HF 1853

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/06/2023 03:43pm

A bill for an act
relating to environment; appropriating money for a weather resilience program in
the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

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

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATION; UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION
SERVICE WEATHER READY PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin (a) $7,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $8,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated
from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for a program
in the University of Minnesota Extension Service that will enhance the capacity of the state's
agricultural sector, land and resource managers, and communities to plan for and adapt to
weather extremes like droughts and floods. These funds remain available until June 30,
2030. The base in fiscal year 2026 and beyond is $1,000,000.
new text end

new text begin (b) This appropriation must be used to support existing extension service staff members
and to hire additional staff members for a program with broad geographic reach throughout
the state. The program must:
new text end

new text begin (1) identify, develop, implement, and evaluate educational programs that increase the
capacity of Minnesota's agricultural sector, land and resource managers, and communities
to be prepared for and adapt to projected physical changes in temperature, precipitation,
and other weather parameters that affect crops, lands, horticulture, pests, and wildlife in
ways that present challenges to the state's agricultural sector and the communities that
depend on it; and
new text end

new text begin (2) communicate and interpret the latest research on critical weather trends and their
scientific basis to further prepare extension service staff throughout the state to educate and
provide technical assistance to the agricultural sector, land and resource managers, and
community members at the local level regarding technical information on water resource
management, agriculture and forestry, engineering and infrastructure design, and emergency
management that is necessary for the development of strategies to mitigate the effects of
extreme weather change.
new text end