1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; appropriating money to protect lakes and acquire 
1.3 	forest lands in upper Mississippi River basin; requiring a report.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. LAKE PROTECTION IN UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN; 
1.6 	APPROPRIATIONS.
 1.7 	(a) $....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Water 
1.8 	and Soil Resources to assess the preservation of lakes in the upper Mississippi River basin 
1.9 	through land protection, including an assessment of lands that have been permanently 
1.10 	protected through conservation easement or acquisition, goals for further protection, and 
1.11 	existing land protection targets of the Nature Conservancy, Board of Water and Soil 
1.12 	Resources, the commissioner of natural resources, and other organizations. The assessment 
1.13 	must be submitted to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives 
1.14 	and senate committees and divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources 
1.15 	policy by ........ This is a onetime appropriation.
1.16 	(b) $....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
1.17 	of natural resources to acquire permanent interests in nonindustrial private forest lands under 
1.18 	the Minnesota forests for the future program according to Minnesota Statutes, section 84.66. 
1.19 	Priority must be given to the upper Mississippi River basin. This is a onetime appropriation.