House OKs $141.6 million omnibus legacy finance bill

The House passed its omnibus legacy finance bill Monday, which would use Legacy funds on more than 60 projects aimed at enhancing lands, protecting clean water and funding arts and cultural projects across the state.

Sponsored by Rep. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont), HF4167 would appropriate $141.6 million from three of the four Legacy Funds, which were created by the Legacy Amendment in 2008 to benefit the state’s natural and cultural resources.

Passed 128-0, it now heads to the Senate, where Sen. Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point) is the sponsor.

“I am proud of the bipartisan work this bill represents as we look to improve and protect our state’s natural resources, improve water quality and promote the cultural heritage and art that makes Minnesota such a special place,” Gunther said in a statement.

Outdoor Heritage Fund

The bill would appropriate $113.9 million in Fiscal Year 2019 from the Outdoor Heritage Fund to protect, enhance and restore about 102,000 acres of wildlife habitat across the state.

The money would fund 47 programs, as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The bill would appropriate the following:

• $40.9 million for habitat projects;
• $35.2 million for prairie projects;
• $28.1 million for wetland projects;
• $9.1 million for forest projects; and
• $410,000 for administration and other expenses.

An amendment unsuccessfully offered by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) would have removed two provisions in the bill requiring nongovernmental organizations to notify county and town boards of potential land acquisitions in their jurisdictions made using Outdoor Heritage Fund money.

Hansen asked whether the government should be involved in a land transaction between a willing seller and a willing buyer. He said notification “may not seem like much” but where notification occurred previously, local government inserted itself between the seller and the buyer.

However, Rep. Steve Green (R-Fosston) and Rep. Dan Fabian (R-Roseau) said members should vote “no” on the amendment, noting land is being acquired with taxpayer money so taxpayers have a right to know how it’s being spent.

Clean Water Fund

The bill would appropriate $26.4 million from the Clean Water Fund in the 2018-19 biennium for 10 programs and grants, many of which were removed from last year’s omnibus legacy finance law. Most of the money – $23.3 million – would go to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for five projects:

• $10 million for the board’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which allows farmers to voluntarily enroll in programs to create buffers, restore wetlands, and protect wellheads for drinking water;
• $5 million for grants to soil and water conservation districts for cost-sharing contracts with landowners to help farmers establish buffer strips;
• $4.3 million for the implementation of the One Watershed One Plan, a pilot program that would provide performance-based grants to local governments. The grants would be used to implement projects that protect, enhance and restore surface water quality in lakes, rivers and streams; protect groundwater from degradation; and protect drinking water sources;
• $3.5 million for grants to protect and restore drinking water and groundwater; and
• $500,000 to provide support to the University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center to further develop and expand the use of existing irrigation assistance tools and implement an outreach and education program.

The bill would also appropriate $1.2 million to the Public Facilities Authority for the point source implementation grants program; $1 million to the Department of Natural Resources for the Minnesota Forests for the Future program; $500,000 to the Department of Agriculture for the Forever Green Initiative; $343,000 to the University of Minnesota to evaluate the return on investment of the Clean Water Fund; and $10,000 to the Pollution Control Agency for Clean Water Council expenses.

Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund

The bill would appropriate $1.3 million in Fiscal Year 2019 from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund for eight projects, including $60,000 to fund a Capitol Art Exhibit Advisory Committee that would make recommendations to the State Capitol Preservation Commission on art displayed at the Capitol and $500,000 to create a women’s suffrage 100th anniversary commemoration commission to honor the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

Other projects the bill would fund are:

• $300,000 to the Lake Superior Center Authority for a river system exhibit at the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth;
• $150,000 to the China Friendship Garden in Phalen Park in St. Paul;
• $150,000 to the Preston Historical Society to restore the Preston Grain Elevator;
• $100,000 to the Litchfield Opera House for updates to walls and the electrical system;
• $50,000 for the Veterans’ Voices program on the Korean War; and
• $10,000 to Grove City to restore the Grove City Mill.

This portion of the bill also includes language from HF3269, sponsored by Green. The proposal would require projects that get funds be completed in Minnesota by a Minnesota resident and prohibit funding projects that promote domestic terrorism or criminal activities.