HF 2563

2nd Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 05/19/2025 11:43am

A bill for an act
relating to legacy; appropriating money from outdoor heritage, clean water, parks
and trails, and arts and cultural heritage funds; extending prior appropriations;
providing for leveraging federal grant money; modifying reporting requirements;
modifying accountability and eligible projects provisions; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2024, sections 97A.056, by adding a subdivision; 114D.30, subdivision
7; 129D.17, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; Laws 2023, chapter 40, article
4, section 2, subdivisions 5, 6; Laws 2024, chapter 106, article 4, section 2,
subdivision 6.

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

ARTICLE 1

OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND

Section 1. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies
and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the outdoor heritage
fund for the fiscal year indicated for each purpose. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in
this article mean that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2026.
"The second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The
appropriations in this article are onetime appropriations.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2026 new text end		new text begin 2027 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 162,111,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 775,000 new text end

new text begin This appropriation is from the outdoor heritage
fund. The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Prairies new text end

new text begin 33,432,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Martin County DNR WMA Acquisition, Phase 9 new text end

new text begin $1,332,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and restore
and enhance strategic prairie grassland,
wetland, and other wildlife habitat in Martin
County for wildlife management area purposes
under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
subdivision 8, as follows: $970,000 to Fox
Lake Conservation League, Inc., $327,000 to
Ducks Unlimited, and $35,000 to the
Conservation Fund.
new text end

new text begin (b) Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of the Southern Red River Valley, Phase 11 new text end

new text begin $3,607,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Pheasants Forever, in
cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie
Chicken Society, to acquire land in fee and
restore and enhance lands in the southern Red
River Valley for wildlife management
purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section
86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and
managed as waterfowl production areas in
Minnesota, in cooperation with the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to
evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part
6136.0900, priority must be given to
acquisitions of lands that are eligible for the
native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes,
section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected
native prairie.
new text end

new text begin (c) RIM Grasslands Reserve, Phase 6 new text end

new text begin $3,375,000 the first year is to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources to acquire
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance grassland habitat under
Minnesota Statutes, sections 103F.501 to
103F.531. Of this amount, up to $70,000 is to
establish a monitoring and enforcement fund
as approved in the accomplishment plan and
subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8,
paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.
A list of permanent conservation easements
must be provided as part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (d) RIM Buffers for Wildlife and Water, Phase 11 new text end

new text begin $4,000,000 the first year is to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources to acquire
permanent conservation easements and restore
habitat under Minnesota Statutes, section
103F.515, to protect, restore, and enhance
habitat by expanding the riparian buffer
program under the clean water fund for
additional wildlife benefits from buffers on
private land. Of this amount, up to $60,000 is
to establish a monitoring and enforcement
fund as approved in the accomplishment plan
and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8,
paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.
A list of permanent conservation easements
must be provided as part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (e) Accelerating the Wildlife Management Area Program, Phase 17 new text end

new text begin $4,863,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire
in fee and restore and enhance lands for
wildlife management area purposes under
Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria
in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority
must be given to acquisition of lands that are
eligible for the native prairie bank under
Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands
adjacent to protected native prairie.
new text end

new text begin (f) Minnesota Prairie Recovery Program, Phase 14 new text end

new text begin $2,433,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with The Nature Conservancy to
acquire land in fee and restore and enhance
native prairie, grasslands, wetlands, and
savanna. Subject to evaluation criteria in
Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority
must be given to acquiring lands that are
eligible for the native prairie bank under
Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands
adjacent to protected native prairie. Annual
income statements and balance sheets for
income and expenses from land acquired with
this appropriation must be submitted to the
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no
later than 180 days following the close of The
Nature Conservancy's fiscal year. A list of
proposed land acquisitions, restorations, and
enhancements must be provided as part of the
required accomplishment plan and must be
consistent with the priorities identified in
Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan.
new text end

new text begin (g) Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Phase 15 new text end

new text begin $3,658,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with The Nature Conservancy, in
cooperation with the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee or
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance lands in the Northern
Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in
western Minnesota for addition to the Northern
Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota
Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given
to acquiring lands that are eligible for the
native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes,
section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected
native prairie.
new text end

new text begin (h) DNR Wildlife Management Area and Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition, Phase 17 new text end

new text begin $1,916,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to acquire
in fee and restore and enhance lands for
wildlife management purposes under
Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee for
scientific and natural area purposes under
Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
subdivision 5. Subject to evaluation criteria
in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority
must be given to acquisition of lands that are
eligible for the native prairie bank under
Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands
adjacent to protected native prairie.
new text end

new text begin (i) Enhanced Public Land - Grasslands, Phase 8 new text end

new text begin $3,440,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance
and restore grassland and wetland habitat on
public lands in the forest prairie transition,
metro urban, and prairie ecoregions of
Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (j) Accelerating the USFWS Habitat Conservation Easement Program, Phase 5 new text end

new text begin $4,808,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to restore and enhance wetland
and prairie habitat on habitat easements of the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service as
follows: $3,100,000 to Ducks Unlimited and
$1,708,000 to Pheasants Forever.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Forests new text end

new text begin 19,958,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Minnesota Forest Recovery Project, Phase 3 new text end

new text begin $3,464,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with The Nature Conservancy in
cooperation with the Department of Natural
Resources and Minnesota Land Trust to
acquire permanent conservation easements
and to restore and enhance degraded forests
in Beltrami, Cass, Cook, Itasca, Lake,
Koochiching, and St. Louis Counties. Of this
amount, up to $84,000 is to the easement
holder to establish a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (b) Itasca County Memorial Forest Project new text end

new text begin $2,720,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Itasca County to acquire
priority forest habitat lands in fee as county
forests.
new text end

new text begin (c) Hardwood Hills Habitat Conservation Program, Phase 2 new text end

new text begin $1,803,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire permanent conservation
easements and to restore and enhance forest
habitats in the hardwood hills ecological
section of west-central Minnesota as follows:
$100,000 to St. John's University and
$1,703,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Of the
amount to Minnesota Land Trust, $196,000 is
to establish a monitoring and enforcement
fund as approved in the accomplishment plan
and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (d) Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape Protection Program ACUB, Phase 13 new text end

new text begin $2,183,000 the first year is to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources, in cooperation with
the Morrison County Soil and Water
Conservation District, to acquire permanent
conservation easements and to restore and
enhance forest wildlife habitat within the
boundaries of the Minnesota National Guard
Camp Ripley Sentinel Landscape and Army
Compatible Use Buffer. Of this amount, up to
$110,000 is to establish a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply
to this project. A list of permanent
conservation easements must be provided as
part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (e) Minnesota Forests for the Future, Phase 5 new text end

new text begin $5,241,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to acquire
lands in conservation easements and to restore
and enhance forests, wetlands, and shoreline
habitat through working forest permanent
conservation easements under the Minnesota
forests for the future program according to
Minnesota Statutes, section 84.66. A
conservation easement acquired with money
appropriated under this paragraph must
comply with Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 13. The accomplishment
plan must include an easement monitoring and
enforcement plan. Of this amount, up to
$400,000 is to establish a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (f) DNR Forest Habitat Enhancement, Phase 5 new text end

new text begin $2,543,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to restore
and enhance forest wildlife habitats on public
lands throughout Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (g) Moose Habitat Collaborative - Northeast Minnesota Forest Habitat Enhancement, Phase 5 new text end

new text begin $2,004,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Ruffed Grouse Society to
restore and enhance public forest lands in the
northern forest region for moose habitat
purposes.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Wetlands new text end

new text begin 29,032,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Wetland Habitat Protection and Restoration Program, Phase 10 new text end

new text begin $2,853,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to
acquire permanent conservation easements
and to restore and enhance prairie, wetland,
and other habitats on permanently protected
conservation easements in high-priority
wetland habitat complexes in the prairie,
forest/prairie transition, and forest ecoregions.
Of this amount, up to $168,000 is to establish
a monitoring and enforcement fund as
approved in the accomplishment plan and
subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (b) Shallow Lake and Wetland Protection and Restoration Program, Phase 14 new text end

new text begin $5,673,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire
land in fee for wildlife management purposes
under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
subdivision 8, or to be designated and
managed as waterfowl production areas or
national wildlife refuges in Minnesota, in
cooperation with the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, and to restore and enhance
prairie lands, wetlands, and land-buffering
shallow lakes.
new text end

new text begin (c) RIM Wetlands - Restoring the Most Productive Habitat in Minnesota, Phase 14 new text end

new text begin $4,291,000 the first year is to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources to acquire
permanent conservation easements and to
restore wetlands and native grassland habitat
under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515.
Of this amount, up to $70,000 is for
establishing a monitoring and enforcement
fund as approved in the accomplishment plan
and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8,
paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.
A list of permanent conservation easements
must be provided as part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (d) Accelerating the Waterfowl Production Area Acquisition Program, Phase 17 new text end

new text begin $5,121,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Pheasants Forever, in
cooperation with the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee and to
restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands
to be designated and managed as waterfowl
production areas in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (e) Nelson Slough - East Park Wildlife Management Area, Phase 2 new text end

new text begin $1,543,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Middle-Snake-Tamarac
Rivers Watershed District to restore and
enhance wetland and upland wildlife habitat
in Nelson Slough and the East Park Wildlife
Management Area in Marshall County.
new text end

new text begin (f) Living Shallow Lakes and Wetlands Enhancement and Restoration Initiative, Phase 11 new text end

new text begin $5,601,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Ducks Unlimited to restore
and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands on
public lands and wetlands under permanent
conservation easement for wildlife
management.
new text end

new text begin (g) Big Swamp North new text end

new text begin $1,442,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Roseau River Watershed
District to restore and enhance wetland,
stream, and other related wildlife habitat on
public lands in the Big Swamp area in Roseau
County.
new text end

new text begin (h) DNR Accelerated Shallow Lakes and Wetland Enhancement, Phase 17 new text end

new text begin $2,508,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to enhance
and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat
statewide.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Habitats new text end

new text begin 77,646,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin (a) Cannon River Watershed Habitat Restoration and Protection Program, Phase 14 new text end

new text begin $2,663,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and to
restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the
Cannon River Watershed as follows: $62,000
to Clean River Partners; $1,198,000 to Great
River Greening; and $1,403,000 to the Trust
for Public Land.
new text end

new text begin (b) Spring Road Conservation Project new text end

new text begin $1,982,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Riley Purgatory Bluff
Creek Watershed District to acquire priority
wildlife habitat lands in fee in Hennepin
County.
new text end

new text begin (c) Anoka Sand Plain Habitat Conservation, Phase 10 new text end

new text begin $3,518,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire permanent conservation
easements and to restore and enhance wildlife
habitat on public lands and easements in the
Anoka Sand Plain ecoregion and intersecting
minor watersheds as follows: $553,000 to
Anoka Conservation District; $1,385,000 to
Great River Greening; $300,000 to The Nature
Conservancy; and $1,280,000 to Minnesota
Land Trust. Up to $112,000 to Minnesota
Land Trust is to establish a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (d) Integrating Habitat and Clean Water, Phase 3 new text end

new text begin $2,691,000 the first year is to the Board of
Water and Soil Resources to acquire
permanent conservation easements and restore
and enhance wildlife habitat identified in One
Watershed, One Plan for stacked benefit to
wildlife and clean water. Of this amount, up
to $80,000 is for establishing a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply
to this project. A list of permanent
conservation easements must be provided as
part of the final report.
new text end

new text begin (e) St. Croix Watershed Habitat Protection and Restoration, Phase 6 new text end

new text begin $3,184,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance natural habitat systems in
the St. Croix River Watershed as follows:
$1,199,000 to the Trust for Public Land;
$121,000 to Wild Rivers Conservancy; and
$1,864,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to
$168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to
establish a monitoring and enforcement fund
as approved in the accomplishment plan and
subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (f) Mississippi Headwaters Habitat Corridor Project, Phase 9 new text end

new text begin $2,769,000 the first year is to acquire lands in
fee and permanent conservation easements
and to restore wildlife habitat in the
Mississippi headwaters. Of this amount: (1)
$1,769,000 is to the commissioner of natural
resources for agreements as follows: $60,000
to the Mississippi Headwaters Board and
$1,709,000 to the Trust for Public Land; and
(2) $1,000,000 is to the Board of Water and
Soil Resources, of which up to $50,000 is to
establish a monitoring and enforcement fund
as approved in the accomplishment plan and
subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (g) Southeast Minnesota Protection and Restoration, Phase 13 new text end

new text begin $2,334,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to
acquire permanent conservation easements
and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat on
public lands and permanent conservation
easements in southeast Minnesota. Of this
amount, up to $140,000 is to establish a
monitoring and enforcement fund as approved
in the accomplishment plan and subject to
Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (h) Protecting Coldwater Fisheries on Minnesota's North Shore, Phase 3 new text end

new text begin $2,187,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to
acquire permanent conservation easements
and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in
priority coldwater tributaries to Lake Superior.
Of this amount, up to $196,000 is to establish
a monitoring and enforcement fund as
approved in the accomplishment plan and
subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (i) Metro Big Rivers, Phase 15 new text end

new text begin $6,793,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance natural habitat systems
associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota,
and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries in
the metropolitan area as follows: $1,000,000
to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Trust, Inc.; $488,000 to Friends of the
Mississippi River; $975,000 to Great River
Greening; $2,151,000 to the Trust for Public
Land; and $2,179,000 to Minnesota Land
Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land
Trust is to establish a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (j) Minnesota River Watershed Habitat Conservation Program new text end

new text begin $3,078,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance priority habitat in the
Minnesota River watershed as follows:
$1,364,000 to Great River Greening and
$1,714,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Up to
$168,000 to Minnesota Land Trust is to
establish a monitoring and enforcement fund
as approved in the accomplishment plan and
subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (k) Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program, Phase 14 new text end

new text begin $2,141,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Shell Rock River
Watershed District to acquire land in fee and
to restore and enhance habitat in the Shell
Rock River watershed.
new text end

new text begin (l) Protecting Minnesota's Lakes of Outstanding Biological Significance, Phase 4 new text end

new text begin $3,137,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance lakes of outstanding
biological significance in northeast and
north-central Minnesota. Of this amount,
$1,494,000 is to the Northern Waters Land
Trust and $1,643,000 is to Minnesota Land
Trust. Up to $168,000 to Minnesota Land
Trust is for establishing a monitoring and
enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (m) Shakopee Creek: Headwaters Restored, Species and Land Protected new text end

new text begin $2,359,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Kandiyohi Soil and Water
Conservation District to restore and enhance
wildlife habitat in the headwaters area of
Shakopee Creek in Kandiyohi County.
new text end

new text begin (n) DNR Trout Stream Conservation Easements, Phase 4 new text end

new text begin $973,000 the first year is to the commissioner
of natural resources to acquire land in
permanent conservation easements to protect
trout-stream aquatic habitat. Of this amount,
up to $120,000 is for establishing a monitoring
and enforcement fund as approved in the
accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (o) Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic North-Central Minnesota Lakes, Phase 11 new text end

new text begin $2,878,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for
agreements to acquire land in fee and
permanent conservation easements and to
restore and enhance wildlife habitat to sustain
healthy fish habitat on coldwater lakes in
Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard
Counties as follows: $1,259,000 to Northern
Waters Land Trust and $1,619,000 to
Minnesota Land Trust. Up to $168,000 to
Minnesota Land Trust is to establish a
monitoring and enforcement fund as approved
in the accomplishment plan and subject to
Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
subdivision 17.
new text end

new text begin (p) Minnesota Statewide Trout Habitat Enhancement, Phase 2 new text end

new text begin $2,124,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Minnesota Trout Unlimited
to restore and enhance habitat for trout and
other species in and along coldwater rivers,
lakes, and streams throughout Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (q) Restoring and Enhancing Minnesota's Important Bird Areas, Phase 4 new text end

new text begin $2,003,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Audubon Minnesota to restore
and enhance wildlife habitat in important bird
areas or Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan
Priority areas of northwestern Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (r) Fall River Restoration new text end

new text begin $1,318,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with Cook County to restore and
enhance coldwater stream habitat in the Fall
River in Cook County.
new text end

new text begin (s) DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement, Phase 8 new text end

new text begin $3,800,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to restore
and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded
streams and aquatic management areas and to
facilitate fish passage throughout Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (t) Rum River Corridor Fish and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement, Phase 3 new text end

new text begin $1,356,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for an
agreement with the Anoka County Soil and
Water Conservation District to restore and
enhance upland and riverine habitat in the
Rum River corridor.
new text end

new text begin (u) DNR Roving Crew, Phase 3 new text end

new text begin $12,642,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources to restore
and enhance fish and wildlife habitat on
permanently protected lands throughout
Minnesota using the roving crew program of
the Department of Natural Resources.
new text end

new text begin (v) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program: Statewide and Metro Habitat, Phase 17 new text end

new text begin $11,716,000 the first year is to the
commissioner of natural resources for a
program to provide competitive matching
grants of up to $500,000 to local, regional,
state, and national organizations for enhancing,
restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands,
prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife
in Minnesota. Of this amount, unless not
enough eligible grant applications are
received, at least $3,000,000 is for grants in
the seven-county metropolitan area and cities
with a population of 50,000 or more and at
least $2,620,000 is for grants to applicants that
have not previously applied for money from
the outdoor heritage fund. Grants must not be
made for activities required to fulfill the duties
of owners of lands subject to conservation
easements. Grants must not be made from the
appropriation in this paragraph for projects
that have a total project cost exceeding
$1,000,000. Of the total appropriation,
$600,000 may be spent for personnel costs,
outreach, and support to first-time applicants
and other direct and necessary administrative
costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests
in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants
may not be used to establish easement
stewardship accounts. The program must
require a match of at least ten percent from
nonstate sources for all grants. The match may
be cash or in-kind. For grant applications of
$25,000 or less, the commissioner must
provide a separate, simplified application
process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the
commissioner of natural resources must, when
evaluating projects of equal value, give
priority to organizations that have a history of
receiving, or a charter to receive, private
contributions for local conservation or habitat
projects. All restoration or enhancement
projects must be on land permanently
protected by a permanent covenant ensuring
perpetual maintenance and protection of
restored and enhanced habitat, by a
conservation easement, or by public ownership
or in public waters as defined in Minnesota
Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15.
Priority must be given to restoration and
enhancement projects on public lands.
Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded
under this paragraph. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2028. No less than five
percent of the amount of each grant must be
held back from reimbursement until the grant
recipient completes a grant accomplishment
report by the deadline and in the form
prescribed by and satisfactory to the
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The
commissioner must provide notice of the grant
program in the summary of game and fish law
prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section
97A.051, subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end new text begin Administration new text end

new text begin 2,043,000 new text end

new text begin 775,000 new text end

new text begin (a) Contract Management new text end

new text begin $410,000 the first year is to the commissioner
of natural resources for contract management
duties assigned in this section. The
commissioner must provide an
accomplishment plan in the form specified by
the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council
on expending this appropriation. The
accomplishment plan must include a copy of
the grant contract template and reimbursement
manual. No money may be expended before
the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council
approves the accomplishment plan. Money
appropriated in this paragraph is available until
June 30, 2027.
new text end

new text begin (b) Legislative Coordinating Commission new text end

new text begin $732,000 the first year and $772,000 the
second year are to the Legislative
Coordinating Commission for administrative
expenses of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor
Heritage Council and for compensating and
reimbursing expenses of council members.
This appropriation is available until June 30,
2027. Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.281,
applies to this appropriation.
new text end

new text begin (c) Technical Evaluation Panel new text end

new text begin $157,000 the first year is to the commissioner
of natural resources for a technical evaluation
panel to conduct up to 20 restoration and
enhancement evaluations under Minnesota
Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 10.
Money appropriated in this paragraph is
available until June 30, 2027.
new text end

new text begin (d) Core Functions in Partner-Led OHF Land Acquisitions new text end

new text begin $740,000 the first year is to the commissioner
of natural resources for administering the
initial development, restoration, and
enhancement of land acquired in fee with
money appropriated from the outdoor heritage
fund. This appropriation may be used for land
acquisition costs incurred by the department
as part of conveyance of parcels to the
Department of Natural Resources and initial
development activities on fee title acquisitions.
Money appropriated in this paragraph is
available until June 30, 2033.
new text end

new text begin (e) Legacy Website new text end

new text begin $4,000 the first year and $3,000 the second
year are to the Legislative Coordinating
Commission for the website required under
Minnesota Statutes, section 3.303, subdivision
10.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end new text begin Availability of Appropriation new text end

new text begin (a) Money appropriated in this section may
not be spent on activities unless they are
directly related to and necessary for a specific
appropriation and are specified in the
accomplishment plan approved by the
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
Money appropriated in this section must not
be spent on indirect costs or other institutional
overhead charges that are not directly related
to and necessary for a specific appropriation.
Money appropriated for fee title acquisition
of land may be used to restore, enhance, and
provide for public use of the land acquired
with the appropriation. Public-use facilities
must have a minimal impact on habitat in
acquired lands.
new text end

new text begin (b) Money appropriated in this section is
available as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) money appropriated for acquiring real
property is available until June 30, 2029;
new text end

new text begin (2) money appropriated for restoring and
enhancing land acquired with an appropriation
in this article is available for four years after
the acquisition date with a maximum end date
of June 30, 2033;
new text end

new text begin (3) money appropriated for restoring and
enhancing other land is available until June
30, 2030;
new text end

new text begin (4) notwithstanding clauses (1) to (3), money
appropriated for a project that receives at least
15 percent of its funding from federal funds
is available until a date sufficient to match the
availability of federal funding to a maximum
of six years if the federal funding was
confirmed and included in the original
approved draft accomplishment plan; and
new text end

new text begin (5) money appropriated for other projects is
available until the end of the fiscal year in
which it is appropriated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end new text begin Payment Conditions and Capital Equipment Expenditures new text end

new text begin (a) All agreements referred to in this section
must be administered on a reimbursement
basis unless otherwise provided in this section.
Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
16A.41, expenditures directly related to each
appropriation's purpose made on or after July
1, 2025, or the date of accomplishment plan
approval, whichever is later, are eligible for
reimbursement unless otherwise provided in
this section. For the purposes of administering
appropriations and legislatively authorized
agreements paid out of the outdoor heritage
fund, an expense must be considered
reimbursable by the administering agency
when the recipient presents the agency with
an invoice or binding agreement with the
landowner and the recipient attests that the
goods have been received or the landowner
agreement is binding. Periodic reimbursement
must be made upon receiving documentation
that the items articulated in the
accomplishment plan approved by the
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council have
been achieved, including partial achievements
as evidenced by progress reports approved by
the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
Reasonable amounts may be advanced to
projects to accommodate cash flow needs,
support future management of acquired lands,
or match a federal share. The advances must
be approved as part of the accomplishment
plan. Capital equipment expenditures for
specific items in excess of $10,000 must be
itemized in and approved as part of the
accomplishment plan.
new text end

new text begin (b) Unless otherwise provided, no money
appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund
in this article may be used to acquire, restore,
or enhance any real property unless the
specific acquisition, restoration, or
enhancement is approved as part of the
accomplishment plan on the parcel list.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end new text begin Mapping new text end

new text begin Each direct recipient of money appropriated
in this section, as well as each recipient of a
grant awarded under this section, must provide
geographic information to the Lessard-Sams
Outdoor Heritage Council for mapping of any
lands acquired in fee with funds appropriated
in this section and open to the public taking
of fish and game. The commissioner of natural
resources must include the lands acquired in
fee with money appropriated in this section
on maps showing public recreation
opportunities. Maps must include information
on and acknowledgment of the outdoor
heritage fund, including a notation of any
restrictions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end new text begin Carryforward new text end

new text begin (a) The availability of the appropriation for
Laws 2020, chapter 104, article 1, section 2,
subdivision 5, paragraph (b), Metro Big Rivers
- Phase X, is extended to June 30, 2026.
new text end

new text begin (b) The availability of the appropriation for
Laws 2020, chapter 104, article 1, section 2,
subdivision 5, paragraph (k), St. Louis River
Restoration Initiative - Phase VII, is extended
to June 30, 2026.
new text end

new text begin (c) The availability of the appropriation for
Laws 2023, chapter 40, article 1, section 2,
subdivision 6, paragraph (d), Core Functions
in Partner-Led OHF Land Acquisitions, is
extended to June 30, 2031.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 11. new text end new text begin Cancellation new text end

new text begin $120,000 of the outdoor heritage fund
appropriation in Laws 2020, chapter 104,
article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, paragraph
(i), is canceled no later than June 29, 2025.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin Subdivisions 10 and 11 are effective the day following final
enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.056, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 25. new text end

new text begin Federal grant fund requirements. new text end

new text begin An interest in real property acquired with
money appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund may be used to leverage federal grant
funds for related conservation programs, such as Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration,
United States Code, title 16, section 669 et seq.; Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration,
United States Code, title 16, section 777 et seq.; and the North American Wetlands
Conservation Act, United States Code, title 16, section 4401. These grant programs may
place conditions on land use that require the continued use of the land for conservation
purposes. Placement of conditions on land use under these programs does not require prior
review and approval of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council or its successor under
subdivision 15, paragraph (b).
new text end

ARTICLE 2

CLEAN WATER FUND

Section 1. new text begin CLEAN WATER FUND APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies
and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the clean water
fund and are available for the fiscal years indicated for allowable activities under the
Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 15. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this
article mean that the appropriations listed under the figure are available for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2026.
"The second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2026 and 2027. These
are onetime appropriations.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2026 new text end		new text begin 2027 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin CLEAN WATER FUND new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 144,625,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 159,301,000 new text end

new text begin This appropriation is from the clean water
fund. The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following sections.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Availability of Appropriation new text end

new text begin Money appropriated in this article may not be
spent on activities unless they are directly
related to and necessary for a specific
appropriation. Money appropriated in this
article must be spent in accordance with
Minnesota Management and Budget MMB
Guidance to Agencies on Legacy Fund
Expenditure. Notwithstanding Minnesota
Statutes, section 16A.28, and unless otherwise
specified in this article, fiscal year 2026
appropriations are available until June 30,
2027, and fiscal year 2027 appropriations are
available until June 30, 2028. If a project
receives federal funds, the period of the
appropriation is extended to equal the
availability of federal funding.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Disability Access new text end

new text begin Where appropriate, grant recipients of clean
water funds, in consultation with the Council
on Disability and other appropriate
governor-appointed disability councils, boards,
committees, and commissions, should make
progress toward providing people with
disabilities greater access to programs, print
publications, and digital media related to the
programs the recipient funds using
appropriations made in this article.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Increasing Diversity in Environmental Careers new text end

new text begin Agencies should work to provide opportunities
that encourage a diversity of students to pursue
careers in environment and natural resources
when implementing appropriations in this
article.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 16,075,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 17,275,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $370,000 the first year and $370,000 the
second year are to increase monitoring for
pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface
water and groundwater and to use data
collected to assess pesticide use practices.
new text end

new text begin (b) $3,100,000 the first year and $3,100,000
the second year are for monitoring and
evaluating trends in the concentration of
nitrate in groundwater; promoting, developing,
and evaluating regional and crop-specific
nutrient best management practices, cover
crops, and other vegetative cover; assessing
adoption of best management practices and
other recommended practices; education and
technical support from University of
Minnesota Extension; grants to support
agricultural demonstration and implementation
activities, including research activities at the
Rosholt Research Farm; and other actions to
protect groundwater from degradation from
nitrate.
new text end

new text begin (c) $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000
the second year are for the agriculture best
management practices loan program. Any
unencumbered balance at the end of the second
year must be added to the corpus of the loan
fund.
new text end

new text begin (d) $1,600,000 the first year and $1,600,000
the second year are for technical assistance;
research, demonstration, and promotion
projects on properly implementing best
management practices and vegetative cover;
and more-precise information on nonpoint
contributions to impaired waters and for grants
to support on-farm demonstration of
agricultural practices.
new text end

new text begin (e) $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the
second year are for maintenance of the
Minnesota Water Research Digital Library.
Costs for information technology development
or support for the digital library may be paid
to Minnesota IT Services.
new text end

new text begin (f) $3,500,000 the first year and $3,500,000
the second year are to implement the
Minnesota agricultural water quality
certification program statewide.
new text end

new text begin (g) $155,000 the first year and $155,000 the
second year are for a regional irrigation water
quality specialist through University of
Minnesota Extension.
new text end

new text begin (h) $2,000,000 the first year and $3,000,000
the second year are for grants to the Board of
Regents of the University of Minnesota to
fund the Forever Green initiative and to protect
the state's natural resources while increasing
the efficiency, profitability, and productivity
of Minnesota farmers by incorporating
perennial and winter-annual crops into existing
agricultural practices.
new text end

new text begin (i) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the
second year are for testing drinking-water
wells for pesticides.
new text end

new text begin (j) $1,750,000 the first year and $1,750,000
the second year are for conservation
equipment assistance grants to purchase
equipment or items to retrofit existing
equipment that has climate and water quality
benefits.
new text end

new text begin (k) $1,050,000 the first year and $1,250,000
the second year are for expanding the existing
state weather station and soil temperature
network to provide accurate and timely
weather data to optimize the timing of
irrigation, fertilizer, pesticide, and manure
applications and support land management
decisions.
new text end

new text begin (l) Unless otherwise specified, the
appropriations in this section are available
until June 30, 2030.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 24,501,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 24,702,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $9,450,000 the first year and $9,450,000
the second year are for completing needed
statewide assessments of surface water quality
and trends according to Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 114D.
new text end

new text begin (b) $7,250,000 the first year and $7,250,000
the second year are to support public
participation in the watershed approach and
to update watershed restoration and protection
strategies, which include total maximum daily
load (TMDL) and other supporting studies
according to Minnesota Statutes, chapter
114D, for waters on the impaired waters list
approved by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency.
new text end

new text begin (c) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000
the second year are for groundwater
assessment, including enhancing the ambient
monitoring network, modeling, and evaluating
trends.
new text end

new text begin (d) $1,600,000 the first year and $1,600,000
the second year are for national pollutant
discharge elimination system wastewater and
stormwater TMDL implementation efforts.
new text end

new text begin (e) $3,340,000 the first year and $3,541,000
the second year are for enhancing the
county-level delivery systems for subsurface
sewage treatment system (SSTS) activities
necessary to implement Minnesota Statutes,
sections 115.55 and 115.56, for protecting
groundwater. This appropriation includes base
grants for all counties with SSTS programs.
Counties that receive base grants must report
the number of properties with noncompliant
systems upgraded through an SSTS
replacement, connection to a centralized sewer
system, or other means, including property
abandonment or buyout. Counties also must
report the number of existing SSTS
compliance inspections conducted in areas
under county jurisdiction. The required reports
must be part of the established annual
reporting for SSTS programs. Of this amount,
at least $900,000 each year is available to
counties for grants to low-income landowners
to address systems that pose an imminent
threat to public health or safety or fail to
protect groundwater. A county receiving a
grant under this paragraph must submit a
report to the agency listing the projects funded,
including an account of the expenditures.
new text end

new text begin (f) $650,000 the first year and $650,000 the
second year are for activities and grants that
reduce chloride pollution.
new text end

new text begin (g) $461,000 the first year and $461,000 the
second year are to support activities of the
Clean Water Council according to Minnesota
Statutes, section 114D.30, subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin (h) $750,000 the first year and $750,000 the
second year are for a grant program for
sanitary sewer projects that are included in the
draft or any updated Voyageurs National Park
Clean Water Project Comprehensive Plan to
restore the water quality of waters in
Voyageurs National Park. Grants must be
awarded to local government units for projects
approved by the Voyageurs National Park
Clean Water Joint Powers Board and must be
matched by at least 25 percent from sources
other than the clean water fund.
new text end

new text begin (i) Any unencumbered grant balances in the
first year do not cancel but are available for
grants in the second year. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the
appropriations in this section are available
until June 30, 2030.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 14,150,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 14,650,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $2,825,000 the first year and $2,825,000
the second year are for stream flow
monitoring.
new text end

new text begin (b) $1,525,000 the first year and $1,525,000
the second year are for lake Index of
Biological Integrity (IBI) assessments.
new text end

new text begin (c) $550,000 the first year and $550,000 the
second year are for assessing mercury and
other fish contaminants, including PFAS
compounds, and monitoring to track the status
of impaired waters over time.
new text end

new text begin (d) $2,250,000 the first year and $2,500,000
the second year are for developing targeted,
science-based watershed restoration and
protection strategies and for technical
assistance for local governments.
new text end

new text begin (e) $2,350,000 the first year and $2,350,000
the second year are for water-supply planning,
aquifer protection, and monitoring activities
and analysis.
new text end

new text begin (f) $2,100,000 the first year and $2,250,000
the second year are for technical assistance to
support local implementation of nonpoint
source restoration and protection activities and
targeted forest stewardship for water quality.
new text end

new text begin (g) $700,000 the first year and $700,000 the
second year are for tool development and
evaluation, including maintaining and updating
spatial data for watershed boundaries, streams,
and water bodies and integrating
high-resolution digital elevation data and for
assessing the effectiveness of forestry best
management practices for water quality.
new text end

new text begin (h) $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the
second year are for accelerating completion
of or updates to county geologic atlases and
supplementing water chemistry or chemical
movement studies.
new text end

new text begin (i) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the
second year are for increasing native
freshwater mussel production capacity and
restoring and monitoring freshwater mussel
restoration efforts.
new text end

new text begin (j) $1,400,000 the first year and $1,500,000
the second year are for providing technical
and financial assistance for county and local
governments to replace failing or ineffective
culverts using modern designs that restore
floodplain connectivity, biological
connectivity, and channel stability. This
appropriation is available for up to two
additional years.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 64,332,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 75,004,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $39,962,000 the first year and $48,138,000
the second year are for agreements to
implement state-approved watershed-based
plans. The agreements may be used to
implement projects or programs that protect,
enhance, and restore surface water quality in
lakes, rivers, and streams; protect groundwater
from degradation; and protect drinking water
sources. Activities must be identified in a
comprehensive watershed plan developed
under the One Watershed, One Plan program
and seven-county metropolitan groundwater
or surface water management frameworks as
provided for in Minnesota Statutes, chapters
103B, 103C, 103D, and 114D. Other legacy
funds may be used to supplement projects
funded under this paragraph. This
appropriation may be used for:
new text end

new text begin (1) implementing state-approved plans,
including within the following watershed
planning areas: Big Fork River, Blue Earth
River, Bois de Sioux - Mustinka, Buffalo-Red
River, Cannon River, Cedar - Wapsipinicon,
Chippewa River, Clearwater River,
Cottonwood-Middle Minnesota, Crow Wing
River, Des Moines River, Greater Zumbro
River, Hawk Creek - Middle Minnesota, Kettle
and Upper St. Croix, Lac qui Parle-Yellow
Bank, Lake of the Woods, Lake Superior
North, Le Sueur River, Leech Lake River,
Little Fork River, Long Prairie River, Lower
Minnesota River East, Lower Minnesota River
West, Lower St. Croix River,
Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers, Minnesota
River-Mankato, Mississippi River Brainerd,
Mississippi River Headwaters, Mississippi
River St. Cloud, Mississippi River-Sartell,
Mississippi River Winona/La Crescent,
Missouri River Basin, Nemadji River, North
Fork Crow River, Otter Tail, Pine River,
Pomme de Terre River, Rainy-Rapid River,
Rainy Headwaters - Vermilion, Rainy
River-Rainy Lake, Red Lake River, Redeye
River, Redwood River, Root River, Roseau
River, Rum River, Sand Hill River, Sauk
River, Shell Rock and Winnebago River,
Snake River, South Fork of the Crow River,
St. Louis River, Thief River, Two Rivers Plus,
Upper and Lower Red Lake, Upper Minnesota
River, Upper Mississippi - Grand Rapids,
Watonwan River, Wild Rice - Marsh, and
Yellow Medicine River;
new text end

new text begin (2) implementing seven-county metropolitan
groundwater or surface water management
frameworks; and
new text end

new text begin (3) implementing other comprehensive
watershed management plan planning areas
that have a board-approved and
local-government-adopted plan as authorized
in Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.801.
new text end

new text begin The board must establish eligibility criteria
and determine whether a planning area is ready
to proceed.
new text end

new text begin (b) $2,935,000 the first year and $3,065,000
the second year are for agreements with local
government units to protect and restore surface
water and drinking water; to keep water on
the land; to protect, enhance, and restore water
quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; and to
protect groundwater and drinking water,
including feedlot water quality and subsurface
sewage treatment system projects and stream
bank, stream channel, shoreline restoration,
and ravine stabilization projects. The projects
must use practices demonstrated to be
effective, be of long-lasting public benefit,
include a match, and be consistent with total
maximum daily load (TMDL) implementation
plans, watershed restoration and protection
strategies (WRAPS), groundwater restoration
and protection strategies (GRAPS), or local
water management plans or their equivalents.
Up to 50 percent of this appropriation is
available for land-treatment projects and
practices that benefit drinking water.
new text end

new text begin (c) $4,350,000 the first year and $4,350,000
the second year are for accelerated
implementation, local resource protection,
statewide analytical targeting or technology
tools that fill an identified gap, program
enhancements for technical assistance, citizen
and community outreach, compliance, and
training and certification.
new text end

new text begin (d) $1,250,000 the first year and $1,250,000
the second year are:
new text end

new text begin (1) to provide state oversight and
accountability, evaluate and communicate
results, provide implementation tools, and
measure the value of conservation program
implementation by local governments; and
new text end

new text begin (2) to submit to the legislature by December
15 each even-numbered year a biennial report
detailing the recipients and projects funded
and the results accomplished under this
section.
new text end

new text begin (e) $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000
the second year are to provide assistance,
oversight, and support for local governments
in implementing and complying with riparian
protection and excessive soil loss
requirements.
new text end

new text begin (f) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000
the second year are for a working lands
floodplain program and to purchase, restore,
or preserve riparian land and floodplains
adjacent to lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams,
and tributaries, by conservation easements or
other agreements to keep water on the land,
to decrease sediment, pollutant, and nutrient
transport; reduce hydrologic impacts to surface
waters; and increase protection and recharge
for groundwater. Up to $60,000 is for deposit
in a conservation easement stewardship
account established according to Minnesota
Statutes, section 103B.103.
new text end

new text begin (g) $2,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000
the second year are for conservation easements
under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.501
to 103F.535, or for agreements with local units
of government or Tribal governments for
long-term protection of groundwater supply
sources. Priority must be placed on drinking
water supply management areas where the
vulnerability of the drinking water supply is
designated as high or very high by the
commissioner of health, that are mitigation
level 1 or 2 under the groundwater protection
rule, where drinking water protection plans
developed by Tribal governments have
identified high vulnerability, or where drinking
water protection plans have identified specific
activities that will achieve long-term
protection. Up to $200,000 is for deposit in a
conservation easement stewardship account
established according to Minnesota Statutes,
section 103B.103.
new text end

new text begin (h) $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the
second year are for a technical evaluation
panel to conduct restoration evaluations under
Minnesota Statutes, section 114D.50,
subdivision 6.
new text end

new text begin (i) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the
second year are for assistance to, oversight of,
and agreements with local governments to
enhance and update comprehensive watershed
management plans developed under Minnesota
Statutes, section 103B.801.
new text end

new text begin (j) $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000
the second year are for technical and financial
assistance for the conservation drainage
program, in consultation with the Drainage
Work Group, coordinated under Minnesota
Statutes, section 103B.101, subdivision 13,
and including projects to improve
multipurpose water management under
Minnesota Statutes, section 103E.015.
new text end

new text begin (k) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the
second year are to purchase permanent
conservation easements to protect lands
adjacent to public waters that have good water
quality but that are threatened with
degradation. Up to $60,000 is for deposit in a
conservation easement stewardship account
established according to Minnesota Statutes,
section 103B.103.
new text end

new text begin (l) $425,000 the first year and $425,000 the
second year are to systematically collect data
and produce county, watershed, and statewide
estimates of soil erosion caused by water and
wind, and track adoption of conservation
measures, including cover crops, to address
erosion. This appropriation may be used for
agreements with the University of Minnesota
to complete this work.
new text end

new text begin (m) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the
second year are for implementing a water
legacy program to expand partnerships for
clean water.
new text end

new text begin (n) $2,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000
the second year are for permanent
conservation easements to protect and restore
wetlands and associated uplands. Up to
$100,000 is for deposit in a conservation
easement stewardship account established
according to Minnesota Statutes, section
103B.103.
new text end

new text begin (o) $3,560,000 the first year and $5,926,000
the second year are for financial and technical
assistance to enhance adoption of cover crops
and other soil health practices to achieve water
quality or drinking water benefits. The board
may use agreements with local governments,
the United States Department of Agriculture,
AgCentric at Minnesota State Center for
Excellence, and other practitioners and
partners to accomplish this work. Up to
$450,000 is for an agreement with the
University of Minnesota Office for Soil Health
for applied research and education on
Minnesota's agroecosystems and soil health
management systems. This appropriation may
be extended to leverage available federal
funds.
new text end

new text begin (p) $750,000 the first year and $750,000 the
second year are to contract for delivery of
services with Conservation Corps Minnesota
and Iowa for restoration, maintenance,
training, and other activities consistent with
this section.
new text end

new text begin (q) $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the
second year are to provide support to soil and
water conservation districts and other local
governments and partner organizations in the
Lake Superior basin to leverage Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative or other federal funding
to implement prioritized activities.
new text end

new text begin (r) The board may shift funds in this section
and may adjust the technical and
administrative assistance portion of the funds
to leverage federal or other nonstate funds, to
facilitate oversight responsibilities, or to
address high-priority activities identified by
the board consistent with local water
management plans.
new text end

new text begin (s) The board must require grantees to specify
the outcomes that will be achieved by the
grants.
new text end

new text begin (t) The appropriations in this section are
available until June 30, 2030, except grant or
easement funds are available for five years
after the date a grant or other agreement is
executed. Returned funds must be repurposed
consistent with the purposes of this section.
new text end

Sec. 7. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 14,295,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 15,845,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $5,925,000 the first year and $5,925,000
the second year are to develop health risk
limits and other health-based guidance and
conduct outreach activities for contaminants
found or anticipated to be found in Minnesota
drinking water; to accredit private laboratories
to conduct analyses for these contaminants;
and to increase the capacity of the
department's laboratory to analyze for these
contaminants.
new text end

new text begin (b) $2,300,000 the first year and $3,700,000
the second year are for ensuring safe drinking
water for private well users in southeast
Minnesota and statewide by designing and
implementing voluntary interventions to
reduce health risks to private well users,
including identifying private well locations,
studying the occurrence and magnitude of
contaminants in private wells, developing
guidance and conducting outreach and
education about well testing and mitigation,
awarding grants to local governments, and
offering well testing.
new text end

new text begin (c) $3,770,000 the first year and $3,920,000
the second year are for protecting sources of
drinking water, including planning,
implementation, and monitoring activities and
grants to local governments and public water
systems.
new text end

new text begin (d) $1,750,000 the first year and $1,750,000
the second year are to develop and deliver
groundwater restoration and protection
strategies on a watershed scale for use in local
comprehensive water planning efforts, to
provide resources to local governments for
activities that sustain groundwater and protect
sources of drinking water, and to enhance
approaches that improve the capacity of local
governmental units to protect and restore
groundwater resources.
new text end

new text begin (e) $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the
second year are to develop public health
policies and approaches to address threats to
safe drinking water, including implementation
of a statewide action plan for protecting
drinking water.
new text end

new text begin (f) $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the
second year are for optimizing the statewide
recreational water portal that includes an
inventory of public beaches and information
about local monitoring results and closures
and that provides information about preventing
illness and recreational water stewardship.
new text end

new text begin (g) Unless otherwise specified, the
appropriations in this section are available
until June 30, 2029.
new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin METROPOLITAN COUNCIL new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 2,025,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 2,125,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $1,375,000 the first year and $1,375,000
the second year are to support communities
implementing projects that address emerging
drinking water supply threats and overall water
sustainability, provide cost-effective regional
solutions, leverage interjurisdictional
coordination, support local implementation of
wellhead protection plans, and prevent
degradation of groundwater and surface water
resources. These activities will provide
communities with:
new text end

new text begin (1) potential solutions to better connect land
use impacts on water supply and overall water
sustainability;
new text end

new text begin (2) ways to balance regional water use by
using surface water, stormwater, wastewater,
and groundwater;
new text end

new text begin (3) an analysis of infrastructure requirements
needed to maintain and strengthen the
reliability of water systems;
new text end

new text begin (4) development of planning-level cost
estimates, including capital costs and operating
costs;
new text end

new text begin (5) funding mechanisms and an equitable
cost-sharing structure for regionally beneficial
water supply development projects;
new text end

new text begin (6) information and tools to use to address
climate change impacts on overall water
supply systems and overall water
sustainability; and
new text end

new text begin (7) ways to reduce impacts on the groundwater
system through stormwater reuse grants to
assist communities in reducing water use.
new text end

new text begin (b) $650,000 the first year and $750,000 the
second year are for grants that implement
water demand reduction measures. The grants
are to assist municipalities in the metropolitan
area with implementing water demand
reduction measures to ensure the reliability
and protection of drinking water supplies.
new text end

Sec. 9. new text begin UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 1,000,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 1,400,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $400,000 the first year and $400,000 the
second year are for developing Part A of
county geologic atlases. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2030.
new text end

new text begin (b) $600,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the
second year are for a program to evaluate
performance and technology transfer for
stormwater best management practices, to
evaluate best management performance and
effectiveness to support meeting total
maximum daily loads, to develop standards
and incorporate state-of-the-art guidance using
minimal impact design standards as the model,
and to implement a system to transfer
knowledge and technology across the local
government, industry, and regulatory sectors.
This appropriation is available until June 30,
2032.
new text end

Sec. 10. new text begin PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 8,240,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 8,300,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $8,190,000 the first year and $8,250,000
the second year are for the point source
implementation grants program under
Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.073. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2032.
new text end

new text begin (b) $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the
second year are for small community
wastewater treatment grants and loans under
Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.075. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2032.
new text end

new text begin (c) If there is any uncommitted money at the
end of each fiscal year under paragraph (a) or
(b), the Public Facilities Authority may
transfer the remaining funds to eligible
projects under any of the programs listed in
this section according to a project's priority
rank on the Pollution Control Agency's project
priority list.
new text end

Sec. 11. new text begin LEGISLATURE new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 7,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin $7,000 the first year is for the Legislative
Coordinating Commission for the website
required under Minnesota Statutes, section
3.303, subdivision 10.
new text end

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 114D.30, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Reports to legislature.

By January 15 each odd-numbered year, the council
must submit a report to the legislature that includes:

(1) a summary of the activities for which money has been or will be spent in the current
biennium;

(2) the recommendations required under subdivision 6 for how money in the clean water
fund should be spent in the next biennium, new text begin broken out by fiscal year and new text end including
recommended legislative bill language; and

(3) the impact on economic development of the implementation of efforts to protect and
restore groundwater and the impaired waters program.

Sec. 13. new text begin ASH RIVER SANITARY SEWER COLLECTION AND TREATMENT
SYSTEM APPROPRIATION EXTENSION.
new text end

new text begin The portion of the appropriation in Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 2, article
2, section 5, paragraph (h), as amended by Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 1,
article 2, section 18, for the Ash River Sanitary Sewer Collection and Treatment System is
available until June 30, 2026.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

ARTICLE 3

PARKS AND TRAILS FUND

Section 1. new text begin PARKS AND TRAILS FUND APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies
and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the parks and
trails fund and are available for the fiscal years indicated for each purpose. The figures
"2026" and "2027" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed under the figure
are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The
first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" is
fiscal years 2026 and 2027. These are onetime appropriations.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2026 new text end		new text begin 2027 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin PARKS AND TRAILS FUND new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 61,434,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 68,733,000 new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following sections.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Availability of Appropriation new text end

new text begin Money appropriated in this article may not be
spent on activities unless they are directly
related to and necessary for a specific
appropriation. Money appropriated in this
article must be spent in accordance with
Minnesota Management and Budget MMB
Guidance to Agencies on Legacy Fund
Expenditure. Notwithstanding Minnesota
Statutes, section 16A.28, and unless otherwise
specified in this article, fiscal year 2026
appropriations are available until June 30,
2028, and fiscal year 2027 appropriations are
available until June 30, 2029. If a project
receives federal funds, the period of the
appropriation is extended to equal the
availability of federal funding.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Disability Access new text end

new text begin Where appropriate, grant recipients of parks
and trails funds, in consultation with the
Council on Disability and other appropriate
governor-appointed disability councils, boards,
committees, and commissions, should make
progress toward providing people with
disabilities greater access to programs, print
publications, and digital media related to the
programs the recipient funds using
appropriations made in this article.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Energy and Water Conservation new text end

new text begin Grant recipients of parks and trails funds
should prioritize water and energy
conservation technology and the use of
renewable energy for construction and
building projects funded with an appropriation
made in this article.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 37,120,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 41,511,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $24,310,000 the first year and $27,222,000
the second year are for state parks, recreation
areas, and trails to:
new text end

new text begin (1) connect people to the outdoors;
new text end

new text begin (2) acquire land and create opportunities;
new text end

new text begin (3) maintain existing holdings; and
new text end

new text begin (4) improve cooperation by coordinating with
partners to implement the 25-year long-range
parks and trails legacy plan.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may spend money
appropriated under paragraph (a) on I Can!
programs, including but not limited to
programs designed to provide underserved
youth the opportunity to experience the
outdoors with similar peers.
new text end

new text begin (c) $12,196,000 the first year and $13,611,000
the second year are for grants for parks and
trails of regional significance outside the
seven-county metropolitan area under
Minnesota Statutes, section 85.535. The grants
awarded under this paragraph must be based
on the lists of recommended projects
submitted to the legislative committees under
Minnesota Statutes, section 85.536,
subdivision 10, from the Greater Minnesota
Regional Parks and Trails Commission
established under Minnesota Statutes, section
85.536. Grants funded under this paragraph
must support parks and trails of regional or
statewide significance that meet the applicable
definitions and criteria for regional parks and
trails contained in the Greater Minnesota
Regional Parks and Trails Strategic Plan
adopted by the Greater Minnesota Regional
Parks and Trails Commission on April 22,
2015. Grant recipients identified under this
paragraph must submit a grant application to
the commissioner of natural resources.
Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
16B.98, subdivision 14, up to 2.5 percent of
the appropriation may be used by the
commissioner for the actual cost of issuing
and monitoring the grants for the commission.
Of the amount appropriated, $500,000 the first
year and $500,000 the second year are for the
Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails
Commission to carry out its duties under
Minnesota Statutes, section 85.536, including
the continued development of a statewide
system plan for regional parks and trails
outside the seven-county metropolitan area.
new text end

new text begin (d) By January 15, 2026, the Greater
Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails
Commission must submit a list of projects that
contains the commission's recommendations
for funding from the parks and trails fund for
fiscal year 2027 to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the legislative
committees and divisions with jurisdiction
over environment and natural resources and
the parks and trails fund.
new text end

new text begin (e) By January 15, 2026, the Greater
Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails
Commission must submit a report that contains
the commission's criteria for funding from the
parks and trails fund, including the criteria
used to determine if a park or trail is of
regional significance, to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the legislative
committees and divisions with jurisdiction
over environment and natural resources and
the parks and trails fund.
new text end

new text begin (f) $614,000 the first year and $678,000 the
second year are for coordination and projects
between the department, the Metropolitan
Council, and the Greater Minnesota Regional
Parks and Trails Commission; enhanced
web-based information for park and trail users;
and support of activities of the Parks and
Trails Legacy Advisory Committee.
new text end

new text begin (g) The commissioner must contract for
services with Conservation Corps Minnesota
and Iowa for restoration, maintenance, and
other activities under this section for at least
$850,000 the first year and $850,000 the
second year.
new text end

new text begin (h) Grant recipients of an appropriation under
this section must give consideration to
contracting with Conservation Corps
Minnesota and Iowa for restoration,
maintenance, and other activities.
new text end

new text begin (i) In addition to the requirements under
paragraph (g), the commissioner should work
to provide other opportunities that encourage
a diversity of students to pursue careers in
environment and natural resources when
implementing appropriations in this section.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin METROPOLITAN COUNCIL new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 24,310,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 27,222,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $24,310,000 the first year and $27,222,000
the second year are for distribution according
to Minnesota Statutes, section 85.53,
subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin (b) Money appropriated under this section and
distributed to implementing agencies must be
used only to fund the list of projects approved
by the elected representatives of each of the
metropolitan parks implementing agencies.
Projects funded by the money appropriated
under this section must be substantially
consistent with the project descriptions and
dollar amounts approved by each elected body.
Any money remaining after completing the
listed projects may be spent by the
implementing agencies on projects to support
parks and trails.
new text end

new text begin (c) Grant agreements entered into by the
Metropolitan Council and recipients of money
appropriated under this section must ensure
that the money is used to supplement and not
substitute for traditional sources of funding.
new text end

new text begin (d) The implementing agencies receiving
appropriations under this section must give
consideration to contracting with Conservation
Corps Minnesota and Iowa for restoration,
maintenance, and other activities.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin LEGISLATURE new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 4,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin $4,000 the first year is for the Legislative
Coordinating Commission for the website
required under Minnesota Statutes, section
3.303, subdivision 10.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin PARKS AND TRAILS FUND APPROPRIATION EXTENSIONS new text end

new text begin The availability of the grant to Goodhue
County for the Cannon Valley Trail project
from the parks and trails fund fiscal year 2023
appropriation under Laws 2021, First Special
Session chapter 1, article 3, section 3,
paragraph (b), is extended to June 30, 2027.
new text end

new text begin The availability of the grant to Stearns County
for the Beaver Island Trail project from the
parks and trails fund fiscal year 2023
appropriation under Laws 2021, First Special
Session chapter 1, article 3, section 3,
paragraph (b), is extended to June 30, 2027.
new text end

new text begin The availability of the grant to the city of
Winona for the Bluffs Traverse Trail project
from the parks and trails fund fiscal year 2023
appropriation under Laws 2021, First Special
Session chapter 1, article 3, section 3,
paragraph (b), is extended to June 30, 2027.
new text end

new text begin The availability of the grant to the city of
Austin for the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center
project from the parks and trails fund fiscal
year 2024 appropriation under Laws 2023,
chapter 40, article 3, section 3, paragraph (c),
is extended to June 30, 2027.
new text end

new text begin The availability of the grant to the city of
Duluth for the Spirit Mountain Recreation
Area project from the parks and trails fund
fiscal year 2023 appropriation under Laws
2021, First Special Session chapter 1, article
3, section 3, paragraph (b), is extended to June
30, 2027.
new text end

new text begin The availability of the grant to the city of
Duluth for the Waabizheshikana/Marten Trail
project from the parks and trails fund fiscal
year 2024 appropriation under Laws 2023,
chapter 40, article 3, section 3, paragraph (c),
is extended to June 30, 2027.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 7. new text begin CANCELLATIONS new text end

new text begin (a) The unobligated balance from the parks
and trails fund appropriation under Laws 2019,
First Special Session, chapter 2, article 3,
section 3, paragraph (b), for grants estimated
to be $10,000 is canceled to the parks and
trails fund no later than June 30, 2025.
new text end

new text begin (b) The unobligated balance from the parks
and trails fund appropriation under Laws 2021,
First Special Session, chapter 1, article 3,
section 3, paragraph (b), for grants estimated
to be $31,000 is canceled to the parks and
trails fund no later than June 30, 2025.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

ARTICLE 4

ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND

Section 1. new text begin ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the entities
and for the purposes specified in this article. The appropriations are from the arts and cultural
heritage fund and are available for the fiscal years indicated for allowable activities under
the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 15, except that any unencumbered balance
remaining under this article from the first year does not cancel but is available in the second
year. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in this article mean that the appropriations listed
under the figure are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027,
respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The
biennium" is fiscal years 2026 and 2027. All appropriations in this article are onetime.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2026 new text end		new text begin 2027 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 85,293,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 94,618,000 new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Availability of Appropriation new text end

new text begin Money appropriated in this article must not
be spent on activities unless they are directly
related to and necessary for a specific
appropriation. Money appropriated in this
article must not be spent on institutional
overhead charges that are not directly related
to and necessary for a specific appropriation.
Money appropriated in this article must be
spent in accordance with Minnesota
Management and Budget MMB Guidance to
Agencies on Legacy Fund Expenditure.
Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
16A.28, and unless otherwise specified in this
article, fiscal year 2026 appropriations are
available until June 30, 2027, and fiscal year
2027 appropriations are available until June
30, 2028. Water and energy conservation
technology and the use of renewable energy
should be priorities for construction and
building projects funded through this
appropriation. If a project receives federal
funds, the period of the appropriation is
extended to equal the availability of federal
funding.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin MINNESOTA STATE ARTS BOARD new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 37,686,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 46,872,000 new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Grant Agreements new text end

new text begin The amounts in this section are appropriated
to the Minnesota State Arts Board for arts, arts
education, arts preservation, and arts access.
Grant agreements entered into by the
Minnesota State Arts Board and other
recipients of appropriations in this section
must ensure that the money is used to
supplement and not substitute for traditional
sources of funding. Each grant program
established in this appropriation must be
separately administered from other state
appropriations for program planning and
outcome measurements, but may take into
consideration other state resources awarded
in the selection of applicants and grant award
size.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Arts and Arts Access Initiatives new text end

new text begin 29,669,000 new text end

new text begin 37,978,000 new text end

new text begin $29,669,000 the first year and $37,978,000
the second year are to support Minnesota
artists and arts organizations in creating,
producing, and presenting high-quality arts
activities; to preserve, maintain, and interpret
art forms and works of art so that they are
accessible to Minnesota audiences; to
overcome barriers to accessing high-quality
arts activities; and to instill the arts into the
community and public life in this state. Grants
provided under this subdivision must prioritize
artists and arts organizations that plan to
present art from communities that have been
historically underrepresented in the arts or that
improve access to the programs and projects
for groups, including youth and historically
underserved communities, that have struggled
to access arts programming in the past.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Arts Education new text end

new text begin 6,013,000 new text end

new text begin 6,670,000 new text end

new text begin $6,013,000 the first year and $6,670,000 the
second year are for high-quality,
age-appropriate arts education for Minnesotans
of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and
understanding of the arts. Priority in the award
of grants under this subdivision must be given
to providing educational opportunities to
underserved communities with grants for
organizations or entities providing
opportunities to K-12 students throughout the
state for arts education, including access to
arts instruction, arts programming, museums,
and arts presentations.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Arts and Cultural Heritage new text end

new text begin 2,004,000 new text end

new text begin 2,224,000 new text end

new text begin $2,004,000 the first year and $2,224,000 the
second year are for events and activities that
represent, preserve, and maintain the diverse
cultural arts traditions, including folk and
traditional artists and art organizations,
represented in this state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end new text begin Administrative Costs new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
16B.98, subdivision 14, up to five percent of
the totals in subdivisions 3 to 5 each year is
for administering grant programs, delivering
technical services, providing fiscal oversight
for the statewide system, and ensuring
accountability in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end new text begin Regional Arts Councils new text end

new text begin Thirty percent of the remaining total
appropriation to each of the categories listed
in subdivisions 3 to 5 is for grants to the
regional arts councils. Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, regional arts council
grants or other arts council grants for touring
programs, projects, or exhibits must ensure
the programs, projects, or exhibits are able to
tour in their own region as well as all other
regions of the state.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 17,618,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 18,768,000 new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Grant Agreements new text end

new text begin (a) The amounts in this section are
appropriated to the governing board of the
Minnesota Historical Society to preserve and
enhance access to Minnesota's history and its
cultural and historical resources. Grant
agreements entered into by the Minnesota
Historical Society and other recipients of
appropriations in this section must ensure that
the money is used to supplement and not
substitute for traditional sources of funding.
Money directly appropriated to the Minnesota
Historical Society must be used to supplement
and not substitute for traditional sources of
funding. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes,
section 16A.28, for historic preservation
projects that improve historic structures, the
amounts are available until June 30, 2029. The
Minnesota Historical Society or grant
recipients of the Minnesota Historical Society
using money from the arts and cultural
heritage fund under this section must give
consideration to Conservation Corps
Minnesota and Iowa and Northern Bedrock
Historic Preservation Corps, or an organization
carrying out similar work, for projects with
the potential to need historic preservation
services.
new text end

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes,
section 16B.98, subdivision 14, up to five
percent of the totals in subdivisions 3 and 4
each year is for administering grants and grant
programs, delivering technical services,
providing fiscal oversight, and ensuring
accountability in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Historical Grants and Programs new text end

new text begin 16,493,000 new text end

new text begin 17,643,000 new text end

new text begin (a) Statewide Historic and Cultural Grants new text end

new text begin $6,093,000 the first year and $6,858,000 the
second year are for statewide historic and
cultural grants to local, county, regional, or
other historical or cultural organizations or for
activities to preserve significant historic and
cultural resources. Money must be distributed
through a competitive grant process. The
Minnesota Historical Society must administer
the money using established grant mechanisms
with assistance from the advisory committee
created under Laws 2009, chapter 172, article
4, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), item
(ii).
new text end

new text begin (b) Statewide History Programs new text end

new text begin $6,775,000 the first year and $7,160,000 the
second year are for historic and cultural
programs and purposes related to the heritage
of the state.
new text end

new text begin (c) History Partnerships new text end

new text begin $2,875,000 the first year and $2,875,000 the
second year are for history partnerships
involving multiple organizations, which may
include the Minnesota Historical Society, to
preserve and enhance access to Minnesota's
history and cultural heritage in all regions of
the state.
new text end

new text begin (d) Statewide Survey of Historical and Archaeological Sites new text end

new text begin $375,000 the first year and $375,000 the
second year are for one or more contracts to
be competitively awarded to conduct statewide
surveys or investigations of Minnesota's sites
of historical, archeological, and cultural
significance. Results of the surveys or
investigations must be published in a
searchable form and available to the public
cost-free. The Minnesota Historical Society,
the Office of the State Archeologist, the Indian
Affairs Council, and the State Historic
Preservation Office must each appoint a
representative to an oversight board to select
contractors and direct the conduct of the
surveys or investigations. The oversight board
must consult with the Departments of
Transportation and Natural Resources.
new text end

new text begin (e) Digital Library new text end

new text begin $375,000 the first year and $375,000 the
second year are for a digital library project to
preserve, digitize, and share Minnesota
images, documents, and historical materials.
The Minnesota Historical Society must
cooperate with the Minitex interlibrary loan
system and must jointly share this
appropriation for these purposes.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Grants new text end

new text begin 1,125,000 new text end

new text begin 1,125,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $1,000,000 each year is for grants to
community-based organizations and local units
of government for statues and memorials
commemorating the historical significance
and cultural contributions of Minnesotans and
for buildings or structures that are considered
historically significant to their local
communities to improve access to the
buildings or structures, to preserve the
buildings or structures, or to enhance the use
of the buildings or structures, including
improving access to museums, music halls,
opera houses, libraries, and sites celebrating
diverse cultures and heritages throughout the
state. Grant money not encumbered in the first
year is available for statewide history
programs in the second year. The Minnesota
Historical Society must give priority
consideration for funding under this paragraph
to the city of St. Paul to design and construct
a mural and statue honoring Tou Ger Xiong
at Lake Phalen's Tou Ger Xiong Island in St.
Paul, the city of Marshall to replace the
historic bandshell at Liberty Park, the George
Stoppel Farmstead, the Serbian Home in South
St. Paul, the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial
Committee to construct a memorial to veterans
of the United States armed forces at Lakeside
Memorial Park in the city of Forest Lake, the
Fairmont Opera House for structural beam
repair, and the Litchfield Opera House for
expanding and installing balcony seating.
new text end

new text begin (b) $125,000 the first year and $125,000 the
second year are for a grant to Special Guerrilla
Units Veterans and Families of USA, Inc. to
collect, document, archive, and preserve the
oral histories of Hmong veterans of the United
States-sponsored Secret War in Laos and to
create programming and educational resources
to teach the public and future generations
about the history, legacy, and cultural heritage
of the Hmong in Minnesota.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 2,700,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 2,700,000 new text end

new text begin $2,700,000 the first year and $2,700,000 the
second year are appropriated to the
commissioner of education for grants to the
12 Minnesota regional library systems to
provide educational opportunities in the arts,
history, literary arts, and cultural heritage of
Minnesota. When possible, funding under this
section should be used to promote and share
the work of Minnesota authors, including
authors from diverse backgrounds. This money
must be allocated using the formulas in
Minnesota Statutes, section 134.355,
subdivisions 3 to 5, with the remaining 25
percent to be distributed to all qualifying
systems in an amount proportionate to the
number of qualifying system entities in each
system. For purposes of this section,
"qualifying system entity" means a public
library, a regional library system, a regional
library system headquarters, a county, or an
outreach service program. This money may
be used to sponsor programs provided by
regional libraries or to provide grants to local
arts and cultural heritage programs for
programs in partnership with regional libraries.
This money must be distributed in ten equal
payments per year. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the
appropriations encumbered on or before June
30, 2027, as grants or contracts in this section
are available until June 30, 2029.
Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
16B.98, subdivision 14, up to two percent of
the amount in this section is for administering
the grants in this section.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 9,105,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 10,505,000 new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Grant Agreements new text end

new text begin (a) The amounts in this section are
appropriated to the commissioner of
administration for grants to the named
organizations for the purposes specified in this
section.
new text end

new text begin (b) Grant agreements entered into by the
commissioner and recipients of appropriations
under this section must ensure that money
appropriated in this section is used to
supplement and not substitute for traditional
sources of funding.
new text end

new text begin (c) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes,
section 16B.98, subdivision 14, up to five
percent of the amounts in subdivision 3 are
for administering the grants, providing fiscal
oversight, and ensuring accountability in fiscal
years 2026 and 2027.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Grants new text end

new text begin 9,105,000 new text end

new text begin 10,505,000 new text end

new text begin (a) Minnesota Public Radio new text end

new text begin $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the
second year are for Minnesota Public Radio.
This appropriation must be used only to create
and share programming on Minnesota's arts
and cultural heritage and history.
new text end

new text begin (b) Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations new text end

new text begin $1,557,000 the first year and $2,057,000 the
second year are to the Association of
Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations
for production and acquisition grants in
accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section
129D.19.
new text end

new text begin (c) Public Television new text end

new text begin $3,686,000 the first year and $4,686,000 the
second year are to the Minnesota Public
Television Association for production and
acquisition grants according to Minnesota
Statutes, section 129D.18.
new text end

new text begin (d) Como Park Zoo new text end

new text begin $1,520,000 the first year and $1,520,000 the
second year are to the Como Park Zoo and
Conservatory for program development that
features educational programs and habitat
enhancement, special exhibits, music
appreciation programs, and historical garden
access and preservation.
new text end

new text begin (e) Great Lakes Aquarium new text end

new text begin $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the
second year are to the Great Lakes Aquarium
for a lake sturgeon project, including an
exhibit and public education on lake sturgeon,
in cooperation with the commissioner of
natural resources, Fond du Lac Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa, and United States Fish
and Wildlife Services.
new text end

new text begin (f) The Bakken Museum new text end

new text begin $75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second
year are for a grant to The Bakken Museum
for interactive exhibits and outreach programs
on arts and cultural heritage.
new text end

new text begin (g) Wilderness Inquiry new text end

new text begin $485,000 the first year and $485,000 the
second year are to Wilderness Inquiry to
preserve Minnesota's outdoor history, culture,
and heritage by connecting Minnesota youth
and families to natural resources.
new text end

new text begin (h) Science Museum of Minnesota new text end

new text begin $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the
second year are to the Science Museum of
Minnesota for arts, arts education, and arts
access and to preserve Minnesota's history and
cultural heritage, including student and teacher
outreach, statewide educational initiatives, and
community-based exhibits that preserve
Minnesota's history and cultural heritage.
new text end

new text begin (i) Lake Superior Zoo new text end

new text begin $132,000 the first year and $132,000 the
second year are to the Lake Superior Zoo to
develop educational exhibits and programs.
new text end

new text begin (j) Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery new text end

new text begin $100,000 the first year is for a grant to the
Minnesota African American Heritage
Museum and Gallery for cultural
programming.
new text end

Sec. 7. new text begin MINNESOTA ZOO new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 1,700,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 1,700,000 new text end

new text begin The amounts in this section are appropriated
to the Minnesota Zoological Board for
programs at and development of the Minnesota
Zoological Garden and to provide access and
education related to programs on the cultural
heritage of Minnesota.
new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin MINNESOTA HUMANITIES CENTER new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 14,424,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 12,018,000 new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin Grant Agreements new text end

new text begin (a) The amounts in this section are
appropriated to the Board of Directors of the
Minnesota Humanities Center for the purposes
specified in this section. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98,
subdivision 14, the Minnesota Humanities
Center may use up to 5.5 percent of the
appropriations for the administration of these
funds and to cover the cost of administering,
planning, evaluating, and reporting these
grants. The Minnesota Humanities Center
must develop a written plan to issue the grants
under this section and must submit the plan
for review and approval by the commissioner
of administration. The written plan must
require the Minnesota Humanities Center to
create and adhere to grant policies that are
similar to those established according to
Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.97,
subdivision 4, paragraph (a), clause (1).
new text end

new text begin (b) No grants awarded under this section may
be used for travel outside the state of
Minnesota. The grant agreement must specify
the repercussions for failing to comply with
the grant agreement.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Programs new text end

new text begin 2,525,000 new text end

new text begin 2,500,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $2,500,000 the first year and $2,500,000
the second year are for statewide humanities
programs and to support and expand outreach,
partnerships, and humanities programming
with organizations and individuals throughout
the state, including but not limited to
programming related to veterans and the
military experience, professional development
opportunities for educators, and programming
celebrating, representing, and reflecting upon
the heritage of diverse Minnesota communities
that have been historically underserved.
new text end

new text begin (b) $25,000 the first year is for outreach and
education on the humanities center grant
program with a focus on reaching underserved
community organizations and providing
assistance with grant opportunities,
qualifications, and reporting requirements, and
specifically providing technical assistance and
a nontraditional application process to improve
access to grant funding.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end new text begin Children's Museum Grants new text end

new text begin 1,250,000 new text end

new text begin 1,250,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $1,250,000 the first year and $1,250,000
the second year are for arts and cultural
heritage grants to children's museums for arts
and cultural exhibits and related educational
outreach programs. The Minnesota Humanities
Center must administer this money using
established grant mechanisms.
new text end

new text begin (b) Of the amount in paragraph (a), $500,000
each year is for the Minnesota Children's
Museum, St. Paul.
new text end

new text begin (c) Of the amount in paragraph (a), $750,000
each year is for competitive grants. The
Minnesota Humanities Center must give
priority consideration for the grants to The
Works, Bloomington; WonderTrek Children's
Museum, Brainerd-Baxter; Children's
Discovery Center, Breckenridge; Duluth
Children's Museum, Duluth; Otter Cove
Children's Museum, Fergus Falls; Children's
Discovery Museum, Grand Rapids; Wheel and
Cog Children's Museum, Hutchinson;
Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota,
Mankato; Great River Children's Museum, St.
Cloud; The Village Children's Museum,
Willmar; Mini Sota Ag Museum, Benson; and
SPARK Children's Museum, Rochester.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end new text begin Community Identity and Heritage Competitive Grant Program new text end

new text begin 8,799,000 new text end

new text begin 7,368,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $8,799,000 the first year and $7,368,000
the second year are for a competitive grant
program to provide funding to organizations
or individuals working to create, celebrate,
and teach the art, culture, and heritage of the
many diverse cultural groups that make up
Minnesota, including but not limited to
Indigenous organizations, communities whose
culture and heritage have been historically
underrepresented, recent immigrant
communities, and veterans. An individual or
organization that receives a grant under this
subdivision must do at least one of the
following:
new text end

new text begin (1) preserve and honor the cultural heritage of
Minnesota;
new text end

new text begin (2) provide education and student outreach on
cultural diversity;
new text end

new text begin (3) support the development of culturally
diverse humanities programming, including
arts programming, by individuals and
organizations; or
new text end

new text begin (4) empower communities in building identity
and culture, including preserving and honoring
communities whose Indigenous cultures are
endangered or disappearing.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Minnesota Humanities Center must
give priority consideration for grants to Art
from the Inside, arts programs in the
Moorhead and Maplewood cultural malls, the
Asian Economic Development Association,
Capri Theater, the Minnesota State Band,
Fight for Your Dreams, HIRPHA International
for Oromo youth programs, the Hmong
Cultural Center, Midnimo, MN Zej Zog,
People in Action, the Phyllis Wheatley
Community Center, Safe Summer Nights,
Siengkane Lao MN, the Stairstep Foundation,
and the Walker West Music Academy.
new text end

new text begin (c) At least 75 percent of the amount in
paragraphs (d) to (f) must be for grants of less
than $200,000. A grant awarded to an entity
receiving priority consideration under
paragraphs (d) to (f) must not exceed
$200,000.
new text end

new text begin (d) Of the amount in paragraph (a), $1,500,000
each year is for grants to community-based
organizations and local governments to
support cultural festivals and events
throughout the state. The funding may support
arts and cultural programming, staffing,
community outreach, transportation, facilities
and equipment rentals, signage, and public
safety expense reimbursements. The
Minnesota Humanities Center must give
priority consideration for funding under this
paragraph to the Somali Museum Annual
Celebration, Twin Cities Jazz Fest, Selby
Avenue Jazz Fest, the International Hmong
Freedom Festival, Cinco de Mayo festival,
and Rondo Days in St. Paul; the Hiddo Soor
International Somali Cultural Festival in
Plymouth; Somali Independence Day in St.
Paul; sesquicentennial celebrations in Osseo
and Delano; Taste of Minnesota; and IgboFest
Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (e) Of the amount in paragraph (a), $750,000
the first year and $750,000 the second year
are for grants to community-based
organizations and local governments for
museums, exhibits, and collections.
new text end

new text begin (f) Of the amount in paragraph (a), $250,000
the first year and $250,000 the second year
are for grants to provide funding to ethnic
media organizations creating video content in
a language other than English.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end new text begin Minnesota Musicians new text end

new text begin 200,000 new text end

new text begin 200,000 new text end

new text begin $200,000 each year is for a competitive grant
program to award grants to Minnesota
musicians to create, produce, and perform
music throughout the state.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end new text begin Youth Literary Grants new text end

new text begin 250,000 new text end

new text begin 250,000 new text end

new text begin $250,000 each year is for competitive grants
to individual authors and organizations
creating and producing books. The grants
under this subdivision must be used for the
creation and distribution of books for youth
that celebrate cultural expression with a focus
on excellent creative work and educational
value.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end new text begin Youth Poet Laureate new text end

new text begin 100,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin $100,000 the first year is for a grant to a
nonprofit to operate a statewide youth poet
laureate program in coordination with the
Minnesota Humanities Center. The program
may provide creative writing outreach,
programming, and events related to creative
writing and must award a young person who
is 13 to 19 years of age, through a competitive
process similar to the National Youth Poet
Laureate program, to be the Minnesota Youth
Poet Laureate and provide opportunities to
celebrate, mentor, and highlight the work of
the Youth Poet Laureate and young writers in
Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end new text begin Grants new text end

new text begin 350,000 new text end

new text begin 150,000 new text end

new text begin (a) (Neo)Muralismos de Mexico new text end

new text begin $100,000 the first year is for a grant to
(Neo)Muralismos de Mexico to expand arts
programming that celebrates Latino cultural
heritage through workshops and support to
local artists through capacity building,
professional development, networking, and
presentation opportunities on Latino arts and
culture.
new text end

new text begin (b) Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts new text end

new text begin $100,000 the first year is for a grant to the
Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts for
after-school educational programming that
includes instruction in dance, voice, and
drama.
new text end

new text begin (c) United Hmong Family new text end

new text begin $150,000 each year is for a grant to the United
Hmong Family to provide dance and other arts
and cultural programming.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end new text begin Community Identity and Heritage Emergency Grants new text end

new text begin 300,000 new text end

new text begin 300,000 new text end

new text begin $300,000 the first year and $300,000 the
second year are for emergency grants to
organizations otherwise qualified to receive
grants under subdivision 5 and must be
awarded on a rolling basis based on emerging
needs to assist communities responding to
major events and to facilitate the process of
grieving, encourage healing, create memorials,
or assist in recovery of the community. Any
amount described in the preceding sentence
that is not expended by October 15 of the
second year may be used for general
programming costs or grants under subdivision
5.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 11. new text end new text begin Underrepresented Groups Cultural Studies Materials new text end

new text begin 400,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin $400,000 the first year is for competitive
grants to develop high-quality academic,
cultural, and ethnic studies materials for
communities that do not have adequate
cultural and ethnic studies materials or who
are underrepresented in those materials,
including but not limited to the Hmong, Karen,
Somali, and Oromo cultures and cultures
without a formal writing system that are
largely oral-based. In developing these
materials, a recipient of a grant under this
subdivision must work with school districts
that intend to use the materials.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 12. new text end new text begin Gordon Parks Commemoration new text end

new text begin 250,000 new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin $250,000 the first year is for a grant to create
an art installation and programming to
celebrate the incredible life and rich legacy of
Gordon Parks.
new text end

Sec. 9. new text begin INDIAN AFFAIRS COUNCIL new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 1,305,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 1,305,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $650,000 each year is to provide grants to
Minnesota Tribal Nations to preserve Dakota
and Ojibwe Indian language and to foster
education programs and services for Dakota
and Ojibwe language.
new text end

new text begin (b) $525,000 each year is to provide grants to
preserve the Dakota and Ojibwe Indian
language through support of projects and
services and to support educational programs
and immersion efforts in Dakota and Ojibwe
language.
new text end

new text begin (c) $130,000 each year is for the Indian Affairs
Council to carry out responsibilities under
Minnesota Statutes, section 307.08, to comply
with Public Law 101-601, the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation
Act.
new text end

Sec. 10. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end new text begin Total Appropriation new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 750,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 750,000 new text end

new text begin The amounts that may be spent for each
purpose are specified in the following
subdivisions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end new text begin County Fair Grants new text end

new text begin 500,000 new text end

new text begin 500,000 new text end

new text begin $500,000 the first year and $500,000 the
second year are for grants to county
agricultural societies to enhance arts access
and education and to preserve and promote
Minnesota's history and cultural heritage as
embodied in its county fairs. The grants may
be distributed in equal amounts to each of the
county fairs that submitted an application. The
grants are in addition to the aid distribution to
county agricultural societies under Minnesota
Statutes, section 38.02. The commissioner of
agriculture must develop grant-making criteria
and guidance for expending money under this
subdivision to provide funding for projects
and events that provide access to the arts or
the state's agricultural, historical, and cultural
heritage. The commissioner must seek input
from all interested parties. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.98,
subdivision 14, the commissioner may use up
to two percent of the amounts in this
subdivision for the administration and
distribution of the grants. Money not used in
the first year may be used in the second year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end new text begin Minnesota FFA new text end

new text begin 250,000 new text end

new text begin 250,000 new text end

new text begin (a) $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the
second year are for grants to the Minnesota
FFA to provide new and expanded access for
Minnesota FFA members involved in art- and
history-related FFA activities. Of this amount:
new text end

new text begin (1) up to $100,000 each year may be used to
document and commemorate 100 years of
fostering leadership, agricultural education,
and community service across the state by
creating a history book, video storytelling
series, and an in-person arts-focused event;
and
new text end

new text begin (2) any amount not spent for the purposes
described in clause (1) may be used for other
activities that provide new and expanded
access for Minnesota FFA members involved
in art- and history-related FFA activities,
including activities related to national and state
FFA band and choir, state and national FFA
talent competitions, FFA floriculture, and FFA
state fair landscape booths.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of agriculture must
develop grant-making criteria and guidance
for grants under this subdivision to provide
funding for projects and events and must seek
input from the Minnesota FFA and Minnesota
FFA Foundation. Notwithstanding Minnesota
Statutes, section 16B.98, subdivision 14, the
commissioner may use up to five percent of
the amounts in this subdivision to cover the
costs of administering, planning, evaluating,
and reporting these grants.
new text end

Sec. 11. new text begin LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COMMISSION new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 5,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin The amount in this section is appropriated to
the Legislative Coordinating Commission to
maintain the website required under Minnesota
Statutes, section 3.303, subdivision 10.
new text end

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 129D.17, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Expenditures; accountability.

(a) Funding from the arts and cultural heritage
fund may be spent only for arts, arts education, and arts access, and to preserve Minnesota's
history and cultural heritage. A project or program receiving funding from the arts and
cultural heritage fund must include measurable outcomes, and a plan for measuring and
evaluating the results. A project or program must be consistent with current scholarship, or
best practices, when appropriate and must incorporate state-of-the-art technology when
appropriate.

(b) Funding from the arts and cultural heritage fund may be granted for an entire project
or for part of a project so long as the recipient provides a description and cost for the entire
project and can demonstrate that it has adequate resources to ensure that the entire project
will be completed.

(c) Money from the arts and cultural heritage fund shall be expended for benefits across
all regions and residents of the state.

(d) A state agency or other recipient of a direct appropriation from the arts and cultural
heritage fund must compile and submit all information for funded projects or programs,
including the proposed measurable outcomes and all other items required under section
3.303, subdivision 10, to the Legislative Coordinating Commission as soon as practicable
or by January 15 of the applicable fiscal year, whichever comes first. The Legislative
Coordinating Commission must post submitted information on the website required under
section 3.303, subdivision 10, as soon as it becomes available.

(e) Grants funded by the arts and cultural heritage fund must be implemented according
to section 16B.98 and must account for all expenditures of funds. Priority for grant proposals
must be given to proposals involving grants that will be competitively awarded.

(f) All money from the arts and cultural heritage fund must be for projects located in
Minnesota.

(g) When practicable, a direct recipient of an appropriation from the arts and cultural
heritage fund shall prominently display on the recipient's website home page the legacy
logo required under Laws 2009, chapter 172, article 5, section 10, as amended by Laws
2010, chapter 361, article 3, section 5, accompanied by the phrase "Click here for more
information." When a person clicks on the legacy logo image, the website must direct the
person to a web page that includes both the contact information that a person may use to
obtain additional information, as well as a link to the Legislative Coordinating Commission
website required under section 3.303, subdivision 10.

(h) Future eligibility for money from the arts and cultural heritage fund is contingent
upon a state agency or other recipient satisfying all applicable requirements in this section,
as well as any additional requirements contained in applicable session law. If the Office of
the Legislative Auditor, in the course of an audit or investigation, publicly reports that a
recipient of money from the arts and cultural heritage fund has not complied with the laws,
rules, or regulations in this section or other laws applicable to the recipient, the recipient
must be listed in an annual report to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over the
legacy funds. The list must be publicly available. The legislative auditor shall remove a
recipient from the list upon determination that the recipient is in compliance. A recipient
on the list is not eligible for future funding from the arts and cultural heritage fund until the
recipient demonstrates compliance to the legislative auditor.

(i) Any state agency or organization requesting a direct appropriation from the arts and
cultural heritage fund must inform the house of representatives and senate committees
having jurisdiction over the arts and cultural heritage fund, at the time the request for funding
is made, whether the request is supplanting or is a substitution for any previous funding that
was not from a legacy fund and was used for the same purpose new text begin and provide a copy of the
most recent year's Internal Revenue Service Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt
From Income Tax new text end .

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 129D.17, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Construction costs. new text end

new text begin Money from the arts and cultural heritage fund must not
be appropriated to fund new construction or for capital construction projects, including
major renovations or long-term building projects, with the exception of preservation of
historic structures or sites. This prohibition does not apply to:
new text end

new text begin (1) accessibility accommodations;
new text end

new text begin (2) the creation of exhibits or installations; and
new text end

new text begin (3) renovations to provide care for collections or facilitate exhibits, installations, or other
projects funded with arts and cultural heritage fund appropriations.
new text end

Sec. 14.

Laws 2023, chapter 40, article 4, section 2, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5. Department of Education

3,000,000

2,750,000

(a) $2,750,000 each year is appropriated to
the commissioner of education for grants to
the 12 Minnesota regional library systems to
provide educational opportunities in the arts,
history, literary arts, and cultural heritage of
Minnesota. When possible, funding under this
subdivision should be used to promote and
share the work of Minnesota authors,
including authors from diverse backgrounds.
This money must be allocated using the
formulas in Minnesota Statutes, section
134.355, subdivisions 3 to 5, with the
remaining 25 percent to be distributed to all
qualifying systems in an amount proportionate
to the number of qualifying system entities in
each system. For purposes of this subdivision,
"qualifying system entity" means a public
library, a regional library system, a regional
library system headquarters, a county, or an
outreach service program. This money may
be used to sponsor programs provided by
regional libraries or to provide grants to local
arts and cultural heritage programs for
programs in partnership with regional libraries.
This money must be distributed in ten equal
payments per year. Notwithstanding
Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, the
appropriations encumbered on or before June
30, deleted text begin 2025 deleted text end new text begin 2026 new text end , as grants or contracts in this
subdivision are available until June 30, deleted text begin 2026 deleted text end new text begin
2027 new text end .

(b) $250,000 the first year is appropriated to
the commissioner of education for a water
safety grant program. The commissioner of
education must allocate grants to eligible
applicants. Eligible applicants include
nonprofit organizations and city and county
parks and recreation programs providing
swimming lessons to youth. Eligible applicants
are not required to partner with other entities.
Grant funds must primarily be used to provide
scholarships to low-income and at-risk
children for swimming lessons. Up to 15
percent of the grant funds may also be used
to hire water safety instructors or lifeguards
or train water safety instructors or lifeguards
in nationally recognized water safety practices
and instruction.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 15.

Laws 2023, chapter 40, article 4, section 2, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6. Department of Administration

17,040,000

14,105,000

(a) The amounts in this subdivision are
appropriated to the commissioner of
administration for grants to the named
organizations for the purposes specified in this
subdivision. The commissioner of
administration may use a portion of this
appropriation for costs that are directly related
to and necessary for the administration of
grants in this subdivision.

(b) Grant agreements entered into by the
commissioner and recipients of appropriations
under this subdivision must ensure that money
appropriated in this subdivision is used to
supplement and not substitute for traditional
sources of funding.

(c) Minnesota Public Radio

$2,050,000 each year is for Minnesota Public
Radio to create programming and expand news
service on Minnesota's cultural heritage and
history.

(d) Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations

$2,050,000 the first year and $2,050,000 the
second year are to the Association of
Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations
for production and acquisition grants in
accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section
129D.19.

(e) Public Television

$5,000,000 the first year and $4,500,000 the
second year are to the Minnesota Public
Television Association for production and
acquisition grants according to Minnesota
Statutes, section 129D.18. Of the amount in
the first year, $1,000,000 is for producing
Minnesota military and veterans' history
stories and unique immigrant stories from
around the state.

(f) Wilderness Inquiry

$500,000 the first year and $600,000 the
second year are to Wilderness Inquiry to
preserve Minnesota's outdoor history, culture,
and heritage by connecting Minnesota youth
and families to natural resources.

(g) Como Park Zoo

$1,725,000 each year is to the Como Park Zoo
and Conservatory for program development
that features educational programs and habitat
enhancement, special exhibits, music
appreciation programs, and historical garden
access and preservation.

(h) Science Museum of Minnesota

$825,000 each year is to the Science Museum
of Minnesota for arts, arts education, and arts
access and to preserve Minnesota's history and
cultural heritage, including student and teacher
outreach, statewide educational initiatives, and
community-based exhibits that preserve
Minnesota's history and cultural heritage.

(i) Appetite for Change

$200,000 the first year is to the nonprofit
Appetite for Change for the Community Cooks
programming, which will preserve the cultural
heritage of growing and cooking food in
Minnesota.

(j) Lake Superior Zoo

$150,000 each year is to the Lake Superior
Zoo to develop educational exhibits and
programs.

(k) Great Lakes Aquarium

$250,000 each year is to the Lake Superior
Center Authority to prepare, fabricate, and
install a hands-on exhibit with interactive
learning components to educate Minnesotans
on the history of the natural landscape of the
state.

(l) State Band

$25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second
year are to the Minnesota state band to provide
free concerts throughout the state.

(m) Veterans Memorial Park in Wyoming

$100,000 the first year is for a grant to the city
of Wyoming to build the Veterans Memorial
Plaza and related interpretive walk in Railroad
Park.

(n) Great Northern Festival

$75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second
year are for a grant to support the Great
Northern Festival, which connects attendees
to parks, outdoor spaces, and cultural venues
through a festival.

(o) Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities

$50,000 the first year is to the Minnesota
Governor's Council on Developmental
Disabilities to continue to preserve and raise
awareness of the history of Minnesotans with
developmental disabilities.

(p) Minnesota Council on Disability

$125,000 the first year and $125,000 the
second year are to the Minnesota Council on
Disability to provide educational opportunities
in the arts, history, and cultural heritage of
Minnesotans with disabilities in conjunction
with the 50th anniversary of the Minnesota
Council on Disability. This appropriation is
available until June 30, 2027.

(q) Keller Regional Park

$500,000 the first year is for a grant to Ramsey
County to preserve Minnesota's cultural
heritage by enhancing the tuj lub courts at
Keller Regional Park.

(r) Vietnam War Anniversary

$250,000 the first year is for a grant to the
commissioner of veterans affairs to prepare
and host a commemoration program for the
50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

(s) St. Paul Cultural Art Installation

$500,000 the first year is for a grant to deleted text begin the city
of St. Paul deleted text end new text begin Forecast Public Art new text end for an art
installation celebrating Olympic gold medalist
Suni Lee. new text begin The project funded by this paragraph
must be located in St. Paul at the Conway
Recreation Center or, if that site is not
practicable, at Lake Phalen at the platform
containing the bust of Suni Lee. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2027.
new text end

(t) One Heartland Center

$50,000 each year is for a grant to One
Heartland Center for programming and
outdoor activities for families and youth in
Minnesota.

(u) Forest Lake Veterans Memorial

$100,000 the first year is for a grant to the
Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee
to construct a memorial to veterans of the
United States armed forces at Lakeside
Memorial Park in the city of Forest Lake. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2027.

(v) Hmong Plaza

$450,000 the first year is for a grant to the city
of St. Paul to construct the Hmong Plaza at
Phalen Lake.

(w) Camille Gage Artist Fellowship

$55,000 the first year and $55,000 the second
year are for a grant to YWCA Minneapolis to
fund an annual fellowship to be known as the
Camille J. Gage Artist Fellowship. Of this
amount, up to $5,000 each year may be used
for administrative expenses. YWCA
Minneapolis must select a person for the
Camille J. Gage Artist Fellowship after an
application process that allows both
applications by interested persons and
nominations of persons by third parties. By
October 1, 2026, YWCA Minneapolis must
report to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees and
divisions with jurisdiction over legacy on the
use of money appropriated under this
paragraph and on the activities of the person
selected for the Camille J. Gage Artist
Fellowship under this paragraph. This
appropriation is available until June 30, 2026.

(x) Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery

$235,000 the first year and $125,000 the
second year are for arts and cultural heritage
programming celebrating African American
and Black communities in Minnesota. Of the
amount in the first year, $110,000 is for C.
Caldwell Fine Arts for an outdoor mural
project in North Minneapolis to work with
young people to develop skills while using art
as the impetus.

(y) Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota

$25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second
year are for a grant to the Tibetan American
Foundation of Minnesota to celebrate and
teach the art, culture, and heritage of Tibetan
Americans in Minnesota.

(z) Hong De Wu Guan

$25,000 the first year is for a grant to Hong
De Wu Guan to create cultural arts projects
like Lion Dance for after-school programs for
youth.

(aa) Sepak Takraw of USA

$50,000 the first year is for a grant to the
Sepak Takraw of USA to work with youth and
after-school programs in the community to
teach the cultural games of tuj lub and sepak
takraw. This appropriation may not be used
to hold events.

(bb) 30,000 Feet

$75,000 the first year and $75,000 the second
year are for a grant to 30,000 Feet, a nonprofit
organization, to help youth and community
artists further develop their artistic skills, to
create community art and artistic
performances, and to promote and share
African American history and culture through
the arts.

(cc) Siengkane Lao Minnesota

$50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second
year are for a grant to Siengkane Lao MN to
create cultural arts projects and to preserve
traditional performances.

(dd) Hmong Cultural Center

$150,000 the first year and $150,000 the
second year are for a grant to the Hmong
Cultural Center of Minnesota for
museum-related programming and educational
outreach activities to teach the public about
the historical, cultural, and folk arts heritage
of Hmong Minnesotans.

(ee) Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the
second year are for a grant to Comunidades
Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES) to
expand arts programming to celebrate Latino
cultural heritage; support local artists; and
provide professional development, networking,
and presentation opportunities.

(ff) Hmong RPA Writing System

$300,000 the first year and $300,000 the
second year are for grants to recipients who
have demonstrated knowledge and interest in
preserving Hmong culture to preserve Hmong
Minnesotans' heritage, history, language, and
culture. Grants must be used in conjunction
with Minnesota universities to improve and
develop a unified and standardized Latin
alphabet form of the Hmong RPA writing
system. No portion of this appropriation may
be used to encourage religious membership
or to conduct personal ceremonies or events. new text begin
This appropriation is available until June 30,
2028.
new text end

(gg) Somali Museum of Minnesota

$125,000 the first year and $125,000 the
second year are for a grant to the Somali
Museum of Minnesota for heritage arts and
cultural vitality programs to provide classes,
exhibits, presentations, and outreach about the
Somali community and heritage in Minnesota.

(hh) Minnesota Museum of American Art

$200,000 the first year and $200,000 the
second year are for a grant to the Minnesota
Museum of American Art for exhibit
programming and for a Native American
Fellowship at the museum.

(ii) Fanka Programs

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the
second year are for a grant to Ka Joog
statewide Somali-based collaborative
programs for arts and cultural heritage. The
funding must be used for Fanka programs to
provide arts education and workshops, mentor
programs, and community presentations and
community engagement events throughout
Minnesota.

(jj) The Bakken Museum

$150,000 the first year is for a grant to The
Bakken Museum for interactive exhibits and
outreach programs on arts and cultural
heritage.

(kk) 4-H Shooting Sports

$50,000 the first year is to the University of
Minnesota Extension Office to provide grants
to Minnesota 4-H chapters that have members
participating in state and national
4-H-sanctioned shooting sports events.
Eligible costs for grant money include
shooting sports equipment and supplies and
event fees associated with participating in state
shooting sports events.

(ll) Public Art Saint Paul

$75,000 each year is for a grant to Public Art
Saint Paul for art programming at the Wakpa
Triennial Art Festival to showcase new art
across the Twin Cities by Minnesota artists in
outdoor and indoor settings and to encourage
visitors to experience the arts and culture
produced by local arts and culture
organizations.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 16.

Laws 2024, chapter 106, article 4, section 2, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6. Minnesota Historical Society

-0-

1,201,000

(a) The amounts in this subdivision are
appropriated to the governing board of the
Minnesota Historical Society to preserve and
enhance access to Minnesota's history and its
cultural and historical resources. Grant
agreements entered into by the Minnesota
Historical Society and other recipients of
appropriations in this subdivision must ensure
that these funds are used to supplement and
not substitute for traditional sources of
funding. Funds directly appropriated to the
Minnesota Historical Society must be used to
supplement and not substitute for traditional
sources of funding. The appropriations in this
subdivision are onetime.

(b) Grants

(1) $100,000 the second year is to facilitate
negotiations for the purchase by the state of
the Wizard of Oz ruby slippers through a
combination of available state funds and
nonstate sources of funding new text begin . Any remaining
amount not used to facilitate the purchase of
the slippers by the state may be used as a grant
to the Judy Garland Children's Discovery
Museum to create an exhibit highlighting the
history and cultural relevance of the slippers new text end ;

(2) $400,000 the second year is for statewide
historic and cultural grants to cultural
community organizations, historical
organizations, and veterans organizations for
activities to commemorate 50 years of
Southeast Asians in Minnesota. Money under
this paragraph must be distributed through a
competitive grant process. The Minnesota
Historical Society must administer the grants
using established grant mechanisms with
assistance from the advisory committee
created under Laws 2009, chapter 172, article
4, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), item
(ii).

(3) $200,000 the second year is for activities
to prepare and coordinate community
commemoration programs celebrating 50 years
of Hmong Americans in Minnesota. The
Minnesota Historical Society must form an
advisory task force consisting of members of
the Hmong community to advise the society
on the design and implementation of these
activities and programs;

(4) $200,000 the second year is for planning
and outreach, in collaboration with the
Minnesota Humanities Center, for Minnesota's
commemoration of the 250th anniversary of
the signing of the Declaration of
Independence. The Minnesota Historical
Society and Minnesota Humanities Center
must enter into an agreement between the
organizations on how best to maximize the
impact of this grant and of collaboration with
statewide partners;

(5) $50,000 the second year is for a grant to
the Greater Litchfield Opera House
Association to repair and update the Litchfield
Opera House; and

(6) $251,000 the second year is for a grant to
the Dakota County Historical Society to design
and build exhibits at the Lawshe Memorial
Museum.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end