SF 1751

1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/25/2025 09:53 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; implementing recommendations of Aggregate
Resources Task Force; requiring a report; appropriating money; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 473.859, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 473.859, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Land use plan.

(a) A land use plan must include the water management plan
required by section 103B.235, and shall designate the existing and proposed location,
intensity and extent of use of land and water, including lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams,
natural drainage courses, and adjoining land areas that affect water natural resources, for
agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial and other public and private purposes, or
any combination of such purposes.

(b) A land use plan must contain a protection element, as appropriate, for historic sites,
the matters listed in the water management plan required by section 103B.235, and an
element for protection and development of access to direct sunlight for solar energy systems.

(c) A land use plan must also include a housing element containing standards, plans and
programs for providing adequate housing opportunities to meet existing and projected local
and regional housing needs, including but not limited to the use of official controls and land
use planning to promote the availability of land for the development of low and moderate
income housing.

(d) A land use plan must also include new text begin an assessment of the impact of all land use
designations and easements on access to aggregate resources and new text end the local government's
goals, intentions, and priorities concerning aggregate and other natural resources,
transportation infrastructure, land use compatibility, habitat, agricultural preservation, and
other planning priorities, considering information regarding supply from the Minnesota
Geological Survey Information Circular No. 46.

(e) A land use plan must also include an inventory and projections pertaining to
greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled that are generated from activity that
occurs within the local government's jurisdiction. The inventory and projections must include
the emission sources from transportation, land use, energy use, solid waste, and, where
available and applicable, livestock and agriculture. The inventory and projections must
include the estimated impact of strategies, including efficient land use and compact growth,
that reduce or naturally sequester greenhouse gas emissions across sectors.

Sec. 2. new text begin AUDIT OF AGGREGATE TAX AND THE USE OF THE REVENUES
COLLECTED BY COUNTIES.
new text end

new text begin The Office of the Legislative Auditor is directed to conduct a program audit of the
aggregate production tax established by Minnesota Statutes, section 298.75, to include the
following by individual participating county and covering all fiscal years since the county
established the tax:
new text end

new text begin (1) a report on total revenues collected by fiscal year;
new text end

new text begin (2) a report on how revenues are distributed between maintenance, construction, and
reconstruction of roads, highways, and bridges;
new text end

new text begin (3) a report as to the funding priority given to roads, highways, and bridges that service
or are impacted by aggregate operations;
new text end

new text begin (4) a report as to whether the county distributes aggregate tax revenues on a project or
formula basis;
new text end

new text begin (5) a report as to distribution and expenditure of funds for aggregate mine reclamation
activities; and
new text end

new text begin (6) a report on how tax revenue deposited in the special reserve fund established in
Minnesota Statutes, section 298.75, subdivision 7, paragraph (c), clause (3), has been
expended since each county began collecting the tax.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERMITTING
CHANGES TO PROTECT AGGREGATE RESOURCES.
new text end

new text begin By February 1, 2027, the commissioner of natural resources, in consultation with the
Minnesota Asphalt Paving Association, the Aggregate and Ready Mix Association of
Minnesota, the Association of Minnesota Counties, and other interested stakeholders, must
make recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative
committees with primary jurisdiction over environment and local government for statutory
changes that would facilitate local government permitting processes that adequately protect
the state's aggregate resources and foster environmentally responsible reclamation of former
aggregate mining sites.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATION; AGGREGATE MAPPING.
new text end

new text begin (a) $950,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $950,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from
the general fund to the commissioner of natural resources to:
new text end

new text begin (1) map the aggregate resource potential of additional counties outside the metropolitan
area, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 473.121, and make the information available
in print and electronic format to local units of government for use in planning and zoning;
new text end

new text begin (2) update the department's A Handbook for Reclaiming Sand and Gravel Pits in
Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (3) provide technical assistance as needed to local units of government in making sound
land-use decisions that preserve the availability of aggregate resources; and
new text end

new text begin (4) develop the recommendations required by section 3.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of natural resources, in consultation with the Minnesota Geological
Survey and the commissioners of transportation and employment and economic development,
must examine whether a regional approach to aggregate mapping could yield financial or
time efficiencies. If the commissioner determines that a regional approach would yield
efficiencies, the commissioner must complete aggregate mapping for counties that have
already requested aggregate mapping and then must implement a regional approach to
mapping the remaining counties, notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 84.94.
new text end

new text begin (c) The base amount for this appropriation in fiscal year 2035 and thereafter is $0.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin APPROPRIATION; AGGREGATE RESOURCE INVENTORY.
new text end

new text begin $250,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of natural resources for the aggregate resource mapping program to update Information
Circular 46, Aggregate Resources Inventory of the Seven-County Metropolitan Area,
Minnesota (Minnesota Geological Survey 2000), with particular emphasis on projected
needs and the estimated time until the aggregate resource is exhausted, and to perform duties
under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.94.
new text end