming in the past 
66.32 	year.; and
67.1 	(5) have a total net worth, including assets and liabilities of the borrower's spouse and 
67.2 	dependents, of less than $10,000,000.

67.3 	Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.056, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
67.4 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The authority shall establish and implement a pilot an
67.5 	agricultural microloan program to help finance the purchase of agricultural land or the 
67.6 	production of specialty crops or eligible livestock. The authority may contract with an 
67.7 	intermediary to provide an efficient delivery system for this program.

67.8 	Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.057, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
67.9 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The authority shall establish a farm opportunity loan 
67.10 	program to provide loans that enable farmers to:
67.11 	(1) add value to crops or livestock produced in Minnesota; or
67.12 	(2) adopt best management practices that emphasize sufficiency and self-sufficiency;
67.13 	(3) reduce or improve management of agricultural inputs resulting in environmental 
67.14 	improvements; or
67.15 	(4) (2) increase production of on-farm energy.

67.16 	Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 41B.057, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
67.17 		Subd. 3.Loan participation. The authority may participate in a farm opportunity loan 
67.18 	with an eligible lender, as defined in section 41B.02, subdivision 8, to a farmer or a group 
67.19 	of farmers on joint projects who are eligible under subdivision 2, paragraph (c), and who 
67.20 	are actively engaged in farming. Participation is limited to 45 percent of the principal amount 
67.21 	of the loan or $100,000 per individual, whichever is less. For loans to a group made up of 
67.22 	four or more individuals, participation is limited to 45 percent of the principal amount of 
67.23 	the loan or $250,000, whichever is less. The interest rate on the loans must not exceed six 
67.24 	percent. A borrower must have a total net worth, including assets and liabilities of the 
67.25 	borrower's spouse and dependents, of less than $1,700,000 in 2017 and an amount in 
67.26 	subsequent years that is adjusted for inflation by multiplying that amount by the cumulative 
67.27 	inflation rate as determined by the United States All-Items Consumer Price Index.

67.28 	Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 223.17, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
67.29 		Subd. 3.Grain buyers and storage account; fees. (a) The commissioner shall set the 
67.30 	fees for inspections under sections 223.15 to 223.22examination fees at levels necessary 
68.1 	to pay the expenses of administering and enforcing sections 223.15 to 223.22. The fee for 
68.2 	any license issued or renewed after June 30, 2005, shall be set according to the following 
68.3 	schedule: 2025, is $500 for each licensed location.
68.4 	(1) $140 plus $110 for each additional location for grain buyers whose gross annual 
68.5 	purchases are less than $100,000;
68.6 	(2) $275 plus $110 for each additional location for grain buyers whose gross annual 
68.7 	purchases are at least $100,000, but not more than $750,000;
68.8 	(3) $415 plus $220 for each additional location for grain buyers whose gross annual 
68.9 	purchases are more than $750,000 but not more than $1,500,000;
68.10 	(4) $550 plus $220 for each additional location for grain buyers whose gross annual 
68.11 	purchases are more than $1,500,000 but not more than $3,000,000; and
68.12 	(5) $700 plus $220 for each additional location for grain buyers whose gross annual 
68.13 	purchases are more than $3,000,000.
68.14 	(b) In addition to the license fee required under paragraph (a), a grain buyer must pay 
68.15 	to the commissioner an annual examination fee for each licensed location, as follows:

68.1668.17		Bushel Capacity
	Examination 
Fee
		
68.18		Examinations without a grain measure
	$
	100
		
68.19		Less than 150,001
	$
	300
		
68.20		150,001 to 250,000
	$
	425
		
68.21		250,001 to 500,000
	$
	545
		
68.22		500,001 to 750,000
	$
	700
		
68.23		750,001 to 1,000,000
	$
	865
		
68.24		1,000,001 to 1,200,000
	$
	1,040
		
68.25		1,200,001 to 1,500,000
	$
	1,205
		
68.26		1,500,001 to 2,000,000
	$
	1,380
		
68.27		More than 2,000,000
	$
	1,555
		
68.28 	(1) examination fees must be calculated based on bushel capacity of each licensed 
68.29 	location with a charge of $0.0035 per bushel of capacity;
68.30 	(2) examination fees must not be less than $350 and must not exceed $4,000; and
68.31 	(3) a licensed location with no grain bin capacity must be charged a $200 examination 
68.32 	fee.
69.1 	(c) Examination fees for each licensed location must not increase more than 150 percent 
69.2 	above the examination fee for the licensed location in the previous year.
69.3 	(c) (d) The fee for any supplemental examination required by the commissioner under 
69.4 	section 223.23 is $55 $110 per hour per examiner.
69.5 	(d) (e) A licensed grain buyer meeting the annual examination requirements under section 
69.6 	223.23 is exempt from the fees under paragraph (b) if the annual examination is conducted 
69.7 	by the Agricultural Marketing Service of the United State Department of Agriculture.
69.8 	(e) (f) A penalty amount not to exceed ten percent of the fees due may be imposed by 
69.9 	the commissioner for each month for which the fees are delinquent.
69.10 	(f) (g) There is created the grain buyers and storage account in the agricultural fund. 
69.11 	Money collected pursuant to sections 223.15 to 223.23 shall be paid into the state treasury 
69.12 	and credited to the grain buyers and storage account. Money in the account, including 
69.13 	interest, is appropriated to the commissioner for the administration and enforcement of 
69.14 	sections 223.15 to 223.23.

69.15 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2025.

69.16 	Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 232.22, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
69.17 		Subd. 3.Fees; grain buyers and storage account. (a) There is created in the agricultural 
69.18 	fund an account known as the grain buyers and storage account. The commissioner shall 
69.19 	set the fees for examinations, certifications, and licenses under sections 232.20 to 232.24 
69.20 	at levels necessary to pay the costs of administering and enforcing sections 232.20 to 232.24, 
69.21 	except that fees must not increase more than 150 percent above the fees charged in the 
69.22 	previous year. All money collected pursuant to sections 232.20 to 232.24 shall be paid by 
69.23 	the commissioner into the state treasury and credited to the grain buyers and storage account. 
69.24 	Money in the account, including interest, is appropriated to the commissioner for the 
69.25 	administration and enforcement of sections 232.20 to 232.24.
69.26 	(b) All money collected pursuant to chapter 231 shall be paid by the commissioner into 
69.27 	the grain buyers and storage account. Money in the account is appropriated to the 
69.28 	commissioner for the administration and enforcement of chapter 231.
69.29 	(c) The fees for a license to store grain are as follows:
69.30 	(1) for a license to store grain, $110 $300 for each home rule charter or statutory city or 
69.31 	town in which a public grain warehouse is operated; and
70.1 	(2) in addition to the license fee required under clause (1), a person with a license to 
70.2 	store grain in a public grain warehouse is subject to an examination fee for each licensed 
70.3 	location, as follows:

70.470.5		Bushel Capacity
	Examination 
Fee
		
70.6		Less than 150,001
	$
	300
		
70.7		150,001 to 250,000
	$
	425
		
70.8		250,001 to 500,000
	$
	545
		
70.9		500,001 to 750,000
	$
	700
		
70.10		750,001 to 1,000,000
	$
	865
		
70.11		1,000,001 to 1,200,000
	$
	1,040
		
70.12		1,200,001 to 1,500,000
	$
	1,205
		
70.13		1,500,001 to 2,000,000
	$
	1,380
		
70.14		More than 2,000,000
	$
	1,555
		
70.15 	(3) (2) the fee for supplemental examinations required by the commissioner under section 
70.16 	232.24 is $55 $110 per hour per examiner.
70.17 	(d) A penalty amount not to exceed ten percent of the fees due may be imposed by the 
70.18 	commissioner for each month for which the fees are delinquent.

70.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2025.

70.20 	Sec. 35. LOCAL FOOD PURCHASING ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM.
 70.21 	(a) The commissioner of agriculture may award grants to eligible applicants to purchase 
70.22 	and distribute food at no cost to Minnesotans experiencing food insecurity. When awarding 
70.23 	grants, the commissioner of agriculture must give preference to applicants that:
70.24 	(1) source 100 percent of food from Minnesota;
70.25 	(2) source at least 70 percent of food from farmers who are experiencing limited land 
70.26 	access or limited market access as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 17.133, subdivision 
70.27 	1; and
70.28 	(3) demonstrate strong connections to individuals whose needs are not met through the 
70.29 	traditional emergency food system.
70.30 	(b) Eligible applicants include but are not limited to individuals, nonprofit organizations, 
70.31 	for-profit businesses, Tribal governments, government entities, agricultural cooperatives, 
70.32 	economic development organizations, and educational institutions.
71.1 	(c) Grantees may use up to 15 percent of each grant awarded under this section for 
71.2 	administrative and transportation expenses.
71.3 	(d) By January 15 each year, the commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking 
71.4 	minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture regarding:
71.5 	(1) the amount awarded to each grantee;
71.6 	(2) the amount of each grant award that has been disbursed to each grantee;
71.7 	(3) a description of the purposes for which the grantee was issued a grant;
71.8 	(4) an analysis of the grant recipients' success in meeting the purpose of the grant and 
71.9 	any goals or measurable outcomes specified in the grant agreement;
71.10 	(5) information about the amount and type of food distributed by the grantee; and
71.11 	(6) the amount of the grant used by each grantee for administrative costs.
71.12 	As a condition of receiving a grant, a grantee must agree to provide the commissioner any 
71.13 	information necessary to complete the report required by this paragraph.

71.14 	Sec. 36. CAT DECLAWING RECOMMENDATIONS.
 71.15 	By February 1, 2026, the Board of Veterinary Medicine shall consult with veterinarians 
71.16 	and submit recommendations on the prohibition of cat declawing to the chairs and ranking 
71.17 	minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over companion animals 
71.18 	and animal cruelty.

71.19 	Sec. 37. MATERIALS ON HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA.
 71.20 	By March 1, 2026, the Board of Animal Health shall prepare information and materials 
71.21 	about highly pathogenic avian influenza and preventing its spread in companion animals.

71.22 	Sec. 38. BIOFERTILIZER INNOVATION AND EFFICIENCY PILOT PROGRAM.
 71.23 		Subdivision 1.Program established. In consultation with the University of Minnesota, 
71.24 	the commissioner of agriculture must develop and administer a biofertilizer water protection 
71.25 	program to address water quality by incentivizing Minnesota farmers to improve nitrogen 
71.26 	management and incorporate innovative technologies into the farmers' crop nutrient 
71.27 	management plans. The commissioner must determine which products qualify for the 
71.28 	program, including soil amendments, fertilizers with nitrogen-fixing properties, biological 
71.29 	sources of nitrogen, and other biofertilizers.
72.1 		Subd. 2.Payments to qualified farmers. In consultation with farmers and the fertilizer 
72.2 	industry, the commissioner of agriculture must establish a per-acre payment rate for payments 
72.3 	provided to a qualifying farmer. The commissioner may provide an annual per-acre incentive 
72.4 	payment to a qualifying farmer who verifies through documentation that the farmer has 
72.5 	reduced commercial nitrogen fertilizer rates by using a qualifying product in the farmer's 
72.6 	crop nutrient management plans by the lesser of:
72.7 	(1) 15 percent; or
72.8 	(2) 30 pounds per acre.
72.9 		Subd. 3.Qualifications. To qualify for the biofertilizer water preservation program, a 
72.10 	farmer must:
72.11 	(1) be a Minnesota resident operating farmland located in the counties of Becker, Benton, 
72.12 	Carver, Cass, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Hubbard, 
72.13 	Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Otter Tail, 
72.14 	Pipestone, Pope, Rock, Scott, Sherburne, Stearns, Swift, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, or 
72.15 	Winona;
72.16 	(2) submit documentation to the commissioner of agriculture, including but not limited 
72.17 	to a crop nutrient management plan or verifiable records that show reduction in the use of 
72.18 	nitrogen at the reduction rate required under subdivision 2 by using a qualifying product 
72.19 	determined by the commissioner of agriculture under subdivision 1; and
72.20 	(3) enroll a minimum of 40 eligible acres.
72.21 		Subd. 4.Report required. By January 1, 2028, the commissioner of agriculture must 
72.22 	submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees 
72.23 	with jurisdiction over agriculture policy and finance on the pilot program under this section. 
72.24 	The report must include information about the grant awards, nitrogen application rates, 
72.25 	technologies and products capable of reducing nitrogen application rates, and environmental 
72.26 	outcomes.

72.27 	Sec. 39. REPEALER.
 72.28 	(a) Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 239.77, subdivision 5, is repealed.
72.29 	(b) Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 35.68; and 35.830, are repealed.

72.30 	Sec. 40. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 72.31 	Except as otherwise provided, this article is effective August 1, 2025.

73.1 	ARTICLE 4
73.2 	LIVESTOCK MARKET AGENCY AND DEALER LICENSING PROVISIONS

73.3 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.03, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
73.4 		Subd. 8.Livestock dealer agent. "Livestock dealer agent" means any individual who 
73.5 	is engaged by a livestock dealer to act as the dealer's representative.

73.6 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.03, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
73.7 		Subd. 10.Meat packing plants companies, packers, and slaughtering houses. "Meat 
73.8 	packing plants companies," "packers," and "slaughtering houses" means mean places of 
73.9 	business where livestock purchased or acquired is slaughtered that have the meaning given 
73.10 	to "packers" as defined in section 31B.02, subdivision 8.

73.11 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.03, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
73.12 		Subd. 11.Buying station. "Buying station" means any stockyard or concentration point, 
73.13 	other than a public stockyard, at which livestock is bought and sold or assembled for shipment 
73.14 	to a meat packing plant company or a public stockyard, or graded or weighed for the purpose 
73.15 	of establishing a basis for sale or reshipment.

73.16 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
73.17 	read:
73.18 		Subd. 16.Meat packing company agent. "Meat packing company agent" means an 
73.19 	individual who is engaged by a meat packing company to act as the company's representative.

73.20 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.04, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
73.21 		Subdivision 1.Licensing provisions. (a) Licenses shall be issued to livestock market 
73.22 	agencies and public stockyards annually and shall expire on December 31 each year, 
73.23 	renewable annually thereafter. A separate license must be obtained for each separate 
73.24 	geographical location even though operated under the same management or same person, 
73.25 	partnership, firm, corporation, or livestock market. The license issued to a livestock market 
73.26 	agency and or public stockyard shall be conspicuously posted at the licensee's place of 
73.27 	business.
73.28 	(b) Licenses shall be required for livestock dealers and their agents, livestock dealer 
73.29 	agents, meat packing companies, and meat packing company agents for the period beginning 
73.30 	July 1 each year and ending June 30. A license issued under this subdivision is renewable 
74.1 	annually thereafter. The license issued to a livestock dealer or the agent of a, livestock dealer
74.2 	agent, meat packing company, or meat packing company agent shall be carried by the person 
74.3 	so who is licensed. The A livestock dealer or meat packing company shall be responsible 
74.4 	for the acts of the dealer's agents livestock dealer agent or meat packing company agent. 
74.5 	Licensed livestock market agencies, public stockyards, and livestock dealers shall be 
74.6 	responsible for the faithful performance of duty of the public livestock weighers at their 
74.7 	places of business. The license issued to a livestock market agency, public stockyard or, 
74.8 	meat packing company, meat packing company agent, livestock dealer, or agent of a livestock 
74.9 	dealer agent is not transferable. The operation of livestock market agencies, livestock dealers, 
74.10 	agents, and packers meat packing companies at a public stockyard are exempt from sections 
74.11 	17A.01 to 17A.09 and 17A.12 to 17A.17.

74.12 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.04, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
74.13 		Subd. 2.Application. Any person desiring to carry on the business of a livestock market 
74.14 	agency or livestock dealer, or both, or a public stockyard, livestock dealer agent, meat 
74.15 	packing company, or meat packing company agent shall make application to the 
74.16 	commissioner on a form or forms provided by the commissioner.

74.17 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.04, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
74.18 		Subd. 4.Surety bonds required. Each livestock market agency and livestock dealer 
74.19 	applying for a license under Laws 1974, chapter 347 shall file with the commissioner a 
74.20 	valid and effective bond issued by a surety company licensed to do business in this state, 
74.21 	or meeting the requirements of section 17A.05, in the form and amount set forth in section 
74.22 	17A.05. No bond shall be required of a public stockyard or any agent of a bonded livestock 
74.23 	dealer. The commissioner may at any time raise or lower bond requirements if it appears 
74.24 	that a modification of such bond requirements is justified and will protect the public. The 
74.25 	bonds of livestock market agencies and dealers whose residence or principal place of business 
74.26 	is within the state of Minnesota shall name the commissioner as the trustee. Any A license 
74.27 	issued under Laws 1974, chapter 347 shall automatically become void upon the termination 
74.28 	of the surety bond covering the licensed operations.

74.29 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.04, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
74.30 		Subd. 6.Refusal to license. The commissioner shall refuse to issue or renew a livestock 
74.31 	market agency, meat packing company, or livestock dealer license if the applicant has not 
74.32 	filed a surety bond in the form and amount required under this section and section 17A.05; 
74.33 	the commissioner may refuse to issue or renew a license if the applicant: (1) has not 
75.1 	satisfactorily demonstrated by a current balance sheet and financial statement that the 
75.2 	applicant's assets exceed liabilities; (2) has been found by the department to have failed to 
75.3 	pay, without reasonable cause, obligations incurred in connection with livestock transactions; 
75.4 	(3) has failed to maintain and operate livestock or monorail scales in a manner to ensure 
75.5 	accurate and correct weights; or (4) has failed to comply with other statutes, rules, or 
75.6 	regulations enforced by the commissioner, the Board of Animal Health, the Division of 
75.7 	Weights and Measures of the Department of Commerce, or the federal Packers and 
75.8 	Stockyards Administration.

75.9 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.04, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
75.10 		Subd. 7.Revocation of license. Whenever the commissioner finds that any livestock 
75.11 	market agency, meat packing company, or livestock dealer has violated the provisions of 
75.12 	this chapter, or has failed to comply with other laws, rules, or regulations enforced by the 
75.13 	Board of Animal Health, the Division of Weights and Measures of the Department of 
75.14 	Commerce, or the federal Packers and Stockyards Administration, the commissioner may, 
75.15 	by order, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 14, and this subdivision, revoke the license 
75.16 	of the offender. Before any such license shall be revoked, the licensee shall be furnished 
75.17 	with a statement of the complaints made against the licensee, and a hearing shall be had 
75.18 	before the commissioner upon at least ten days' notice to the licensee to determine whether 
75.19 	such license shall be revoked, which notice may be served either by certified mail addressed 
75.20 	to the address of the licensee as shown in the license application or in the manner provided 
75.21 	by law for the service of a summons. At the time and place fixed for hearing, the 
75.22 	commissioner or any official, employee or agent of the department authorized by the 
75.23 	commissioner, shall receive evidence, administer oaths, examine witnesses, hear the 
75.24 	testimony and thereafter file an order either dismissing the proceedings or revoking the 
75.25 	license.

75.26 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.04, subdivision 8, is amended to read:
75.27 		Subd. 8.Suspension of license. Whenever the commissioner finds that the licensee has 
75.28 	violated provisions of this chapter, or has failed to comply with other laws, rules, or 
75.29 	regulations enforced by the Board of Animal Health, the Division of Weights and Measures 
75.30 	of the Department of Commerce, or the federal Packers and Stockyards Administration, 
75.31 	and that the continued activity of a licensee may cause irreparable injury or loss to persons 
75.32 	engaged in business with the licensee, the commissioner may, without hearing, suspend the 
75.33 	license of the licensee, provided that when a license is so suspended, the commissioner shall 
76.1 	immediately initiate procedures to afford the licensee a hearing pursuant to subdivision 7 
76.2 	except that the ten days' notice required in subdivision 7 may be waived by the licensee.

76.3 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.06, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
76.4 		Subd. 2.Hearing on claims. In case of default by the licensee, the commissioner shall 
76.5 	have the power to have the matter heard as a contested case pursuant to procedures outlined 
76.6 	in chapter 14. No hearing shall be required if all affected parties to a bond claim proceeding 
76.7 	waive their right to a hearing and agree to accept the commissioner's determination as to 
76.8 	the validity of the claim and the allocation of the proceeds of the bond. The commissioner 
76.9 	must first determine whether a claim is valid. If the commissioner determines that a claim 
76.10 	is valid, the commissioner must notify the licensee of the determination and that the licensee 
76.11 	has 15 days to either pay the claim or appeal the determination. If the licensee does not 
76.12 	respond within 15 days, the determination must be considered a final order by the 
76.13 	commissioner. If the commissioner determines that a claim is not valid, the commissioner 
76.14 	must notify the claimant of the determination and that the claimant has 15 days to appeal 
76.15 	the determination. If the claimant does not respond within 15 days, the determination must 
76.16 	be considered a final order by the commissioner.

76.17 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.06, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
76.18 		Subd. 3.Public notice. Prior to a hearing After the commissioner determines that a 
76.19 	claim is valid, the commissioner shall publish a notice setting forth the default of the licensee 
76.20 	and requiring all claimants to file proof of claim with the commissioner within 45 days of 
76.21 	the date such notice is published or be barred from participating in the proceeds of the bond. 
76.22 	Such publication shall be made in a newspaper published in the county in which the licensee's 
76.23 	principal place of business is located. The commissioner shall also fulfill any notice 
76.24 	requirements prescribed by chapter 14 and rules of the Office of Administrative Hearings. 
76.25 	No claim shall be allowed unless it is filed with the commissioner within one year of the 
76.26 	date of the transaction. If a livestock market agency, meat packing company, or livestock 
76.27 	dealer has on file a Packers and Stockyards Act bond and is registered with the Packers and 
76.28 	Stockyards Administration, the terms of the bond or that federal agency's regulations will 
76.29 	control.

77.1 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.07, is amended to read:
77.2 	17A.07 PROHIBITED CONDUCT.
77.3 	It shall be unlawful for any person to: (1) carry on the business of a livestock market 
77.4 	agency, livestock dealer, livestock dealer agent, meat packing company, meat packing 
77.5 	company agent, or public stockyard without a valid and effective license issued by the 
77.6 	commissioner under the provisions of section 17A.04; (2) carry on the business of a livestock 
77.7 	market agency, meat packing company, or livestock dealer without filing and maintaining 
77.8 	a valid and effective surety bond in conformity with sections 17A.04 and 17A.05; (3) carry 
77.9 	on the business of a livestock market agency, meat packing company, or livestock dealer 
77.10 	if the person cannot pay debts as they become due or ceases to pay debts in the ordinary 
77.11 	course of business as they become due; (4) use or allow to be used any livestock scale or 
77.12 	monorail scale which has not been certified and approved for official use or has been found 
77.13 	to be inaccurate; (5) fail to maintain and operate livestock or monorail scales in a manner 
77.14 	to ensure accurate and correct weights; (6) weigh livestock or carcasses at other than true 
77.15 	and correct weights or issue accounts and records on the basis of inaccurate or incorrect 
77.16 	weights; (7) engage in or use any unfair or deceptive practice or device in connection with 
77.17 	marketing of livestock; (8) willfully make or cause to be made any false entry or statement 
77.18 	of fact in any application, financial statement or report filed with the department under this 
77.19 	chapter.

77.20 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.08, is amended to read:
77.21 	17A.08 RECORD KEEPING.
77.22 	Every person shall make and retain such accounts, records, and memoranda necessary 
77.23 	to fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in the person's business, including 
77.24 	the true ownership of such business by stockholding or otherwise. Whenever the 
77.25 	commissioner finds that the accounts, records, and memoranda of any such person do not 
77.26 	fully and correctly disclose all transactions involved in the person's business, the 
77.27 	commissioner may prescribe take enforcement actions in addition to prescribing the manner 
77.28 	or form and length of time for retention which such accounts, records, and memoranda shall 
77.29 	be kept. The commissioner shall at all reasonable times have access to, for the purpose of 
77.30 	examination, and the right to copy any documentary evidence of any person being 
77.31 	investigated or proceeded against.

78.1 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 17A.15, is amended to read:
78.2 	17A.15 POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER.
78.3 	The commissioner shall enforce the provisions of Laws 1974, chapter 347 this chapter
78.4 	and shall promulgate, in the manner provided by law, such rules as the commissioner deems 
78.5 	necessary or desirable, and may cooperate with any department of state or government, to 
78.6 	carry out the provisions of sections 17A.01 to 17A.15. The commissioner or a duly authorized 
78.7 	agent shall have the power to issue subpoenas, administer oaths and affirmations, examine 
78.8 	witnesses, receive evidence, and shall have the power to require by subpoena the attendance 
78.9 	and testimony of witnesses and the production of all such documentary evidence relating 
78.10 	to any matter under investigation or administrative proceeding.

78.11 	Sec. 16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 78.12 	This article is effective August 1, 2025.

78.13 	ARTICLE 5
78.14 	FOOD HANDLER LICENSING PROVISIONS

78.15 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.03, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
78.16 		Subd. 7.Principal mode of business. "Principal mode of business" means that type of 
78.17 	business described under paragraph (a), or (b), (c) or (d) in section 28A.05 within which 
78.18 	category the greatest amount of the applicant's food business lies.

78.19 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
78.20 	read:
78.21 		Subd. 12.Risk category. "Risk category" means a classification of the level of food 
78.22 	safety risk associated with food handling, processing, preparation, and storage based upon 
78.23 	an assessment by regulatory food safety professionals of the potential likelihood and severity 
78.24 	of harm.

78.25 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
78.26 	read:
78.27 		Subd. 13.Gross sales or service. "Gross sales or service" means a calculation in dollars 
78.28 	of the total value of food sales or service at the location before taxes or deductions that 
78.29 	includes the value of food items held for distribution to other places of business or donated.

79.1 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.04, is amended to read:
79.2 	28A.04 LICENSE REQUIRED; CUSTOM PROCESSING PERMIT 
79.3 	APPLICATIONS; RENEWALS.
79.4 		Subdivision 1.Application; date of issuance. (a) Except as provided under section 
79.5 	28A.152, no person shall engage in the business of manufacturing, processing, selling, 
79.6 	handling, or storing food without having first obtained from the commissioner a license for 
79.7 	doing such business. Applications for such license shall be made to the commissioner in 
79.8 	such manner and time as required and upon such forms as provided by the commissioner 
79.9 	and shall contain the name and address of the applicant, address or description of each place 
79.10 	of business, and the nature of the business to be conducted at each place, and such other 
79.11 	pertinent information as the commissioner may require.
79.12 	(b) An applicant for a license must submit a nonrefundable application fee of $50 with 
79.13 	each license application. The fee under this paragraph does not apply to annual license 
79.14 	renewals. The fee under this paragraph is not required for applications to operate solely as 
79.15 	a special event food stand or custom exempt food handler.
79.16 	(b) (c) A retail or wholesale food handler license shall be issued for the period July
79.17 	January 1 to June 30 following December 31 and shall be renewed thereafter by the licensee 
79.18 	on or before July January 1 of each year, except that:
79.19 	(1) retail and wholesale food handler licenses issued for the period of July 1, 2025, to 
79.20 	June 30, 2026, must be renewed on or before July 1, 2026, for the period of July 1, 2026, 
79.21 	to December 31, 2026. The renewal fee for the period of July 1, 2026, to December 31, 
79.22 	2026, is one-half of the fee for a food handler specified in section 28A.08, subdivision 3;
79.23 	(1) (2) licenses for all mobile food concession units and retail mobile units must be 
79.24 	issued for the period April 1 to March 31, and must be renewed thereafter by the licensee 
79.25 	on or before April 1 of each year; and.
79.26 	(2) A license issued for a temporary food concession stand must have a license issuance 
79.27 	and renewal date consistent with appropriate statutory provisions.; and
79.28 	(3) a license for a food handler operating only at the State Fair must be issued for the 
79.29 	period of July 1 to June 30 and must be renewed thereafter by the licensee on or before July 
79.30 	1 of each year.
79.31 	(d) A penalty for late renewal under paragraph (b) must be assessed in accordance with 
79.32 	section 28A.08.
80.1 	(c) (e) A custom exempt food handler license shall be issued for the period July 1 to 
80.2 	June 30 following and shall must be renewed thereafter by the licensee on or before July 1 
80.3 	each year. The custom exempt food handler license is for businesses that only conduct 
80.4 	custom exempt operations and mark all products as "Not For Sale." Food handlers that 
80.5 	conduct retail exempt operations or other operations other than custom exempt processing 
80.6 	or slaughter are not eligible for this license.
80.7 	(d) A license for a food broker or for a food processor or manufacturer shall be issued 
80.8 	for the period January 1 to December 31 following and shall be renewed thereafter by the 
80.9 	licensee on or before January 1 of each year, except that a license for a wholesale food 
80.10 	processor or manufacturer operating only at the state fair shall be issued for the period July 
80.11 	1 to June 30 following and shall be renewed thereafter by the licensee on or before July 1 
80.12 	of each year. A penalty for a late renewal shall be assessed in accordance with section 
80.13 	28A.08.
80.14 	(e)(f) On a quarterly basis during the licensing period, the commissioner must prorate 
80.15 	the fee for an initial license issued under this chapter, except that a person applying for a 
80.16 	new license up to 14 calendar days before the effective date of the new license period under 
80.17 	paragraph (b) must be issued a license for the 14 days and the next license year as a single 
80.18 	license and pay a single license fee as if the 14 days were part of the upcoming license 
80.19 	period.
80.20 		Subd. 2.Custom processing or Minnesota Meat and Poultry Inspection Act permit. In 
80.21 	addition to the license requirements set forth in subdivision 1, every custom exempt processor
80.22 	or establishment operating under the Minnesota Meat and Poultry Inspection Act as defined 
80.23 	in section 31A.31, shall obtain a custom processing permit or Minnesota Meat and Poultry 
80.24 	Grant of Inspection permit. Application for a permit shall be made on forms provided by 
80.25 	the commissioner. The commissioner shall cause the custom processor's place of business 
80.26 	to be inspected and if the commissioner finds that the applicant's place of business complies 
80.27 	with state standards relating to meat processing plants, a custom processing permit under 
80.28 	this subdivision shall be issued to the applicant. No An additional fee shall of up to $500 
80.29 	may be charged for a custom processing permit under this subdivision.

80.30 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.05, is amended to read:
80.31 	28A.05 CLASSIFICATION FOOD HANDLER CLASSES.
80.32 	All persons required to have a license under section 28A.04 shall be classified into one 
80.33 	of the following classes of food handlers, according to their principal mode of business.
81.1 	(a) Retail Food handlers are persons who:
81.2 	(1) sell or process and sell food directly to the ultimate consumer or who custom process 
81.3 	meat or poultry. The term includes a person who sells food directly to the ultimate consumer 
81.4 	through the use of vending machines, and a person who sells food for consumption on site 
81.5 	or off site if the sale is conducted on the premises that are part of a grocery or convenience 
81.6 	store operation.;
81.7 	(b) Wholesale food handlers are persons who (2) sell to others other business entities or 
81.8 	establishments for resale., including a person who handles food in job lots (jobbers) is 
81.9 	included in this classification.; or
81.10 	(c) Wholesale food processors or manufacturers are persons who (3) process or 
81.11 	manufacture raw materials and other food ingredients into food items, or who reprocess 
81.12 	food items, or who package food for sale to others other business entities or establishments
81.13 	for resale, or who commercially slaughter animals or poultry. Included herein are persons 
81.14 	who can, extract, ferment, distill, pickle, bake, freeze, dry, smoke, grind, mix, stuff, pack, 
81.15 	bottle, recondition, or otherwise treat or preserve food for sale to others other business 
81.16 	entities or establishments for resale, cold storage warehouse operators as defined in section 
81.17 	28.01, subdivision 3, salvage food processors as defined in section 31.495, subdivision 1, 
81.18 	and dairy plants as defined in section 32D.01, subdivision 6.
81.19 	(d) (b) Custom exempt food handlers are persons who only conduct custom exempt 
81.20 	processing as defined in section 31A.02, subdivision 5. A retail or wholesale transaction 
81.21 	may not take place in a facility operated by a person with a custom exempt food handler 
81.22 	license.
81.23 	(e) A food broker is a person who buys and sells food and who negotiates between a 
81.24 	buyer and a seller of food, but who at no time has custody of the food being bought and 
81.25 	sold.

81.26 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.06, is amended to read:
81.27 	28A.06 EXTENT OF LICENSE.
81.28 	No person, except as described in section 27.03, shall be required to hold more than one 
81.29 	license in order to engage in any aspect of food handling described in section 28A.05
81.30 	provided, except that:
81.31 	(1) each issued license shall be valid for no more than one place of business, except that;
82.1 	(2) a license for a mobile unit or a retail food vehicle, portable structure, or cart is valid 
82.2 	statewide and is required to be issued only once each year unless the licensee fails to display 
82.3 	the license as required by section 28A.07 or it is a seasonal permanent food stand, seasonal 
82.4 	temporary food stand, food cart, or special event food stand as defined in section 157.15, 
82.5 	in which case the duration of the license is restricted by the limitations found in the definitions 
82.6 	in section 157.15.; and
82.7 	(3) the commissioner may authorize a food handler reporting $50,000 or less gross 
82.8 	annual food sales to conduct business activities under the food handler's license at up to 
82.9 	two additional locations if:
82.10 	(i) the food handler has reported each location and activity to the commissioner; and
82.11 	(ii) the commissioner has approved each location and activity before the food handler 
82.12 	conducts business activities at each location.

82.13 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.07, is amended to read:
82.14 	28A.07 ISSUANCE OF LICENSE.
82.15 	Prior to the issuance or renewal of any license herein, the commissioner may cause 
82.16 	appropriate inspections to be made to determine under applicable statutory and promulgated 
82.17 	rule requirements, the applicant's risk category and fitness to engage in the mode(s) of
82.18 	business activities described in that person's license application. A valid and properly 
82.19 	displayed license shall be sufficient to allow the licensee to engage in the manner of food 
82.20 	handling so described in the licensee's application, provided that the commissioner may 
82.21 	withhold authorization to engage in any aspects of business for which the applicant is not 
82.22 	deemed fit under this section. A licensee may, at any time, apply to change such application 
82.23 	which shall then be considered by the commissioner in the same manner as a new or renewal 
82.24 	application hereunder.

82.25 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.0753, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
82.26 		Subd. 3.Food manufacturer, processor, or distributor handlers who manufacture, 
82.27 	process, or distribute; licensing, preemption by state. When a food manufacturer, 
82.28 	processor, or distributor handler described in section 28A.05, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), 
82.29 	clauses (2) and (3), is licensed by the commissioner of agriculture, the food manufacturer, 
82.30 	processor or distributor handler is exempt from the licensing requirements of any municipal 
82.31 	corporation or subdivision of state government, except for licensing requirements which 
82.32 	may be imposed by the municipal corporation or subdivision of state government in which 
83.1 	the manufacturer, processor, or distributor food handler locates a plant. All delivery 
83.2 	equipment used by such a food manufacturer, processor or distributor handler is included 
83.3 	within the meaning of this section, whether owned or operated, independently contracted, 
83.4 	or contracted with a common carrier approved by the commissioner of agriculture. This 
83.5 	delivery equipment is exempt from licensing by any municipal corporation or subdivision 
83.6 	of state government except for those requirements which may be imposed by the municipal 
83.7 	corporation or subdivision of state government in which the equipment is principally located. 
83.8 	Delivery equipment approved by the commissioner of agriculture shall carry, at all times, 
83.9 	a certificate of approval for the purposes for which the equipment is utilized. Nothing in 
83.10 	this section is intended to permit the enactment of an ordinance regulating an activity where 
83.11 	the state has preempted the field.

83.12 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.08, is amended to read:
83.13 	28A.08 LICENSE FEES; PENALTIES.
83.14 		Subdivision 1.General. (a) License fees, penalties for late renewal of licenses, and 
83.15 	penalties for not obtaining a license before conducting business in food handling that are 
83.16 	set in this section apply to the sections named except as provided under section 28A.09. 
83.17 	Except as specified herein, bonds and assessments based on number of units operated or 
83.18 	volume handled or processed which are provided for in said laws shall not be affected, nor 
83.19 	shall any penalties for late payment of said assessments, nor shall inspection fees, be affected 
83.20 	by this chapter. The penalties may be waived by the commissioner. Fees for all new licenses 
83.21 	must be based on the anticipated future gross annual food sales. If a firm is found to be 
83.22 	operating for multiple years without paying license fees, the state may collect the appropriate 
83.23 	fees and penalties for each year of operation.
83.24 	(b) The commissioner may adjust the fees in subdivision 3 every five years to the inflation 
83.25 	level established in the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics Consumer Price Index, 
83.26 	using July 2025 as the base month and year.
83.27 		Subd. 3.Fees effective July 1, 2003 August 1, 2025.
 
83.28						Penalties
	
83.2983.3083.31
83.32
83.33		Type of food handler
		Risk 
Category
	License 
Fee 
Effective 
July 1, 
2003
	Late 
Renewal
	No
License
	
83.3483.35	1.
	Retail food handler or Custom exempt food 
handler
						
84.1
84.2
84.3
84.4
84.5		(a) Having gross sales of only prepackaged 
nonperishable food of less than $15,000 
for the immediately previous license or 
fiscal year and filing a statement with the 
commissioner
			$ 50
	$ 17
	$ 33
	
84.6
84.7
84.8
84.984.10
		(b) (a) Having under $15,000 gross sales 
or service including food preparation or 
having $15,000 to $50,000 or less gross 
sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$ 77
$135
	$ 25
$45
	$ 51
$90
	
84.11
84.12
84.13		(c) (b) Having $50,001 to $250,000
$125,000 gross sales or service for the 
immediately previous license or fiscal year
			$155
$200
	$ 51
$67
	$102
$133
	
84.14
84.15
84.16
84.17		(d) (c) Having $250,001 $125,001 to 
$1,000,000 $500,000 gross sales or service 
for the immediately previous license or 
fiscal year
			$276
$370
	$ 91
$123
	$182
$247
	
84.18
84.19
84.20
84.21		(e) (d)  Having $1,000,001 $500,001 to 
$5,000,000 $1,000,000 gross sales or 
service for the immediately previous 
license or fiscal year
			$799
$475
	$264
$158
	$527
$317
	
84.22
84.23
84.24
84.25		(f) (e) Having $5,000,001 $1,000,001 to 
$10,000,000 $5,000,000 gross sales or 
service for the immediately previous 
license or fiscal year
			$1,162
$1,350
	$383
$450
	$767
$900
	
84.26
84.27
84.28		(f) Having $5,000,001 to $10,000,000 gross 
sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$1,750
	$583
	$1,167
	
84.29
84.30
84.31		(g) Having $10,000,001 to $15,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$1,376
$2,150
	$454
$717
	$908
$1,433
	
84.32
84.33
84.34		(h) Having $15,000,001 to $20,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$1,607
$2,550
	$530
$849
	$1,061
$1,700
	
84.35
84.36
84.37		(i) Having $20,000,001 to $25,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$1,847
$2,950
	$610
$984
	$1,219
$1,967
	
84.38
84.39
84.40		(j) Having over $25,000,001 gross sales or 
service for the immediately previous 
license or fiscal year
			$2,001
$3,350
	$660
$1,117
	$1,321
$2,233
	
84.41	2.
	Wholesale Food handler
						
84.42
84.43
84.44
84.45
84.46		(a) Having gross sales of only prepackaged 
nonperishable food of less than $30,000 
for the immediately previous license or 
fiscal year and filing a statement with the 
commissioner
			$90
	$30
	$60
	
84.48
84.49
84.5084.47
		(a) (b) Having gross sales or service of less 
than $25,000 $50,000 for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$ 57
$285
$195
$135
	$ 19
$95
$65
$45
	$ 38
$190
$130
$90
	
85.1
85.2
85.3
85.4		(b) (c) Having $25,001 $50,001 to 
$250,000 $125,000 gross sales or service 
for the immediately previous license or 
fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$284
$350
$260
$200
	$ 94
$117
$87
$67
	$187
$233
$173
$133
	
85.5
85.6
85.7
85.8
85.9		(c) (d) Having $250,001 $125,001 to 
$1,000,000 $250,000 gross sales or service 
from a mobile unit without a separate food 
facility for the immediately previous 
license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$444
$415
$350
$265
	$147
$138
$117
$ 88
	$293
$277
$233
$177
	
85.10
85.11
85.12
85.13		(d) (e) Having $250,001 to $1,000,000
$500,000 gross sales or service not covered 
under paragraph (c) for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$590
$520
$430
$370
	$195
$173
$143
$123
	$389
$347
$287
$247
	
85.14
85.15
85.16
85.17		(e) (f) Having $1,000,001 $500,001 to 
$5,000,000 $1,000,000 gross sales or 
service for the immediately previous 
license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$769
$625
$535
$475
	$254
$208
$178
$158
	$508
$417
$357
$317
	
85.18
85.19
85.20
85.21		(f) (g) Having $5,000,001 $1,000,001 to 
$10,000,000 $5,000,000 gross sales or 
service for the immediately previous 
license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$920
$1,500
$1,425
$1,350
	$304
$500
$475
$450
	$607
$1,000
$950
$900
	
85.22
85.23
85.24		(h) Having $5,000,001 to $10,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$1,900
$1,825
$1,750
	$633
$608
$583
	$1,267
$1,217
$1,167
	
85.26
85.27
85.2885.25
		(g) (i) Having $10,000,001 to $15,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$990
$2,300
$2,225
$2,150
	$327
$767
$742
$717
	$653
$1,533
$1,483
$1,433
	
85.30
85.31
85.3285.29
		(h) (j) Having $15,000,001 to $20,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$1,156
$2,700
$2,625
$2,550
	$381
$900
$875
$849
	$763
$1,800
$1,750
$1,700
	
85.34
85.35
85.3685.33
		(i) (k) Having $20,000,001 to $25,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$1,329
$3,100
$3,025
$2,950
	$439
$1,033
$1,008
$984
	$877
$2,067
$2,017
$1,967
	
85.38
85.39
85.4085.37
		(j) (l) Having over $25,000,001 or more to 
$50,000,000 gross sales or service for the 
immediately previous license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$1,502
$3,500
$3,425
$3,350
	$496
$1,167
$1,142
$1,117
	$991
$2,333
$2,283
$2,233
	
85.41
85.42
85.43		(m) Having $50,000,001 to $100,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$4,000
$3,925
$3,850
	$1,334
$1,309
$1,284
	$2,667
$2,617
$2,567
	
85.44
85.45
85.46		(n) Having $100,000,001 or more gross 
sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
		High
Medium
Low
	$4,500
$4,425
$4,350
	$1,500
$1,475
$1,450
	$3,000
$2,950
$2,900
	
85.4785.48
85.49
85.50	3.
	Food broker Food handler operating under 
authority of this chapter solely as a special 
event food stand as defined in Minnesota 
Statutes, section 157.15
			$150
$75
	$ 50
$25
	$ 99
$50
	
85.51	4.
	Wholesale food processor or manufacturer
						
86.1
86.2
86.3		(a) Having gross sales or service of less 
than $125,000 for the immediately previous 
license or fiscal year
			$169
	$ 56
	$112
	
86.4
86.5
86.6		(b) Having $125,001 to $250,000 gross 
sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$392
	$129
	$259
	
86.7
86.8
86.9		(c) Having $250,001 to $1,000,000 gross 
sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$590
	$195
	$389
	
86.10
86.11
86.12		(d) Having $1,000,001 to $5,000,000 gross 
sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$769
	$254
	$508
	
86.13
86.14
86.15		(e) Having $5,000,001 to $10,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$920
	$304
	$607
	
86.16
86.17
86.18		(f) Having $10,000,001 to $15,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$1,377
	$454
	$909
	
86.19
86.20
86.21		(g) Having $15,000,001 to $20,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$1,608
	$531
	$1,061
	
86.22
86.23
86.24		(h) Having $20,000,001 to $25,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$1,849
	$610
	$1,220
	
86.25
86.26
86.27		(i) Having $25,000,001 to $50,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$2,090
	$690
	$1,379
	
86.28
86.29
86.30		(j) Having $50,000,001 to $100,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$2,330
	$769
	$1,538
	
86.31
86.32
86.33		(k) Having $100,000,000 or more gross 
sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$2,571
	$848
	$1,697
	
86.3486.35
86.36
86.37	5.
	Wholesale food processor of Meat or 
poultry products processing solely under 
supervision of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture
						
86.38
86.39
86.40		(a) Having gross sales or service of less 
than $125,000 for the immediately previous 
license or fiscal year
			$112
$190
	$ 37
$63
	$ 74
$127
	
86.41
86.42
86.43		(b) Having $125,001 to $250,000 gross 
sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$214
$365
	$ 71
$122
	$141
$243
	
86.44
86.45
86.46		(c) Having $250,001 to $1,000,000
$500,000 gross sales or service for the 
immediately previous license or fiscal year
			$333
$450
	$110
$150
	$220
$300
	
86.47
86.48
86.49		(d) Having $500,001 to $1,000,000 gross 
sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$565
	$188
	$377
	
87.1
87.2
87.3		(d) (e) Having $1,000,001 to $5,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$425
$725
	$140
$241
	$281
$483
	
87.4
87.5
87.6		(e) (f) Having $5,000,001 to $10,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$521
$885
	$172
$295
	$344
$590
	
87.7
87.8
87.9		(f) (g) Having $10,000,001 to $15,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$765
$1,305
	$252
$435
	$505
$807
	
87.10
87.11
87.12		(g) (h) Having $15,000,001 to $20,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$893
$1,515
	$295
$505
	$589
$1,010
	
87.13
87.14
87.15		(h) (i) Having $20,000,001 to $25,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$1,027
$1,745
	$339
$582
	$678
$1,163
	
87.16
87.17
87.18		(i) (j) Having $25,000,001 to $50,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$1,161
$1,975
	$383
$658
	$766
$1,317
	
87.19
87.20
87.21		(j) (k) Having $50,000,001 to $100,000,000 
gross sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$1,295
$2,215
	$427
$738
	$855
$1,477
	
87.22
87.23
87.24		(k) (l) Having $100,000,001 or more gross 
sales or service for the immediately 
previous license or fiscal year
			$1,428
$2,465
	$471
$822
	$942
$1,643
	
87.2587.26	6.
	Wholesale food processor or manufacturer 
operating only at the State Fair
			$125
	$ 40
	$ 50
	
87.2787.28
87.29	7.
	Wholesale food manufacturer having the 
permission of the commissioner to use the 
name Minnesota Farmstead cheese
			$ 30
	$ 10
	$ 15
	
87.3087.31
87.32	8.
	Wholesale food manufacturer processing 
less than 700,000 pounds per year of raw 
milk
			$ 30
	$ 10
	$ 15
	
87.3387.34
87.35
87.36
87.37	9.
	A milk marketing organization without 
facilities for processing or manufacturing 
that purchases milk from milk producers 
for delivery to a licensed wholesale food 
processor or manufacturer
			$ 50
	$ 15
	$ 25
	
87.38 		Subd. 4.Food handler license account; appropriation. A food handler license account 
87.39 	is established in the agricultural fund. Fees paid under subdivision 3 and section 28A.04
87.40 	must be deposited in this account. Money in the account, including interest, is appropriated 
87.41 	to the commissioner for expenses relating to licensing and inspecting regulating food handlers 
87.42 	under chapters 28 to 34A or rules adopted under one of those chapters.

87.43 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.081, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
87.44 		Subdivision 1.Fee. A fee of $125 for each certificate shall be charged to any person 
87.45 	who requests a certificate issued by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to facilitate 
88.1 	the movement of Minnesota processed and manufactured foods destined for export from 
88.2 	the state of Minnesota. Certificates include, but are not limited to, a certificate of free sale, 
88.3 	certificate of export, certificate of sanitation, sanitary certificate, certificate of origin and/or 
88.4 	free sale, certificate of health and/or free sale, sanitation, and purity, certificate of free trade, 
88.5 	certificate of free sale, sanitation, purity, and origin, certificate of health, sanitation, purity, 
88.6 	and free sale, and letter of plant certification.
88.7 	The commissioner shallmust receive payment with the request or bill the requesting 
88.8 	person within seven days after issuing a certificate to the person. The requesting person 
88.9 	must submit payment for a certificate at the time of receiving the request or within ten days 
88.10 	of the billing date. If a certificate fee payment is not received within 15 days of the billing 
88.11 	date, the commissioner may not issue any future certificates to the requesting person until 
88.12 	previous fees due are paid in full. Fees paid under this section must be deposited in the food 
88.13 	certificate account established under subdivision 2 or another account in the agricultural 
88.14 	fund if the expenses for the certificate will be paid from that other account.

88.15 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.085, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
88.16 		Subdivision 1.Violations; prohibited acts. The commissioner may charge a reinspection 
88.17 	fee for each reinspection of a food handler or custom exempt food handler that:
88.18 	(1) is found with a major violation of requirements in chapter 28, 29, 30, 31, 31A, 32D, 
88.19 	33, or 34, or rules adopted under one of those chapters; or
88.20 	(2) fails to correct equipment and facility deficiencies as required in rules adopted under 
88.21 	chapter 28, 29, 30, 31, 31A, 32D, or 34.
88.22 	The first reinspection of a firm with gross food sales under $1,000,000 must be assessed 
88.23 	at $150 $250. The fee for a firm with gross food sales over $1,000,000 is $200 $300. The 
88.24 	fee for a subsequent reinspection of a firm for the same violation is 50 percent of their 
88.25 	current license fee or $300 $500, whichever is greater. The establishment must be issued 
88.26 	written notice of violations with a reasonable date for compliance listed on the notice. An 
88.27 	initial inspection relating to a complaint is not a reinspection.

88.28 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.14, is amended to read:
88.29 	28A.14 TRANSFER OF BUSINESS.
88.30 	(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a transfer of a business or a discontinuance of 
88.31 	its operation by the licensee at the address covered by the license voids the license and the 
89.1 	license certificate shall be surrendered to the commissioner immediately by anyone in 
89.2 	possession of the same.
89.3 	(b) If a licensee discontinues operating at an additional location authorized under section 
89.4 	28A.06, the license is not void if the licensee has provided written notification to the 
89.5 	commissioner.

89.6 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.151, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
89.7 		Subd. 2.Food sampling and demonstration. (a) Food used in sampling and 
89.8 	demonstration must be obtained from sources that comply with Minnesota Food Law.
89.9 	(b) Raw animal, raw poultry, and raw fish products must not be served as samples.
89.10 	(c) Food product sampling or food product demonstrations, including that contain cooked 
89.11 	animal, poultry, or fish products, must be prepared on site at the event.
89.12 	(d) Animal or poultry products used for food product sampling or food product 
89.13 	demonstrations must be originate from animals slaughtered under continuous inspection, 
89.14 	either by the USDA or through Minnesota's "Equal-to" inspection program.
89.15 	(e) The licensing provisions of sections 28A.01 to 28A.16 shall not apply to persons 
89.16 	engaged in food product sampling or food product demonstrations.

89.17 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.152, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
89.18 		Subdivision 1.Licensing provisions applicability. (a) Except as provided in paragraph 
89.19 	(d), the licensing provisions of sections 28A.01 to 28A.16 do not apply to the following:
89.20 	(1) an individual a person who prepares and sells food that is not potentially hazardous 
89.21 	food, as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 4626.0020, subpart 62, if the following 
89.22 	requirements are met:
89.23 	(i) the prepared food offered for sale under this clause is labeled to accurately reflect 
89.24 	the name and the registration number or address of the individual person preparing and 
89.25 	selling the food, the date on which the food was prepared, the ingredients and any possible 
89.26 	allergens, and the statement "These products are homemade and not subject to state 
89.27 	inspection."; and
89.28 	(ii) the individual person displays at the point of sale a clearly legible sign or placard 
89.29 	stating: "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."; and
89.30 	(2) an individual a person who prepares and sells home-processed and home-canned 
89.31 	food products if the following requirements are met:
90.1 	(i) the products are pickles, vegetables, or fruits having an equilibrium pH value of 4.6 
90.2 	or lower or a water activity value of .85 or less;
90.3 	(ii) the products are home-processed and home-canned in Minnesota;
90.4 	(iii) the individual person displays at the point of sale a clearly legible sign or placard 
90.5 	stating: "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection."; and
90.6 	(iv) each container of the product sold or offered for sale under this clause is accurately 
90.7 	labeled to provide the name and the registration number or address of the individual person
90.8 	who processed and canned the goods, the date on which the goods were processed and 
90.9 	canned, ingredients and any possible allergens, and the statement "These products are 
90.10 	homemade and not subject to state inspection."
90.11 	(b) An individual A person who qualifies for an exemption under paragraph (a), clause 
90.12 	(2), is also exempt from the provisions of sections 31.31 and 31.392.
90.13 	(c) An individual who qualifies To qualify for an exemption under paragraph (a) may 
90.14 	organize the individual's cottage food business as a business entity recognized by state law, 
90.15 	a person must be an individual, a sole proprietorship, a single-member limited liability 
90.16 	company owned by one individual, or a limited liability company owned by two individuals 
90.17 	residing at the same residence.
90.18 	(d) A person cannot qualify for an exemption under paragraph (a) if the person holds a 
90.19 	food handler license required under section 28A.04.

90.20 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2027.

90.21 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.152, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
90.22 		Subd. 2.Direct sales to consumers. (a) An individual A person qualifying for an 
90.23 	exemption under subdivision 1 may sell the exempt food:
90.24 	(1) directly to the ultimate consumer at a community event or farmers' market;
90.25 	(2) directly from the individual's person's home to the ultimate consumer, to the extent 
90.26 	allowed by local ordinance; or
90.27 	(3) through donation to a community event with the purpose of fundraising for an 
90.28 	individual, or fundraising for an educational, charitable, or religious organization.
90.29 	(b) If An exempt food product will may be delivered to the ultimate consumer upon sale 
90.30 	of the food product, by the individual person who prepared the food product must be the 
91.1 	person who delivers the food product to the ultimate consumer, by mail, or by commercial 
91.2 	delivery.
91.3 	(c) Food products exempt under subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (2), may not be 
91.4 	sold outside of Minnesota.
91.5 	(d) Food products exempt under subdivision 1 may be sold over the Internet but must 
91.6 	be delivered directly to the ultimate consumer by the individual who prepared the food 
91.7 	product. The statement "These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection." 
91.8 	must be displayed on the website that offers the exempt foods for purchase.

91.9 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2027.

91.10 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.152, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
91.11 		Subd. 3.Limitation on sales. An individual A person selling exempt foods under this 
91.12 	section is limited to total sales with gross receipts of $78,000 or less in a calendar year.

91.13 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2027.

91.14 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.152, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
91.15 		Subd. 4.Registration. An individual A person who prepares and sells exempt food 
91.16 	under subdivision 1 must register annually with the commissioner. The commissioner shall 
91.17 	register an individual a person within 30 days of submitting a complete registration to the 
91.18 	commissioner. A registration shall be deemed accepted after 30 days following an individual's
91.19 	a person's complete registration to the commissioner. The annual registration fee is $50
91.20 	$30. An individual with $5,000 or less in annual gross receipts from the sale of exempt food 
91.21 	under this section is not required to pay the registration fee. By January 1, 2022, the 
91.22 	commissioner shall adjust the gross receipts amount of this fee exemption based on the 
91.23 	consumer price index using 2002 as the index year for the $5,000 gross receipts exemption.

91.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2027.

91.25 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.152, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
91.26 		Subd. 5.Training. (a) An individual A person who sells exempt food under this section 
91.27 	and is required to pay the registration fee in subdivision 4 must complete a safe food handling 
91.28 	training course that is approved by the commissioner before registering under subdivision 
91.29 	4. The training shall not exceed eight hours and must be completed every three years while 
91.30 	the individual person is registered under subdivision 4.
92.1 	(b) An individual who sells exempt food under this section and is exempt from paying 
92.2 	the registration fee in subdivision 4 must satisfactorily complete an online course and exam 
92.3 	as approved by the commissioner before registering under subdivision 4. The commissioner 
92.4 	shall offer the online course and exam under this paragraph at no cost to the individual.

92.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2027.

92.6 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.152, is amended by adding a subdivision 
92.7 	to read:
92.8 		Subd. 8.Adjustments. The commissioner must adjust the limitation on sales in 
92.9 	subdivision 3 every two years to the inflation level established in the United States Bureau 
92.10 	of Labor and Statistics Consumer Price Index, using July 2025 as the base month and year.

92.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2027.

92.12 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 28A.17, is amended to read:
92.13 	28A.17 LICENSE RENEWAL.
92.14 	Licenses for food processors or manufacturers or food brokers handlers  shall be renewed 
92.15 	annually on January 1. Licenses for retail and wholesale food handlers shall be renewed 
92.16 	annually on July 1. Licenses for mobile food concessions and for retail mobile units shall 
92.17 	be renewed annually on April 1 prior to the end of the licensing period. Approval of license 
92.18 	renewal is contingent upon conditions described in section 28A.07 and payment of license 
92.19 	fees identified in section 28A.08.

92.20 	Sec. 21. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 92.21 	Except as otherwise provided, this article is effective August 1, 2025.

	ARTICLE 1	APPROPRIATIONS........	Page.Ln 1.27	
	ARTICLE 2	BROADBAND........	Page.Ln 40.11	
	ARTICLE 3	POLICY PROVISIONS........	Page.Ln 41.1	
	ARTICLE 4	LIVESTOCK MARKET AGENCY AND DEALER LICENSING PROVISIONS........	Page.Ln 73.1	
	ARTICLE 5	FOOD HANDLER LICENSING PROVISIONS........	Page.Ln 78.13	

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: H2446-3 

35.68 RABIES PROCLAMATION.
If a community health board as defined in section 145A.02, subdivision 5, investigates and finds that rabies does exist in a town or city the community health board shall make and file a proclamation of the investigation and determination which prohibits the owner or custodian of any dog from allowing the dog to be at large within the town or city unless the dog is effectively muzzled so that it cannot bite any other animal or person. 

If the executive director of the Board of Animal Health, after investigation, has determined that rabies exists in any territory in the state, similar proclamations must be issued in all towns and cities within the territory or area in which it is necessary to control the outbreak and prevent the spread of the disease. The proclamation must prohibit the owner or custodian of any dog within the designated territory from permitting or allowing the dog to be at large within the territory unless the dog is effectively muzzled so that it cannot bite any other animal or person. 

All local peace officers and community health boards shall enforce sections 35.67 to 35.69. 

A proclamation issued by the community health board must be filed with the clerk of the political subdivision responsible for the community health board. One issued by the executive director of the Board of Animal Health must be filed with the clerk of each town and city within the territory it covers. 

Each officer with whom the proclamation is filed shall publish a copy of it in one issue of a legal newspaper published in the clerk's town or city if one is published there. If no newspaper is published there, the clerk must post a copy of the proclamation in three public places. Publication is at the expense of the municipality. 

Proof of publication must be by affidavit of the publisher and proof of posting must be by the person doing the posting. The affidavit must be filed with the proclamation. The proclamation is effective five days after the publication or posting and remains effective for the period of time not exceeding six months specified in it by the community health board making the proclamation. 

35.830 SALE OF BRANDED LIVESTOCK; WRITTEN BILL OF SALE.
Persons selling animals marked or branded with their mark or brand recorded in a current state brand book or its supplement or registered with the board shall execute to the purchaser a written bill of sale bearing the signature and residence of the seller, the name and address of the purchaser, the total number of animals sold, a description of each animal sold as to sex and kind, and all registered brands. The bill of sale must be kept by the purchaser for two years and for as long afterwards as the purchaser owns any of the animals described in the bill of sale. A copy of the bill of sale must be given to each hauler of the animals, other than railroads, and must accompany the shipment of animals while in transit. The bill of sale or a copy must be shown by the possessor on demand to any peace officer or compliance representative of the board. The bill of sale is prima facie evidence of the sale of the animals described by the bill of sale. 

239.77 BIODIESEL CONTENT MANDATE.Subd. 5.Annual report. 
(a) Beginning in 2009, the commissioner of agriculture must report by January 15 of each year to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over agriculture policy and finance regarding the implementation of the minimum content requirements in subdivision 2, including information about the price and supply of biodiesel fuel. The report shall include information about the impacts of the biodiesel mandate on the development of biodiesel production capacity in the state, and on the use of feedstock grown or raised in the state for biodiesel production. The report must include any written comments received from members of the biodiesel fuel task force by January 1 of that year designated by them for inclusion in the report. 

(b) The commissioner of agriculture, in consultation with the commissioner of commerce and the Biodiesel Fuel Task Force, shall study the need to continue the exceptions in subdivision 3. The 2013 report under paragraph (a) shall include recommendations for studies and other research needs to make a determination on the need for the exceptions, including any recommendations for use of the agricultural growth, research, and innovation program funding to conduct the research. The 2014 report under paragraph (a) shall contain the commissioner of agriculture's recommendations on whether to continue any of the exceptions in subdivision 3.