SF 770

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 02/10/2025 04:55pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; appropriating money from the outdoor heritage fund;
providing for leveraging certain land for federal grant funds; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2024, section 97A.056, by adding a subdivision.

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

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 act. The appropriations are from the outdoor heritage
fund for the fiscal year indicated for each purpose. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in
this act 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 act 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 168,512,000 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 34,199,000 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 $1,363,000 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: $1,001,000 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 $3,690,000 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 $3,452,000 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 $4,092,000 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 $4,974,000 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 $2,489,000 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 $3,742,000 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 $1,960,000 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 $3,519,000 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 $4,918,000 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: $3,170,000 to Ducks Unlimited and
$1,748,000 to Pheasants Forever.
new text end

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

new text begin 20,414,000 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 $3,543,000 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 $2,782,000 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 $1,844,000 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
$1,744,000 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 $2,233,000 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 $5,361,000 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 $2,601,000 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 $2,050,000 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 29,695,000 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 $2,918,000 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 $5,803,000 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 $4,389,000 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 $5,238,000 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 $1,578,000 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 $5,729,000 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 $1,475,000 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 $2,565,000 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 82,150,000 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 $2,724,000 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; $1,228,000 to Great
River Greening; and $1,434,000 to the Trust
for Public Land.
new text end

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

new text begin $2,027,000 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 $3,599,000 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: $599,000 to
Anoka Conservation District; $1,404,000 to
Great River Greening; $300,000 to The Nature
Conservancy; and $1,296,000 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 $2,753,000 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 $3,257,000 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:
$1,236,000 to the Trust for Public Land;
$121,000 to Wild Rivers Conservancy; and
$1,900,000 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 $2,832,000 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)
$1,768,000 is to the commissioner of natural
resources for agreements as follows: $60,000
to the Mississippi Headwaters Board and
$1,708,000 to the Trust for Public Land; and
(2) $1,064,000 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 $2,387,000 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 $2,237,000 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 $6,949,000 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.; $529,000 to Friends of the
Mississippi River; $1,015,000 to Great River
Greening; $2,185,000 to the Trust for Public
Land; and $2,220,000 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 $3,148,000 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:
$1,395,000 to Great River Greening and
$1,753,000 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 $2,190,000 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 $3,209,000 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,
$1,530,000 is to the Northern Waters Land
Trust and $1,679,000 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 $2,413,000 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 $995,000 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 $2,944,000 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: $1,292,000 to Northern
Waters Land Trust and $1,652,000 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 $2,173,000 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 $2,049,000 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 $1,348,000 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 $3,887,000 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 $1,387,000 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 $15,000,000 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 $4,000,000 is for grants in
the seven-county metropolitan area and cities
with a population of 50,000 or more and at
least $4,000,000 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 2,054,000 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 $168,000 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 act 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 act 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 Subdivision 11 is 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