Assembly Bill 315 aims to reauthorize the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program until fiscal year 2029-30, while also making significant changes to its land acquisition and property development subprograms. The bill reduces the amount allocated for grants to nonprofit conservation organizations (NCOs) from $7 million to $2 million and specifies that the term "obligate" refers only to public debt authorized by the state. Additionally, it prioritizes property development projects over land acquisition and eliminates certain restrictions on funding allocations, such as the cap on the percentage of funds that can be used for land acquisition projects under $1 million. The bill also introduces a new major land acquisitions program for projects exceeding $1 million, requiring legislative enumeration for such projects.

Key provisions include the establishment of new grant limits for governmental units applying for funding after land acquisition, which will now be capped at 40% of acquisition costs, with a maximum of 30% of the remaining costs covered by grants or in-kind contributions. The bill mandates that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) submit an annual list of proposed major land acquisitions to the legislature for enumeration. Furthermore, it specifies that unobligated funds from previous fiscal years can only be used for local assistance grants, and it allocates $2.5 million of unobligated funds for projects at specific state fish hatcheries. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance conservation efforts while streamlining funding processes and prioritizing wildlife habitat development.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 23.09(19)(d), 23.09, 23.09(20)(b), 23.09(20m)(b), 23.0915(2p), 23.0915, 23.0917(1)(e), 23.0917, 23.0917(3)(a), 23.0917(3)(bt)3, 23.0917(3)(bw)2, 23.0917(4)(a)