SF 2618

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/25/2025 10:10 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to environment; appropriating money for grants to counties to address
blight conditions and remediate environmental contamination on properties that
have come under county ownership or are being held in trust by the state; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 115B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [115B.55] ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION; TAX-FORFEITED
AND TAX-FORECLOSED PROPERTIES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin State-foreclosed properties cleanup grant program. new text end

new text begin The commissioner
of the Pollution Control Agency must establish a program to award grants to counties to
address blight conditions and remediate environmental contamination on tax-forfeited or
tax-foreclosed properties.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligible expenditure. new text end

new text begin A grant awarded to a county under this section may be
used for:
new text end

new text begin (1) remediating contamination at tax-forfeited or tax-foreclosed properties;
new text end

new text begin (2) related testing and monitoring; or
new text end

new text begin (3) correcting blighted conditions at tax-forfeited or tax-foreclosed properties.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin A county seeking a grant under this section must file an application
with the commissioner on a form prescribed by the commissioner. The application must
contain, at a minimum:
new text end

new text begin (1) a description of the property, including documentation of its public ownership;
new text end

new text begin (2) the results of any testing or monitoring indicating the presence of a hazardous
substance or a pollutant or contaminant on the tax-forfeited or tax-foreclosed property or
the reason for suspecting that a hazardous substance or a pollutant or contaminant is present
on the tax-forfeited or tax-foreclosed property;
new text end

new text begin (3) proof of blight or substandard structures that create conditions of concern for public
safety, health, and the environment;
new text end

new text begin (4) a proposed remediation plan describing any assessment and removal activities
proposed;
new text end

new text begin (5) the estimated cost of the proposed remediation plan;
new text end

new text begin (6) the source and amount of any nongrant money that has been expended on maintenance,
assessment, or emergency issues on the property or that will be contributed to the remediation
plan; and
new text end

new text begin (7) any other information required by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Awarding grants. new text end

new text begin In awarding grants under this section, the commissioner:
new text end

new text begin (1) may modify a county's proposed remediation plan;
new text end

new text begin (2) must consider a county's ability to pay for implementing the remediation plan if it
does not receive the grant;
new text end

new text begin (3) must consider funds already expended on the property for assessment, for
maintenance, or to address emergency health or safety concerns; and
new text end

new text begin (4) must ensure that counties in all regions of the state benefit from the program.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general
fund to the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to award grants under section
115B.55.
new text end