House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to implement the Reclamation and Development Grants Program by appropriating funds to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) for various reclamation and development projects. The bill appropriates $750,000 from the natural resources projects state special revenue account for planning grants, significantly reducing the previous cap of $1.5 million. Additionally, it allocates $5,523,260 for grants to political subdivisions and local governments, with a detailed list of prioritized projects and their respective funding amounts. Notably, the bill establishes conditions for grant recipients, including the requirement for an approved scope of work, budget, and project management plan.

The legislation also includes provisions to ensure that grant recipients do not receive funding from both the reclamation and development grants program and the renewable resource grant and loan program for the same project within the same biennium. It mandates that grant recipients document matching funds and comply with auditing and reporting requirements. The bill further outlines the process for awarding funds based on project priority and includes a severability clause to maintain the validity of the remaining provisions if any part of the act is deemed invalid. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.