Outdoor heritage bill, appropriation change held over

Appropriations of more than $127 million that would fund dozens of outdoors projects around the state was one focus of Tuesday’s House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division hearing.

Sponsored by Rep. Leon Lillie (DFL-North St. Paul), HF340 seeks legislative approval for funds collected in the Outdoor Heritage Fund, one of four funds established by a constitutional amendment in 2008.

The heritage fund is meant to help with habitat restoration, enhancement and protection projects. The appropriations in the bill come from recommendations made by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.

Allocations called for in the bill include:

• $38.3 million for various prairie projects;
• $20.75 million for wetlands projects; and
• $17.03 million for forest projects.

Nearly $50.5 million would be appropriated for other habitat projects and the Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program., which, according to its website, “funds conservation projects that restore, enhance, or protect forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife in Minnesota.”

Rep. Steve Green (R-Fosston) unsuccessfully offered an amendment that would have allowed counties to adopt “no net gain” limits to acquisition of lands by the state. In order for the state to acquire new lands within a county that had adopted the limit, the state would have to sell an equal number of acres of relatively equal value to the public.

Green said taking land out of private ownership has negatively impacted tax rolls in some counties where state ownership of land is high.

Rep. Dan Fabian (R-Roseau) supported the amendment, saying it contained permissive language. “It does not require they must,” he said, adding the amendment is a way to increase local engagement in land acquisitions.

The bill, which has no Senate companion, was held over for future consideration.  

Another bill held over

The division also held over HF80, which would repeal provisions authorizing appropriation bonds approved last year for capital projects the state. Instead, the bill would provide for general-obligation bonding for those projects so work on them could begin. The appropriation bonds funding is currently being challenged in the courts, resulting in delays for these projects.

While the bill maintains the funding level for projects that was approved in 2018, one exception was made. The bill also would increase funding for the Anoka County closed landfill project to $10.3 million, $4.3 million more than approved in 2018.

Rep. Mary Murphy (DFL-Hermantown), the bill’s sponsor, stressed that early action was needed so that projects could get underway. However, there is no Senate companion.

“The need is great,” said Elizabeth Wefel, representing the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. She noted that delayed funding has impacted a number of wastewater projects across the state.