1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to capital investment; establishing a metropolitan shade tree grant program;
1.3 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 473.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. [473.352] METROPOLITAN SHADE TREE PROGRAM.
1.6 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.7 	the meanings given.
1.8 	(b) "Local government" means a statutory or home rule charter city, county, town, or 
1.9 	park and recreation board in a city of the first class. A local government must be located in 
1.10 	the metropolitan area.
1.11 	(c) "Shade tree" means a woody perennial grown primarily for aesthetic or environmental 
1.12 	purposes with minimal to residual timber value.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Grants. (a) The council shall make grants to local governments for the removal 
1.14 	and the planting of shade trees on public land for one or more of the following purposes:
1.15 	(1) to provide environmental benefits;
1.16 	(2) to replace trees lost to forest pests, disease, or storm; or
1.17 	(3) to establish a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and 
1.18 	forest pests.
1.19 	(b) A grant under this section may be made in an amount up to 50 percent of the cost 
1.20 	for the removal and the planting of shade trees.
2.1 		Subd. 3.Priority; emerald ash borer. The council must give priority to grant requests 
2.2 	to remove and replace trees with active infestations of emerald ash borer.
2.3 		Subd. 4.Species requirement. Any tree planted with money granted through the program 
2.4 	in this section must be a climate-adapted species to Minnesota.
2.5 		Subd. 5.Cancellation. If a grant is awarded to a local government and funds are not 
2.6 	encumbered for the grant within four years after the award date, the grant must be canceled.

2.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024.