Bill > HF983

This bill establishes a comprehensive local road wetland replacement program by providing significant funding and bonding authority to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). Specifically, the bill appropriates $15 million from bond proceeds and $11.5 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2026, with an additional $7.5 million in both fiscal years 2026 and 2027, to acquire land or permanent easements and restore, create, enhance, and preserve wetlands that are impacted by public road repair, reconstruction, replacement, or rehabilitation. The board is granted flexibility to prioritize wetland replacement through in-lieu fee agreements approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and can purchase land at fair market value. The bill also provides $2 million annually in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to administer the program, with unused administrative funds potentially redirected to wetland replacement efforts. The commissioner of management and budget is authorized to sell up to $15 million in state bonds to fund the program, following state constitutional and statutory guidelines. The goal is to mitigate environmental impacts of road infrastructure projects by ensuring equivalent wetland restoration or creation, in compliance with federal Clean Water Act regulations.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF0983&ssn=0&y=2025