The Minnesota Senate passed bipartisan legislation to
fund Minnesota’s environment and natural resources on Tuesday. The omnibus
budget bill continues to place an emphasis on funding Minnesota’s critical
environment priorities with efforts to tackle both Aquatic Invasive Species
(AIS) and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), along with increased access and
continued funding for state parks and additional efforts to engage Minnesotans
and encourage them to take part in the state’s great outdoors.
Following the passage of the bill, Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) issued the
following statement:
“Minnesota’s environment and natural resources are a critical component of
Minnesota’s culture and history and something Senate
Republicans value and want to preserve to share with Minnesotans. Our
environment budget makes this commitment and expands access to the people of
this state without squeezing families and small business with unnecessary
taxes, regulations, and fees.”
Specifically, the bill includes increased funding to combat the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species with additional investments in a new AIS detection system that will allow Minnesota to make better enforcement choices. Additionally, it addresses Chronic Wasting Disease, providing resources for surveillance, research, and preventive measures to protect Minnesota’s deer populations. The omnibus bill also includes a significant investment to improve Minnesota’s wastewater infrastructure as well as a new initiative that could allow the state to generate energy from dormant landfill facilities.
Furthermore, there is continued funding to preserve and protect Minnesota’s state parks and trails. The legislation also offers Minnesota residents free admission to state parks and the Minnesota Zoo on state holidays.
Additional provisions bring the environment and outdoors a little closer to the classroom, including one provision that would allow schools to teach gun safety and provide hunting and angling training through schools’ physical education programs. There is also increased funding to support the growth of Minnesota’s high school fishing league.
In total, the bill spends $276 million out of the General Fund over the next biennium funding the Pollution Control Agency, Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Zoo, Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources, Explore Minnesota, Met Parks, Conservation Corps, the Minnesota Science Museum, and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources