This bill appropriates significant funding for various environmental and natural resource initiatives in Minnesota for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with a focus on enhancing environmental protection and resource management. Key allocations include $1,670,000 annually for the leaking underground storage tank program, $2,625,000 for air regulatory work in environmental justice areas, and $18,450,000 for SCORE block grants to counties. The bill emphasizes transparency in budget presentations and mandates collaboration between agencies to maximize resource use. It also extends the availability of certain appropriations related to environmental assistance until June 30, 2027, retroactively applying from July 1, 2023.

Additionally, the bill introduces amendments to grant management and the closed landfill investment fund, allowing for the regranting of returned funds for two years and exempting certain grants from Department of Administration policies. It permits up to $4,500,000 to be appropriated each fiscal year for environmental response actions and allows an additional $9,000,000 for emergencies. The expiration date for these appropriations has been extended from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2029, ensuring continued funding for landfill cleanup efforts. Notably, the bill reduces the appropriation for enhancing prairies and grasslands from $10 million to $5 million while maintaining substantial funding for other environmental programs.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 85.055, 86B.415, 103G.271, 103G.301, 115.01, 115.071, 115.072, 115A.121, 115A.554, 115B.421, 115C.02, 115C.09, 116.03, 116.073, 116.182, 116.92, 168.1295, 446A.07, 473.167, 473.355, 473.5491, 115A.9157
1st Engrossment: 84.027, 84.03, 84.8035, 84D.01, 84D.05, 86B.415, 97A.223, 97A.421, 97A.465, 97A.475, 97B.001, 97B.037, 97B.318, 97B.405, 97B.667, 97B.945, 97C.395, 97C.835, 103G.005, 103G.201, 103G.271, 103G.301, 115.01, 115B.421, 116.07, 116.073, 116.182, 116.943, 325E.3892, 325F.072, 446A.07, 473.355, 473.859, 115.071, 115A.121, 115A.554, 116.92, 115.542, 116.03, 116D.04, 116D.045, 115A.9157
2nd Engrossment: 84.027, 86B.415, 97A.223, 97A.421, 97A.465, 97A.475, 103G.271, 103G.301, 115B.421, 116.07, 116.073
1st Unofficial Engrossment: 115B.421