This bill establishes a budget for various agricultural and broadband development agencies in Minnesota, including the Department of Agriculture and the Board of Animal Health, with appropriations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It details specific funding allocations for programs such as soil health financial assistance, livestock compensation, crop damage compensation, and meat processing support. The bill allows the commissioner to use a portion of these funds for administrative costs and permits the carryover of unencumbered balances into subsequent fiscal years. Additionally, it proposes policy and technical changes to enhance agricultural growth, including funding for mental health outreach for agricultural workers and grants for food access programs.

The bill also introduces new provisions for funding county agricultural inspectors and broadband development, requiring annual applications for funding eligibility. It appropriates $1,001,000 each year for the Office of Broadband Development and amends installation requirements for underground telecommunications, including the removal of the need for two safety-qualified installers during directional drilling and reducing certification instruction time from 40 hours to 10 hours. The effective date for these changes is set for the day following final enactment. Overall, the bill aims to bolster agricultural support, sustainability, and economic development in Minnesota.

Statutes affected:
1st Engrossment: 17.133, 18C.005, 41A.16, 326B.198