Senate Bill 316 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 introduces a new major land acquisitions program for projects exceeding $1 million, which must be enumerated through legislation. The bill also modifies grant conditions, including limits on funding from grants or in-kind contributions.

Furthermore, the bill establishes new requirements for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regarding grant applications and funding allocations. It mandates that DNR prioritize wildlife habitat grants over land acquisition grants and allows unobligated funds from previous fiscal years to be used for local assistance grants. The bill also specifies that DNR must submit a list of proposed major land acquisitions annually to the legislature for enumeration. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance conservation efforts while streamlining funding processes and prioritizing specific projects within the stewardship program.

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)