SF 3519

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 05/17/2025 12:00pm

A bill for an act
relating to environment; establishing a rebate program to replace time-based ion
exchange water softeners with demand-based ion exchange water softeners;
appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin TIME-BASED WATER SOFTENER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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new text begin (b) "Contractor" means a Minnesota licensed plumber, water conditioning contractor,
or installer.
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new text begin (c) "Eligible replacement" means the replacement of a time-based ion exchange water
softener with a demand-based ion exchange water softener that:
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new text begin (1) softens incoming water of a hardness exceeding ten US grains per gallon to less than
one US grain per gallon;
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new text begin (2) has a salt efficiency greater than 3,500 grains per pound of salt; and
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new text begin (3) is installed by a contractor between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027.
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new text begin (d) "Rebate" means a rebate of $200, regardless of the size or cost of the work performed,
equipment replaced, and equipment installed.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Rebate program. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency must
establish a program to provide rebates to the owner or lessee of a residential or commercial
building who makes an eligible replacement. Under the program, the commissioner must
require that:
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new text begin (1) rebate applications include specifications about the equipment being replaced, the
equipment being installed, the programming of the equipment being installed, and an estimate
of the annual salt use of the newly installed equipment;
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new text begin (2) contractors certify that the equipment will be installed and programmed in a manner
that complies with this section;
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new text begin (3) both the owner or lessee of the property and the contractor sign a rebate application;
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new text begin (4) rebates will be sent to the owner or lessee of the property; and
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new text begin (5) a contractor may sign no more than 30 rebate applications for the life of the program.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; TIME-BASED WATER SOFTENER REPLACEMENT
PROGRAM REBATES.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
the Pollution Control Agency to issue rebates under the time-based water softener
replacement program established under section 1. This is a onetime appropriation and is
available until June 30, 2028.
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