SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House passed legislation to invest more than $275 million in preserving our environment and natural resources for current and future generations of Minnesotans. The bill includes measures to protect Minnesota’s animals, plants, and wildlife, including several proposed by Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls).
“Whether you hunt, fish, hike, bike, camp, boat, or swim, Minnesotans value our outdoor heritage. This bill includes critical investments to protect and enhance these important traditions,” Rep. Ecklund said. “It also includes key measures to solve big problems, including chronic wasting disease, that unaddressed, could jeopardize our very ability to hunt wild deer. Our House DFL Environment and Natural Resources budget represents a strong commitment to protect clean air, clean water, and excellent recreational opportunities for future generations.”
To protect our wild deer the bill includes several items championed by Rep. Ecklund to stop the spread of chronic wasting disease. It establishes additional requirements for deer farms, requires live-testing farmed deer for CWD, prohibits importing farmed deer from other states with CWD, and bans new registrations for the possession of farmed white-tailed deer. The bill also transfers oversight of farmed deer from the Board of Animal Health to the DNR. Other measures will protect pollinators and the critical role they play in our ecosystems and food supply.
The bill also includes Rep. Ecklund’s proposals to invest in trails, including the Prospector Trail System and Voyageur Country Trail System, and Rat Root River walleye stocking. Overall, the bill contains more than $40 million to support conservation programs and $25 million to improve facilities and infrastructure managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources so they can better mitigate and adapt to climate change. $10 million is included to replace trees impacted by emerald ash borer, with an additional $1 million to plant trees at schools. All of these investments will help reduce Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation also provides funding to enhance soil health, prevent flooding, improve water management and storage, and test for microplastics.
In addition to providing funding for parks and trails throughout the state, the bill reinstates the percentage of the lottery in lieu tax that was originally dedicated to the environment. This percentage was previously cut to 72 percent; the bill restores it to 97 percent. The bill contains $10 million to help the tourism industry recover and $1.2 million for No Child Left Inside, a grant program that helps get children and teenagers outdoors. It establishes a Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Office to provide inclusive and safe outdoor experiences for all Minnesotans, including people from historically underrepresented communities. These investments will help provide equitable access to the outdoors.
Video of the floor session will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel.