A flurry of friendly amendments were adopted and, although attempts to change some of the more controversial provisions of HF303 were not, the omnibus legacy bill received strong bipartisan support as the House passed it 97-31 Thursday afternoon.
HF303 would appropriate nearly $540 million from the legacy fund for the environment, arts, parks, trails and other state resources for the biennium in the following manner:
These funds were created by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008. It increased the state sales tax by three-eighths of 1 percent until 2034, distributing the revenue raised to each fund based percentages defined in the state constitution. Three of the funds receive biennial appropriations, while the OHF is an annual appropriation.
Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City), sponsor of HF303 and chair of the House Legacy Funding Finance Committee, said that although the bill still needs work, it is transparent and fair.
“I don’t think the perfect bill has ever been before this body,” Urdahl said.
Earlier this session, Urdahl said feelings of entitlement have been growing among some groups who had received money in the past, and recipients need to understand there is never a reduction in legacy funding because the baseline for each group is zero. He echoed those sentiments Thursday.
Urdahl also said there were $28 million more in funding requests than legacy dollars available and roughly 90 percent of the money will go to Greater Minnesota, which might seem out of line until people realize 90 percent of the projects and habitat take place and are located there.
HF303 now goes to the Senate where Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul) is the sponsor.
Attempted changes
An amendment to the bill, offered by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul), that would have deleted a section removing voting authority from two members of the Clean Water Council — a representative from the University of Minnesota and one from the Metropolitan Council — failed on a roll-call vote.
Hansen said HF303 would leave only special interests with a voice on the CWC, which makes funding recommendations to help implement programs and policies working to achieve improved water quality, and that removing the voting privileges from those members would harm the process.
“They provide the science that’s needed as we make these tough water quality decisions,” Hansen said.
However, Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) defended that provision saying the university and the Met Council have a conflict of interest on the board because each has received direct appropriations from the Clean Water Fund.
Another amendment offered by Hansen would have increased funding to the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, which encourages farmers to implement conservation practices to protect the state’s water. It also failed on a roll-call vote.
Hansen said the program funds “real projects on the ground for real farmers” and was having a positive impact. He also said by not fully funding the program, the state would lose out on $9 million in federal money that could be brought in to match state dollars.
Torkelson agreed the program had merit, but said he was uncomfortable fully funding it until questions about how the program could feasibly be rolled out statewide were answered.
“I’m not interested in overspending on something that only reaches a portion of our producers,” Torkelson said.
Amendments adopted
Several amendments to the bill were adopted, they include:
What else would HF303 do?
Read more: What’s in HF303? A list of selected bills that have been incorporated in part or in whole into the omnibus legacy bill: