1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; appropriating money from the outdoor heritage fund; 
1.3 	providing for leveraging certain land for federal grant funds;amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2024, section 97A.056, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6	Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS.
 	
1.7 	The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies 
1.8 	and for the purposes specified in this act. The appropriations are from the outdoor heritage 
1.9 	fund for the fiscal year indicated for each purpose. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in 
1.10 	this act mean that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending 
1.11 	June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The 
1.12 	second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The 
1.13 	appropriations in this act are onetime appropriations.

1.14				APPROPRIATIONS
	
1.15				Available for the Year
	
1.16				Ending June 30
	
1.17					2026
		2027

1.18	Sec. 2. OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND

1.19	Subdivision 1.Total Appropriation
 	$
	168,512,000
	$
	775,000
	
1.20 	This appropriation is from the outdoor heritage 
1.21 	fund. The amounts that may be spent for each 
1.22 	purpose are specified in the following 
1.23 	subdivisions.

2.1	Subd. 2.Prairies
 		34,199,000
		-0-

2.2
2.3	(a) Martin County DNR WMA Acquisition, 
Phase 9
					
2.4 	$1,363,000 the first year is to the 
2.5 	commissioner of natural resources for 
2.6 	agreements to acquire land in fee and restore 
2.7 	and enhance strategic prairie grassland, 
2.8 	wetland, and other wildlife habitat in Martin 
2.9 	County for wildlife management area purposes 
2.10 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
2.11 	subdivision 8, as follows: $1,001,000 to Fox 
2.12 	Lake Conservation League, Inc., $327,000 to 
2.13 	Ducks Unlimited, and $35,000 to the 
2.14 	Conservation Fund.

2.15
2.16	(b) Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the 
Southern Red River Valley, Phase 11
					
2.17 	$3,690,000 the first year is to the 
2.18 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
2.19 	agreement with Pheasants Forever, in 
2.20 	cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie 
2.21 	Chicken Society, to acquire land in fee and 
2.22 	restore and enhance lands in the southern Red 
2.23 	River Valley for wildlife management 
2.24 	purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.25 	86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and 
2.26 	managed as waterfowl production areas in 
2.27 	Minnesota, in cooperation with the United 
2.28 	States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to 
2.29 	evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part 
2.30 	6136.0900, priority must be given to 
2.31 	acquisitions of lands that are eligible for the 
2.32 	native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, 
2.33 	section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected 
2.34 	native prairie.

2.35	(c) RIM Grasslands Reserve, Phase 6
					
3.1 	$3,452,000 the first year is to the Board of 
3.2 	Water and Soil Resources to acquire 
3.3 	permanent conservation easements and to 
3.4 	restore and enhance grassland habitat under 
3.5 	Minnesota Statutes, sections 103F.501 to 
3.6 	103F.531. Of this amount, up to $70,000 is to 
3.7 	establish a monitoring and enforcement fund 
3.8 	as approved in the accomplishment plan and 
3.9 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.10 	97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, 
3.11 	paragraph (b), does not apply to this project. 
3.12 	A list of permanent conservation easements 
3.13 	must be provided as part of the final report.

3.14
3.15	(d) RIM Buffers for Wildlife and Water, Phase 
11
					
3.16 	$4,092,000 the first year is to the Board of 
3.17 	Water and Soil Resources to acquire 
3.18 	permanent conservation easements and restore 
3.19 	habitat under Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.20 	103F.515, to protect, restore, and enhance 
3.21 	habitat by expanding the riparian buffer 
3.22 	program under the clean water fund for 
3.23 	additional wildlife benefits from buffers on 
3.24 	private land. Of this amount, up to $60,000 is 
3.25 	to establish a monitoring and enforcement 
3.26 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
3.27 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
3.28 	97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8, 
3.29 	paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.   
3.30 	A list of permanent conservation easements 
3.31 	must be provided as part of the final report.

3.32
3.33	(e) Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area 
Program, Phase 17
					
3.34 	$4,974,000 the first year is to the 
3.35 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
3.36 	agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire 
4.1 	in fee and restore and enhance lands for 
4.2 	wildlife management area purposes under 
4.3 	Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
4.4 	subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria 
4.5 	in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority 
4.6 	must be given to acquisition of lands that are 
4.7 	eligible for the native prairie bank under 
4.8 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands 
4.9 	adjacent to protected native prairie.

4.10
4.11	(f) Minnesota Prairie Recovery Program, Phase 
14
					
4.12 	$2,489,000 the first year is to the 
4.13 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
4.14 	agreement with The Nature Conservancy to 
4.15 	acquire land in fee and restore and enhance 
4.16 	native prairie, grasslands, wetlands, and 
4.17 	savanna. Subject to evaluation criteria in 
4.18 	Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority 
4.19 	must be given to acquiring lands that are 
4.20 	eligible for the native prairie bank under 
4.21 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands 
4.22 	adjacent to protected native prairie. Annual 
4.23 	income statements and balance sheets for 
4.24 	income and expenses from land acquired with 
4.25 	this appropriation must be submitted to the 
4.26 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no 
4.27 	later than 180 days following the close of The 
4.28 	Nature Conservancy's fiscal year. A list of 
4.29 	proposed land acquisitions, restorations, and 
4.30 	enhancements must be provided as part of the 
4.31 	required accomplishment plan and must be 
4.32 	consistent with the priorities identified in 
4.33 	Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.

4.34
4.35	(g) Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife 
Refuge, Phase 15
					
5.1 	$3,742,000 the first year is to the 
5.2 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
5.3 	agreement with The Nature Conservancy, in 
5.4 	cooperation with the United States Fish and 
5.5 	Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee or 
5.6 	permanent conservation easements and to 
5.7 	restore and enhance lands in the Northern 
5.8 	Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in 
5.9 	western Minnesota for addition to the Northern 
5.10 	Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. 
5.11 	Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota 
5.12 	Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given 
5.13 	to acquiring lands that are eligible for the 
5.14 	native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes, 
5.15 	section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected 
5.16 	native prairie.

5.17
5.18
5.19	(h) DNR Wildlife Management Area and 
Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition, Phase 
17
					
5.20 	$1,960,000 the first year is to the 
5.21 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
5.22 	in fee and restore and enhance lands for 
5.23 	wildlife management purposes under 
5.24 	Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
5.25 	subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee for 
5.26 	scientific and natural area purposes under 
5.27 	Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
5.28 	subdivision 5. Subject to evaluation criteria 
5.29 	in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority 
5.30 	must be given to acquisition of lands that are 
5.31 	eligible for the native prairie bank under 
5.32 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands 
5.33 	adjacent to protected native prairie.

5.34
5.35	(i) Enhanced Public Land - Grasslands, Phase 
8
					
6.1 	$3,519,000 the first year is to the 
6.2 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
6.3 	agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance 
6.4 	and restore grassland and wetland habitat on 
6.5 	public lands in the forest prairie transition, 
6.6 	metro urban, and prairie ecoregions of 
6.7 	Minnesota.

6.8
6.9	(j) Accelerating the USFWS Habitat 
Conservation Easement Program, Phase 5
					
6.10 	$4,918,000 the first year is to the 
6.11 	commissioner of natural resources for 
6.12 	agreements to restore and enhance wetland 
6.13 	and prairie habitat on habitat easements of the 
6.14 	United States Fish and Wildlife Service as 
6.15 	follows: $3,170,000 to Ducks Unlimited and 
6.16 	$1,748,000 to Pheasants Forever.

6.17	Subd. 3.Forests
 		20,414,000
		-0-

6.18
6.19	(a) Minnesota Forest Recovery Project, Phase 
3
					
6.20 	$3,543,000 the first year is to the 
6.21 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
6.22 	agreement with The Nature Conservancy in 
6.23 	cooperation with the Department of Natural 
6.24 	Resources and Minnesota Land Trust to 
6.25 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
6.26 	and to restore and enhance degraded forests 
6.27 	in Beltrami, Cass, Cook, Itasca, Lake, 
6.28 	Koochiching, and St. Louis Counties. Of this 
6.29 	amount, up to $84,000 is to the easement 
6.30 	holder to establish a monitoring and 
6.31 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
6.32 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
6.33 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

6.34	(b) Itasca County Memorial Forest Project
					
7.1 	$2,782,000 the first year is to the 
7.2 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
7.3 	agreement with Itasca County to acquire 
7.4 	priority forest habitat lands in fee as county 
7.5 	forests.

7.6
7.7	(c) Hardwood Hills Habitat Conservation 
Program, Phase 2
					
7.8 	$1,844,000 the first year is to the 
7.9 	commissioner of natural resources for 
7.10 	agreements to acquire permanent conservation 
7.11 	easements and to restore and enhance forest 
7.12 	habitats in the hardwood hills ecological 
7.13 	section of west-central Minnesota as follows: 
7.14 	$100,000 to St. John's University and 
7.15 	$1,744,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Of the 
7.16 	amount to Minnesota Land Trust, $196,000 is 
7.17 	to establish a monitoring and enforcement 
7.18 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
7.19 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
7.20 	97A.056, subdivision 17.

7.21
7.22	(d) Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape Protection 
Program ACUB, Phase 13
					
7.23 	$2,233,000 the first year is to the Board of 
7.24 	Water and Soil Resources, in cooperation with 
7.25 	the Morrison County Soil and Water 
7.26 	Conservation District, to acquire permanent 
7.27 	conservation easements and to restore and 
7.28 	enhance forest wildlife habitat within the 
7.29 	boundaries of the Minnesota National Guard 
7.30 	Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape and Army 
7.31 	Compatible Use Buffer. Of this amount, up to 
7.32 	$110,000 is to establish a monitoring and 
7.33 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
7.34 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
7.35 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.  
7.36 	Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply 
8.1 	to this project.  A list of permanent 
8.2 	conservation easements must be provided as 
8.3 	part of the final report.

8.4	(e) Minnesota Forests for the Future, Phase 5
					
8.5 	$5,361,000 the first year is to the 
8.6 	commissioner of natural resources to acquire 
8.7 	lands in conservation easements and to restore 
8.8 	and enhance forests, wetlands, and shoreline 
8.9 	habitat through working forest permanent 
8.10 	conservation easements under the Minnesota 
8.11 	forests for the future program according to 
8.12 	Minnesota Statutes, section 84.66. A 
8.13 	conservation easement acquired with money 
8.14 	appropriated under this paragraph must 
8.15 	comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 
8.16 	97A.056, subdivision 13. The accomplishment 
8.17 	plan must include an easement monitoring and 
8.18 	enforcement plan. Of this amount, up to 
8.19 	$400,000 is to establish a monitoring and 
8.20 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
8.21 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
8.22 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

8.23	(f) DNR Forest Habitat Enhancement, Phase 5
					
8.24 	$2,601,000 the first year is to the 
8.25 	commissioner of natural resources to restore 
8.26 	and enhance forest wildlife habitats on public 
8.27 	lands throughout Minnesota.

8.28
8.29
8.30	(g) Moose Habitat Collaborative - Northeast 
Minnesota Forest Habitat Enhancement, Phase 
5
					
8.31 	$2,050,000 the first year is to the 
8.32 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
8.33 	agreement with the Ruffed Grouse Society to 
8.34 	restore and enhance public forest lands in the 
9.1 	northern forest region for moose habitat 
9.2 	purposes.

9.3	Subd. 4.Wetlands
 		29,695,000
		-0-

9.4
9.5	(a) Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration 
Program, Phase 10
					
9.6 	$2,918,000 the first year is to the 
9.7 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
9.8 	agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to 
9.9 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
9.10 	and to restore and enhance prairie, wetland, 
9.11 	and other habitats on permanently protected 
9.12 	conservation easements in high-priority 
9.13 	wetland habitat complexes in the prairie, 
9.14 	forest/prairie transition, and forest ecoregions. 
9.15 	Of this amount, up to $168,000 is to establish 
9.16 	a monitoring and enforcement fund as 
9.17 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
9.18 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
9.19 	97A.056, subdivision 17.

9.20
9.21	(b) Shallow Lake and Wetland Protection and 
Restoration Program, Phase 14
					
9.22 	$5,803,000 the first year is to the 
9.23 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
9.24 	agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire 
9.25 	land in fee for wildlife management purposes 
9.26 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05, 
9.27 	subdivision 8, or to be designated and 
9.28 	managed as waterfowl production areas or 
9.29 	national wildlife refuges in Minnesota, in 
9.30 	cooperation with the United States Fish and 
9.31 	Wildlife Service, and to restore and enhance 
9.32 	prairie lands, wetlands, and land-buffering 
9.33 	shallow lakes.

9.34
9.35	(c) RIM Wetlands - Restoring the Most 
Productive Habitat in Minnesota, Phase 14
					
10.1 	$4,389,000 the first year is to the Board of 
10.2 	Water and Soil Resources to acquire 
10.3 	permanent conservation easements and to 
10.4 	restore wetlands and native grassland habitat 
10.5 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515. 
10.6 	Of this amount, up to $70,000 is for 
10.7 	establishing a monitoring and enforcement 
10.8 	fund as approved in the accomplishment plan 
10.9 	and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
10.10 	97A.056, subdivision 17.  Subdivision 8, 
10.11 	paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.   
10.12 	A list of permanent conservation easements 
10.13 	must be provided as part of the final report.

10.14
10.15	(d) Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area 
Acquisition Program, Phase 17
					
10.16 	$5,238,000 the first year is to the 
10.17 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
10.18 	agreement with Pheasants Forever, in 
10.19 	cooperation with the United States Fish and 
10.20 	Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee and to 
10.21 	restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands 
10.22 	to be designated and managed as waterfowl 
10.23 	production areas in Minnesota.

10.24
10.25	(e) Nelson Slough - East Park Wildlife 
Management Area, Phase 2
					
10.26 	$1,578,000 the first year is to the 
10.27 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
10.28 	agreement with the Middle-Snake-Tamarac 
10.29 	Rivers Watershed District to restore and 
10.30 	enhance wetland and upland wildlife habitat 
10.31 	in Nelson Slough and the East Park Wildlife 
10.32 	Management Area in Marshall County.

10.33
10.34
10.35	(f) Living Shallow Lakes and Wetlands 
Enhancement and Restoration Initiative, Phase 
11
					
11.1 	$5,729,000 the first year is to the 
11.2 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
11.3 	agreement with Ducks Unlimited to restore 
11.4 	and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands on 
11.5 	public lands and wetlands under permanent 
11.6 	conservation easement for wildlife 
11.7 	management.

11.8	(g) Big Swamp North
					
11.9 	$1,475,000 the first year is to the 
11.10 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
11.11 	agreement with the Roseau River Watershed 
11.12 	District to restore and enhance wetland, 
11.13 	stream, and other related wildlife habitat on 
11.14 	public lands in the Big Swamp area in Roseau 
11.15 	County.

11.16
11.17	(h) DNR Accelerated Shallow Lakes and 
Wetland Enhancement, Phase 17
					
11.18 	$2,565,000 the first year is to the 
11.19 	commissioner of natural resources to enhance 
11.20 	and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat 
11.21 	statewide.

11.22	Subd. 5.Habitats
 		82,150,000
		-0-

11.23
11.24	(a) Cannon River Watershed Habitat 
Restoration and Protection Program, Phase 14
					
11.25 	$2,724,000 the first year is to the 
11.26 	commissioner of natural resources for 
11.27 	agreements to acquire land in fee and to 
11.28 	restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the 
11.29 	Cannon River Watershed as follows: $62,000 
11.30 	to Clean River Partners; $1,228,000 to Great 
11.31 	River Greening; and $1,434,000 to the Trust 
11.32 	for Public Land.

11.33	(b) Spring Road Conservation Project
					
12.1 	$2,027,000 the first year is to the 
12.2 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
12.3 	agreement with the Riley Purgatory Bluff 
12.4 	Creek Watershed District to acquire priority 
12.5 	wildlife habitat lands in fee in Hennepin 
12.6 	County.

12.7
12.8	(c) Anoka Sand Plain Habitat Conservation, 
Phase 10
					
12.9 	$3,599,000 the first year is to the 
12.10 	commissioner of natural resources for 
12.11 	agreements to acquire permanent conservation 
12.12 	easements and to restore and enhance wildlife 
12.13 	habitat on public lands and easements in the 
12.14 	Anoka Sand Plain ecoregion and intersecting 
12.15 	minor watersheds as follows: $599,000 to 
12.16 	Anoka Conservation District; $1,404,000 to 
12.17 	Great River Greening; $300,000 to The Nature 
12.18 	Conservancy; and $1,296,000 to Minnesota 
12.19 	Land Trust. Up to $112,000 to Minnesota 
12.20 	Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and 
12.21 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
12.22 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
12.23 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

12.24
12.25	(d) Integrating Habitat and Clean Water, Phase 
3
					
12.26 	$2,753,000 the first year is to the Board of 
12.27 	Water and Soil Resources to acquire 
12.28 	permanent conservation easements and restore 
12.29 	and enhance wildlife habitat identified in One 
12.30 	Watershed, One Plan for stacked benefit to 
12.31 	wildlife and clean water. Of this amount, up 
12.32 	to $80,000 is for establishing a monitoring and 
12.33 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
12.34 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
12.35 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. 
12.36 	Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply 
13.1 	to this project. A list of permanent 
13.2 	conservation easements must be provided as 
13.3 	part of the final report.

13.4
13.5	(e) St. Croix Watershed Habitat Protection and 
Restoration, Phase 6
					
13.6 	$3,257,000 the first year is to the 
13.7 	commissioner of natural resources for 
13.8 	agreements to acquire land in fee and 
13.9 	permanent conservation easements and to 
13.10 	restore and enhance natural habitat systems in 
13.11 	the St. Croix River Watershed as follows:  
13.12 	$1,236,000 to the Trust for Public Land; 
13.13 	$121,000 to Wild Rivers Conservancy; and 
13.14 	$1,900,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to 
13.15 	$168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to 
13.16 	establish a monitoring and enforcement fund 
13.17 	as approved in the accomplishment plan and 
13.18 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
13.19 	97A.056, subdivision 17.

13.20
13.21	(f) Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor 
Project, Phase 9
					
13.22 	$2,832,000 the first year is to acquire lands in 
13.23 	fee and permanent conservation easements 
13.24 	and to restore wildlife habitat in the 
13.25 	Mississippi headwaters. Of this amount: (1) 
13.26 	$1,768,000 is to the commissioner of natural 
13.27 	resources for agreements as follows: $60,000 
13.28 	to the Mississippi Headwaters Board and 
13.29 	$1,708,000 to the Trust for Public Land; and 
13.30 	(2) $1,064,000 is to the Board of Water and 
13.31 	Soil Resources, of which up to $50,000 is to 
13.32 	establish a monitoring and enforcement fund 
13.33 	as approved in the accomplishment plan and 
13.34 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
13.35 	97A.056, subdivision 17.

14.1
14.2	(g) Southeast Minnesota Protection and 
Restoration, Phase 13
					
14.3 	$2,387,000 the first year is to the 
14.4 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
14.5 	agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to 
14.6 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
14.7 	and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat on 
14.8 	public lands and permanent conservation 
14.9 	easements in southeast Minnesota.  Of this 
14.10 	amount, up to $140,000 is to establish a 
14.11 	monitoring and enforcement fund as approved 
14.12 	in the accomplishment plan and subject to 
14.13 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
14.14 	subdivision 17.

14.15
14.16	(h) Protecting Coldwater Fisheries on 
Minnesota's North Shore, Phase 3
					
14.17 	$2,237,000 the first year is to the 
14.18 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
14.19 	agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to 
14.20 	acquire permanent conservation easements 
14.21 	and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in 
14.22 	priority coldwater tributaries to Lake Superior. 
14.23 	Of this amount, up to $196,000 is to establish 
14.24 	a monitoring and enforcement fund as 
14.25 	approved in the accomplishment plan and 
14.26 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
14.27 	97A.056, subdivision 17.

14.28	(i) Metro Big Rivers, Phase 15
					
14.29 	$6,949,000 the first year is to the 
14.30 	commissioner of natural resources for 
14.31 	agreements to acquire land in fee and 
14.32 	permanent conservation easements and to 
14.33 	restore and enhance natural habitat systems 
14.34 	associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota, 
14.35 	and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries in 
15.1 	the metropolitan area as follows: $1,000,000 
15.2 	to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge 
15.3 	Trust, Inc.; $529,000 to Friends of the 
15.4 	Mississippi River; $1,015,000 to Great River 
15.5 	Greening; $2,185,000 to the Trust for Public 
15.6 	Land; and $2,220,000 to Minnesota Land 
15.7 	Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land 
15.8 	Trust is to establish a monitoring and 
15.9 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
15.10 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
15.11 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

15.12
15.13	(j) Minnesota River Watershed Habitat 
Conservation Program
					
15.14 	$3,148,000 the first year is to the 
15.15 	commissioner of natural resources for 
15.16 	agreements to acquire land in fee and 
15.17 	permanent conservation easements and to 
15.18 	restore and enhance priority habitat in the 
15.19 	Minnesota River watershed as follows: 
15.20 	$1,395,000 to Great River Greening and 
15.21 	$1,753,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to 
15.22 	$168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to 
15.23 	establish a monitoring and enforcement fund 
15.24 	as approved in the accomplishment plan and 
15.25 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 
15.26 	97A.056, subdivision 17.

15.27
15.28	(k) Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat 
Restoration Program, Phase 14
					
15.29 	$2,190,000 the first year is to the 
15.30 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
15.31 	agreement with the Shell Rock River 
15.32 	Watershed District to acquire land in fee and 
15.33 	to restore and enhance habitat in the Shell 
15.34 	Rock River watershed.

15.35
15.36	(l) Protecting Minnesota's Lakes of Outstanding 
Biological Significance, Phase 4
					
16.1 	$3,209,000 the first year is to the 
16.2 	commissioner of natural resources for 
16.3 	agreements to acquire land in fee and 
16.4 	permanent conservation easements and to 
16.5 	restore and enhance lakes of outstanding 
16.6 	biological significance in northeast and 
16.7 	north-central Minnesota. Of this amount, 
16.8 	$1,530,000 is to the Northern Waters Land 
16.9 	Trust and $1,679,000 is to Minnesota Land 
16.10 	Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land 
16.11 	Trust is for establishing a monitoring and 
16.12 	enforcement fund as approved in the 
16.13 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
16.14 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

16.15
16.16	(m) Shakopee Creek: Headwaters Restored, 
Species and Land Protected
					
16.17 	$2,413,000 the first year is to the 
16.18 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
16.19 	agreement with the Kandiyohi Soil and Water 
16.20 	Conservation District to restore and enhance 
16.21 	wildlife habitat in the headwaters area of 
16.22 	Shakopee Creek in Kandiyohi County.

16.23
16.24	(n) DNR Trout Stream Conservation Easements, 
Phase 4
					
16.25 	$995,000 the first year is to the commissioner 
16.26 	of natural resources to acquire land in 
16.27 	permanent conservation easements to protect 
16.28 	trout-stream aquatic habitat. Of this amount, 
16.29 	up to $120,000 is for establishing a monitoring 
16.30 	and enforcement fund as approved in the 
16.31 	accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota 
16.32 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.

16.33
16.34	(o) Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic 
North-Central Minnesota Lakes, Phase 11
					
17.1 	$2,944,000 the first year is to the 
17.2 	commissioner of natural resources for 
17.3 	agreements to acquire land in fee and 
17.4 	permanent conservation easements and to 
17.5 	restore and enhance wildlife habitat to sustain 
17.6 	healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in 
17.7 	Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard 
17.8 	Counties as follows: $1,292,000 to Northern 
17.9 	Waters Land Trust and $1,652,000 to 
17.10 	Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $168,000 to 
17.11 	Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a 
17.12 	monitoring and enforcement fund as approved 
17.13 	in the accomplishment plan and subject to 
17.14 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
17.15 	subdivision 17.

17.16
17.17	(p) Minnesota Statewide Trout Habitat 
Enhancement, Phase 2
					
17.18 	$2,173,000 the first year is to the 
17.19 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
17.20 	agreement with Minnesota Trout Unlimited 
17.21 	to restore and enhance habitat for trout and 
17.22 	other species in and along coldwater rivers, 
17.23 	lakes, and streams throughout Minnesota.

17.24
17.25	(q) Restoring and Enhancing Minnesota's 
Important Bird Areas, Phase 4
					
17.26 	$2,049,000 the first year is to the 
17.27 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
17.28 	agreement with Audubon Minnesota to restore 
17.29 	and enhance wildlife habitat in important bird 
17.30 	areas or Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan 
17.31 	Priority areas of northwestern Minnesota.

17.32	(r) Fall River Restoration
					
17.33 	$1,348,000 the first year is to the 
17.34 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
17.35 	agreement with Cook County to restore and 
18.1 	enhance coldwater stream habitat in the Fall 
18.2 	River in Cook County.

18.3
18.4	(s) DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and 
Enhancement, Phase 8
					
18.5 	$3,887,000 the first year is to the 
18.6 	commissioner of natural resources to restore 
18.7 	and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded 
18.8 	streams and aquatic management areas and to 
18.9 	facilitate fish passage throughout Minnesota.

18.10
18.11	(t) Rum River Corridor Fish and Wildlife 
Habitat Enhancement, Phase 3
					
18.12 	$1,387,000 the first year is to the 
18.13 	commissioner of natural resources for an 
18.14 	agreement with the Anoka County Soil and 
18.15 	Water Conservation District to restore and 
18.16 	enhance upland and riverine habitat in the 
18.17 	Rum River corridor.

18.18	(u) DNR Roving Crew, Phase 3
					
18.19 	$12,642,000 the first year is to the 
18.20 	commissioner of natural resources to restore 
18.21 	and enhance fish and wildlife habitat on 
18.22 	permanently protected lands throughout 
18.23 	Minnesota using the roving crew program of 
18.24 	the Department of Natural Resources.

18.25
18.26
18.27	(v) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant 
Program: Statewide and Metro Habitat, Phase 
17
					
18.28 	$15,000,000 the first year is to the 
18.29 	commissioner of natural resources for a 
18.30 	program to provide competitive matching 
18.31 	grants of up to $500,000 to local, regional, 
18.32 	state, and national organizations for enhancing, 
18.33 	restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands, 
18.34 	prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife 
18.35 	in Minnesota. Of this amount, unless not 
19.1 	enough eligible grant applications are 
19.2 	received, at least $4,000,000 is for grants in 
19.3 	the seven-county metropolitan area and cities 
19.4 	with a population of 50,000 or more and at 
19.5 	least $4,000,000 is for grants to applicants that 
19.6 	have not previously applied for money from 
19.7 	the outdoor heritage fund. Grants must not be 
19.8 	made for activities required to fulfill the duties 
19.9 	of owners of lands subject to conservation 
19.10 	easements. Grants must not be made from the 
19.11 	appropriation in this paragraph for projects 
19.12 	that have a total project cost exceeding 
19.13 	$1,000,000. Of the total appropriation, 
19.14 	$600,000 may be spent for personnel costs, 
19.15 	outreach, and support to first-time applicants 
19.16 	and other direct and necessary administrative 
19.17 	costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests 
19.18 	in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants 
19.19 	may not be used to establish easement 
19.20 	stewardship accounts. The program must 
19.21 	require a match of at least ten percent from 
19.22 	nonstate sources for all grants. The match may 
19.23 	be cash or in-kind. For grant applications of 
19.24 	$25,000 or less, the commissioner must 
19.25 	provide a separate, simplified application 
19.26 	process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the 
19.27 	commissioner of natural resources must, when 
19.28 	evaluating projects of equal value, give 
19.29 	priority to organizations that have a history of 
19.30 	receiving, or a charter to receive, private 
19.31 	contributions for local conservation or habitat 
19.32 	projects. All restoration or enhancement 
19.33 	projects must be on land permanently 
19.34 	protected by a permanent covenant ensuring 
19.35 	perpetual maintenance and protection of 
19.36 	restored and enhanced habitat, by a 
20.1 	conservation easement, or by public ownership 
20.2 	or in public waters as defined in Minnesota 
20.3 	Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15. 
20.4 	Priority must be given to restoration and 
20.5 	enhancement projects on public lands. 
20.6 	Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056, 
20.7 	subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded 
20.8 	under this paragraph. This appropriation is 
20.9 	available until June 30, 2028. No less than five 
20.10 	percent of the amount of each grant must be 
20.11 	held back from reimbursement until the grant 
20.12 	recipient completes a grant accomplishment 
20.13 	report by the deadline and in the form 
20.14 	prescribed by and satisfactory to the 
20.15 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The 
20.16 	commissioner must provide notice of the grant 
20.17 	program in the summary of game and fish law 
20.18 	prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section 
20.19 	97A.051, subdivision 2.

20.20	Subd. 6.Administration
 		2,054,000
		775,000

20.21	(a) Contract Management
					
20.22 	$410,000 the first year is to the commissioner 
20.23 	of natural resources for contract management 
20.24 	duties assigned in this section. The 
20.25 	commissioner must provide an 
20.26 	accomplishment plan in the form specified by 
20.27 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 
20.28 	on expending this appropriation. The 
20.29 	accomplishment plan must include a copy of 
20.30 	the grant contract template and reimbursement 
20.31 	manual. No money may be expended before 
20.32 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council 
20.33 	approves the accomplishment plan.  Money 
20.34 	appropriated in this paragraph is available until 
20.35 	June 30, 2027.

21.1	(b) Legislative Coordinating Commission
					
21.2 	$732,000 the first year and $772,000 the 
21.3 	second year are to the Legislative 
21.4 	Coordinating Commission for administrative 
21.5 	expenses of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor 
21.6 	Heritage Council and for compensating and 
21.7 	reimbursing expenses of council members. 
21.8 	This appropriation is available until June 30, 
21.9 	2027. Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.281, 
21.10 	applies to this appropriation.

21.11	(c) Technical Evaluation Panel
					
21.12 	$168,000 the first year is to the commissioner 
21.13 	of natural resources for a technical evaluation 
21.14 	panel to conduct up to 20 restoration and 
21.15 	enhancement evaluations under Minnesota 
21.16 	Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 10.  
21.17 	Money appropriated in this paragraph is 
21.18 	available until June 30, 2027.

21.19
21.20	(d) Core Functions in Partner-Led OHF Land 
Acquisitions
					
21.21 	$740,000 the first year is to the commissioner 
21.22 	of natural resources for administering the 
21.23 	initial development, restoration, and 
21.24 	enhancement of land acquired in fee with 
21.25 	money appropriated from the outdoor heritage 
21.26 	fund. This appropriation may be used for land 
21.27 	acquisition costs incurred by the department 
21.28 	as part of conveyance of parcels to the 
21.29 	Department of Natural Resources and initial 
21.30 	development activities on fee title acquisitions. 
21.31 	Money appropriated in this paragraph is 
21.32 	available until June 30, 2033.

21.33	(e) Legacy Website
					
22.1 	$4,000 the first year and $3,000 the second 
22.2 	year are to the Legislative Coordinating 
22.3 	Commission for the website required under 
22.4 	Minnesota Statutes, section 3.303, subdivision 
22.5 	10.

22.6	Subd. 7.Availability of Appropriation
 					
22.7 	(a) Money appropriated in this section may 
22.8 	not be spent on activities unless they are 
22.9 	directly related to and necessary for a specific 
22.10 	appropriation and are specified in the 
22.11 	accomplishment plan approved by the 
22.12 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
22.13 	Money appropriated in this section must not 
22.14 	be spent on indirect costs or other institutional 
22.15 	overhead charges that are not directly related 
22.16 	to and necessary for a specific appropriation. 
22.17 	Money appropriated for fee title acquisition 
22.18 	of land may be used to restore, enhance, and 
22.19 	provide for public use of the land acquired 
22.20 	with the appropriation. Public-use facilities 
22.21 	must have a minimal impact on habitat in 
22.22 	acquired lands.
22.23 	(b) Money appropriated in this section is 
22.24 	available as follows:
22.25 	(1) money appropriated for acquiring real 
22.26 	property is available until June 30, 2029;
22.27 	(2) money appropriated for restoring and 
22.28 	enhancing land acquired with an appropriation 
22.29 	in this act is available for four years after the 
22.30 	acquisition date with a maximum end date of 
22.31 	June 30, 2033;
22.32 	(3) money appropriated for restoring and 
22.33 	enhancing other land is available until June 
22.34 	30, 2030;
23.1 	(4) notwithstanding clauses (1) to (3), money 
23.2 	appropriated for a project that receives at least 
23.3 	15 percent of its funding from federal funds 
23.4 	is available until a date sufficient to match the 
23.5 	availability of federal funding to a maximum 
23.6 	of six years if the federal funding was 
23.7 	confirmed and included in the original 
23.8 	approved draft accomplishment plan; and
23.9 	(5) money appropriated for other projects is 
23.10 	available until the end of the fiscal year in 
23.11 	which it is appropriated.

23.12
23.13	Subd. 8.Payment Conditions and Capital 
Equipment Expenditures
 					
23.14 	(a) All agreements referred to in this section 
23.15 	must be administered on a reimbursement 
23.16 	basis unless otherwise provided in this section. 
23.17 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
23.18 	16A.41, expenditures directly related to each 
23.19 	appropriation's purpose made on or after July 
23.20 	1, 2025, or the date of accomplishment plan 
23.21 	approval, whichever is later, are eligible for 
23.22 	reimbursement unless otherwise provided in 
23.23 	this section. For the purposes of administering 
23.24 	appropriations and legislatively authorized 
23.25 	agreements paid out of the outdoor heritage 
23.26 	fund, an expense must be considered 
23.27 	reimbursable by the administering agency 
23.28 	when the recipient presents the agency with 
23.29 	an invoice or binding agreement with the 
23.30 	landowner and the recipient attests that the 
23.31 	goods have been received or the landowner 
23.32 	agreement is binding. Periodic reimbursement 
23.33 	must be made upon receiving documentation 
23.34 	that the items articulated in the 
23.35 	accomplishment plan approved by the 
24.1 	Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council have 
24.2 	been achieved, including partial achievements 
24.3 	as evidenced by progress reports approved by 
24.4 	the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. 
24.5 	Reasonable amounts may be advanced to 
24.6 	projects to accommodate cash flow needs, 
24.7 	support future management of acquired lands, 
24.8 	or match a federal share. The advances must 
24.9 	be approved as part of the accomplishment 
24.10 	plan. Capital equipment expenditures for 
24.11 	specific items in excess of $10,000 must be 
24.12 	itemized in and approved as part of the 
24.13 	accomplishment plan.
24.14 	(b) Unless otherwise provided, no money 
24.15 	appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund 
24.16 	in this act may be used to acquire, restore, or 
24.17 	enhance any real property unless the specific 
24.18 	acquisition, restoration, or enhancement is 
24.19 	approved as part of the accomplishment plan 
24.20 	on the parcel list.

24.21	Subd. 9.Mapping
 					
24.22 	Each direct recipient of money appropriated 
24.23 	in this section, as well as each recipient of a 
24.24 	grant awarded under this section, must provide 
24.25 	geographic information to the Lessard-Sams 
24.26 	Outdoor Heritage Council for mapping of any 
24.27 	lands acquired in fee with funds appropriated 
24.28 	in this section and open to the public taking 
24.29 	of fish and game. The commissioner of natural 
24.30 	resources must include the lands acquired in 
24.31 	fee with money appropriated in this section 
24.32 	on maps showing public recreation 
24.33 	opportunities. Maps must include information 
24.34 	on and acknowledgment of the outdoor 
25.1 	heritage fund, including a notation of any 
25.2 	restrictions.

25.3	Subd. 10.Carryforward
 					
25.4 	(a) The availability of the appropriation for 
25.5 	Laws 2020, chapter 104, article 1, section 2, 
25.6 	subdivision 5, paragraph (b), Metro Big Rivers 
25.7 	- Phase X, is extended to June 30, 2026.
25.8 	(b) The availability of the appropriation for 
25.9 	Laws 2020, chapter 104, article 1, section 2, 
25.10 	subdivision 5, paragraph (k), St. Louis River 
25.11 	Restoration Initiative - Phase VII, is extended 
25.12 	to June 30, 2026.
25.13 	(c) The availability of the appropriation for 
25.14 	Laws 2023, chapter 40, article 1, section 2, 
25.15 	subdivision 6, paragraph (d), Core Functions 
25.16 	in Partner-Led OHF Land Acquisitions, is 
25.17 	extended to June 30, 2031.

25.18	Subd. 11.Cancellation
 					
25.19 	$120,000 of the outdoor heritage fund 
25.20 	appropriation in Laws 2020, chapter 104, 
25.21 	article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, paragraph 
25.22 	(i), is canceled no later than June 29, 2025.

25.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. Subdivision 11 is effective the day following final enactment.

25.24 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.056, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
25.25 	read:
25.26 		Subd. 25.Federal grant fund requirements. An interest in real property acquired with 
25.27 	money appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund may be used to leverage federal grant 
25.28 	funds for related conservation programs, such as Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration, 
25.29 	United States Code, title 16, section 669 et seq.; Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration, 
25.30 	United States Code, title 16, section 777 et seq.; and the North American Wetlands 
25.31 	Conservation Act, United States Code, title 16, section 4401. These grant programs may 
25.32 	place conditions on land use that require the continued use of the land for conservation 
25.33 	purposes. Placement of conditions on land use under these programs does not require prior 
26.1 	review and approval of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council or its successor under 
26.2 	subdivision 15, paragraph (b).