1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; appropriating money for community roadside landscape 
1.3 	partnerships.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; COMMUNITY ROADSIDE LANDSCAPE 
1.6 	PARTNERSHIPS.
 1.7 	$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the trunk highway fund to the 
1.8 	commissioner of transportation for landscaping improvements under the community roadside 
1.9 	landscape partnership program, with prioritization of tree planting as feasible. Subject to 
1.10 	available funds, the commissioner must assess and undertake methods to improve and 
1.11 	expand the program, including:
1.12 	(1) identifying and evaluating locations for partnership opportunities throughout the 
1.13 	state where there is high traffic volume and minimal existing vegetation coverage in the 
1.14 	form of trees or large shrubs;
1.15 	(2) performing outreach and engagement about the program with eligible community 
1.16 	partners;
1.17 	(3) prioritizing roadsides where vegetation could reduce neighborhood noise impacts or 
1.18 	improve aesthetics for neighborhoods that border interstate highways without regard to 
1.19 	whether there are existing noise walls; and
1.20 	(4) analyzing methods to include cost sharing between the department and participating 
1.21 	community partners for ongoing landscape maintenance.