HF 2951

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/20/2023 04:55pm

A bill for an act
relating to capital investment; appropriating money for statewide reforestation and
forest improvements.

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

Section 1. new text begin STATEWIDE REFORESTATION AND FOREST IMPROVEMENTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Bond proceeds appropriation. new text end

new text begin $44,000,000 is appropriated from the
bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of natural resources for the purposes of this
subdivision. Of this appropriation:
new text end

new text begin (1) $10,000,000 is for reforestation to meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes,
section 89.002, subdivision 2, including purchasing native seeds and native seedlings,
planting, seeding, site preparation, and protection on state lands administered by the
commissioner;
new text end

new text begin (2) $10,000,000 is to predesign, design, renovate, construct, furnish, and equip a new
state forest nursery facility;
new text end

new text begin (3) $3,000,000 is for forest stand improvement on state forest lands under Minnesota
Statutes, sections 88.01 and 88.06;
new text end

new text begin (4) $16,000,000 is for grants to cities, counties, townships, and park and recreation
boards in cities of the first class, for the removal and the planting of shade trees on public
land to provide environmental benefits; replace trees lost to forest pests, disease, or storm;
or to establish a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and forest
pests. For purposes of this paragraph, a "shade tree" means a woody perennial grown
primarily for aesthetic or environmental purposes with minimal to residual timber value.
Any tree planted with money under this subdivision must be a climate-adapted species to
Minnesota; and
new text end

new text begin (5) $5,000,000 is for the Minnesota forests for the future program under Minnesota
Statutes, section 84.66.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin General fund appropriation. new text end

new text begin (a) $7,400,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $400,000
in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of natural
resources for the purposes of this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (b) $7,000,000 of this appropriation is to increase outreach to private landowners to
encourage tree planting and to provide cost-share incentives for private forest landowners
for reforestation and tree planting. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until
June 30, 2027.
new text end

new text begin (c) $400,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $400,000 in fiscal year 2025 are to accelerate tree
seed collection to support a growing demand for tree planting on public and private lands.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Bond sale. new text end

new text begin To provide the money appropriated in this section from the bond
proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue bonds of
the state in an amount up to $44,000,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with the effect
prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota
Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.
new text end