This bill appropriates funds for various environmental and natural resource initiatives in Minnesota for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with significant allocations from the environmental fund for programs such as air monitoring, water quality assistance, and perfluorochemical biomonitoring. It establishes a municipal liaison to assist municipalities with water quality standards and mandates the development of a program addressing emerging environmental issues, including PFAS. The bill also emphasizes funding for environmental justice initiatives, permitting reforms, and grants for recycling and waste reduction efforts, while modifying existing statutes related to environmental permitting and hazardous substance management.
Key changes in the bill include a reduction in funding for drought relief, an extension of the appropriation for a boat launch on the Mississippi River, and the introduction of a one-time appropriation for legal costs. It also mandates that districts receiving payments for soil and water conservation maintain a website for transparency. The bill further allocates funds for various environmental projects, including community air-monitoring grants and initiatives aimed at reducing PFAS sources. Additionally, it introduces new definitions and regulations concerning products containing PFAS, establishes the Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force, and enhances the permitting process for environmental projects to improve efficiency and coordination between state and federal agencies.
Statutes affected: Introduction: 116X.03, 84.027, 84.705, 86B.415, 88.82, 97A.223, 97A.421, 97A.465, 97A.475, 97B.031, 97B.318, 97B.037, 97C.395, 103G.271, 103G.301, 115B.421, 116.07, 116.943, 325F.072, 473.355, 103E.067, 116.03, 116D.04