HF 3879

01/14/26   REVISOR  CKM/BM  26-06439
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request  State of Minnesota
  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
  H. F. No.        3879
03/02/2026     Authored by Vang, Lillie and Rehm
  The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Legacy Finance
1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to natural resources; appropriating money from outdoor heritage fund;
1.3extending and modifying prior appropriations.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5Section 1. APPROPRIATIONS.
1.6The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the agencies
1.7and for the purposes specified in this act. The appropriations are from the outdoor heritage
1.8fund for the fiscal year indicated for each purpose. The figures "2026" and "2027" used in
1.9this act mean that the appropriations listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending
1.10June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2026. "The
1.11second year" is fiscal year 2027. "The biennium" is fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The
1.12appropriations in this act are onetime appropriations.
1.13APPROPRIATIONS
1.14Available for the Year
1.15Ending June 30
1.162026  2027
1.17Sec. 2. OUTDOOR HERITAGE FUND
1.18Subdivision 1. Total Appropriation  $  -0- $   188,922,000
1.19This appropriation is from the outdoor heritage
1.20fund. The amounts that may be spent for each
1.21purpose are specified in the following
1.22subdivisions.
Sec. 2.  1
01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM       26-06439
2.1  Subd. 2. Prairies  -0-   35,901,000
2.2  (a) RIM Grasslands Reserve, Phase 7
2.3  $2,303,000 the second year is to acquire
2.4  permanent conservation easements and to
2.5  restore and enhance wildlife habitat. Of this
2.6  amount, $189,000 is to the commissioner of
2.7  natural resources for an agreement with Ducks
2.8  Unlimited and $2,114,000 is to the Board of
2.9  Water and Soil Resources. Of the amount to
2.10 the Board of Water and Soil Resources, up to
2.11 $50,000 is to establish a monitoring and
2.12 enforcement fund as approved in the
2.13 accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
2.14 Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17. A
2.15 list of permanent conservation easements must
2.16 be provided as part of the final report.
2.17 (b) Accelerating Wildlife Management Area
2.18 Program, Phase 18
2.19 $4,460,000 the second year is to the
2.20 commissioner of natural resources for an
2.21 agreement with Pheasants Forever to acquire
2.22 in fee and to restore and enhance lands for
2.23 wildlife management area purposes under
2.24 Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
2.25 subdivision 8. Subject to evaluation criteria
2.26 in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority
2.27 must be given to acquiring lands that are
2.28 eligible for the native prairie bank under
2.29 Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands
2.30 adjacent to protected native prairie.
2.31 (c) DNR Wildlife Management Area and
2.32 Scientific and Natural Area Acquisition,
2.33 Phase 18
Sec. 2.  2
01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
3.1  $3,455,000 the second year is to the
3.2  commissioner of natural resources to acquire
3.3  in fee and to restore and enhance lands for
3.4  wildlife management purposes under
3.5  Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
3.6  subdivision 8, and to acquire land in fee for
3.7  scientific and natural area purposes under
3.8  Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
3.9  subdivision 5. Subject to evaluation criteria
3.10 in Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority
3.11 must be given to acquiring lands that are
3.12 eligible for the native prairie bank under
3.13 Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands
3.14 adjacent to protected native prairie.
3.15 (d) Martin County DNR WMA Acquisition,
3.16 Phase 10
3.17 $2,977,000 the second year is to the
3.18 commissioner of natural resources for
3.19 agreements to acquire land in fee and to
3.20 restore and enhance strategic prairie grassland,
3.21 wetland, and other wildlife habitat in Martin
3.22 and Watonwan Counties for wildlife
3.23 management area purposes under Minnesota
3.24 Statutes, section 86A.05, subdivision 8, as
3.25 follows: $2,323,000 to Fox Lake Conservation
3.26 League, Inc.; $583,000 to Ducks Unlimited;
3.27 and $71,000 to the Conservation Fund.
3.28 (e) Northern Tallgrass Prairie National
3.29 Wildlife Refuge, Phase 16
3.30 $3,046,000 the second year is to the
3.31 commissioner of natural resources for an
3.32 agreement with The Nature Conservancy, in
3.33 cooperation with the United States Fish and
3.34 Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee or
3.35 permanent conservation easements and to
Sec. 2.  3
01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
4.1  restore and enhance lands in the Northern
4.2  Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in
4.3  western Minnesota to add to the Northern
4.4  Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.
4.5  Subject to evaluation criteria in Minnesota
4.6  Rules, part 6136.0900, priority must be given
4.7  to acquiring lands that are eligible for the
4.8  native prairie bank under Minnesota Statutes,
4.9  section 84.96, or lands adjacent to protected
4.10 native prairie.
4.11 (f) Minnesota Prairie Recovery Program,
4.12 Phase 14
4.13 $3,445,000 the second year is to the
4.14 commissioner of natural resources for an
4.15 agreement with The Nature Conservancy to
4.16 acquire land in fee and to restore and enhance
4.17 native prairie, grasslands, wetlands, and
4.18 savanna. Subject to evaluation criteria in
4.19 Minnesota Rules, part 6136.0900, priority
4.20 must be given to acquiring lands that are
4.21 eligible for the native prairie bank under
4.22 Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96, or lands
4.23 adjacent to protected native prairie. Annual
4.24 income statements and balance sheets for
4.25 income and expenses from land acquired and
4.26 held by The Nature Conservancy with this
4.27 appropriation must be submitted to the
4.28 Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council no
4.29 later than 180 days after the The Nature
4.30 Conservancy's fiscal year closes.
4.31 (g) Prairie Chicken Habitat Partnership of
4.32 Southern Red River Valley, Phase 12
4.33 $3,053,000 the second year is to the
4.34 commissioner of natural resources for an
4.35 agreement with Pheasants Forever, in
Sec. 2.  4
01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
5.1  cooperation with the Minnesota Prairie
5.2  Chicken Society, to acquire land in fee and to
5.3  restore and enhance lands in the southern Red
5.4  River Valley for wildlife management
5.5  purposes under Minnesota Statutes, section
5.6  86A.05, subdivision 8, or to be designated and
5.7  managed as waterfowl production areas in
5.8  Minnesota, in cooperation with the United
5.9  States Fish and Wildlife Service. Subject to
5.10 evaluation criteria in Minnesota Rules, part
5.11 6136.0900, priority must be given to acquiring
5.12 lands that are eligible for the native prairie
5.13 bank under Minnesota Statutes, section 84.96,
5.14 or lands adjacent to protected native prairie.
5.15 (h) RIM Buffers for Wildlife and Water,
5.16 Phase 12
5.17 $3,694,000 the second year is to the Board of
5.18 Water and Soil Resources to acquire
5.19 permanent conservation easements and restore
5.20 habitat under Minnesota Statutes, section
5.21 103F.515, to protect, restore, and enhance
5.22 habitat by expanding the riparian buffer
5.23 program under the clean water fund for
5.24 additional wildlife benefits from buffers on
5.25 private land. Of this amount, up to $60,000 is
5.26 to establish a monitoring and enforcement
5.27 fund as approved in the accomplishment plan
5.28 and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
5.29 97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8,
5.30 paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.
5.31 A list of permanent conservation easements
5.32 must be provided as part of the final report.
5.33 (i) Accelerating USFWS Habitat
5.34 Conservation Easement Program, Phase 6
Sec. 2.  5
01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM       26-06439
6.1  $4,448,000 the second year is to the
6.2  commissioner of natural resources for
6.3  agreements to restore and enhance wetland
6.4  and prairie habitat on habitat easements of the
6.5  United States Fish and Wildlife Service as
6.6  follows: $2,979,000 to Ducks Unlimited and
6.7  $1,469,000 to Pheasants Forever.
6.8  (j) DNR Grassland Enhancement, Phase 17
6.9  $2,111,000 the second year is to the
6.10 commissioner of natural resources to
6.11 accelerate restoration and enhancement of
6.12 prairies, grasslands, and savannas in wildlife
6.13 management areas; in scientific and natural
6.14 areas; in aquatic management areas; on lands
6.15 in the native prairie bank; in bluff prairies on
6.16 state forest land in southeastern Minnesota;
6.17 and in waterfowl production areas and refuge
6.18 lands of the United States Fish and Wildlife
6.19 Service.
6.20 (k) Enhanced Public Land - Grasslands,
6.21 Phase 9
6.22 $2,909,000 the second year is to the
6.23 commissioner of natural resources for an
6.24 agreement with Pheasants Forever to enhance
6.25 and restore grassland and wetland habitat on
6.26 public lands in the forest prairie transition,
6.27 metro urban, and prairie ecoregions of
6.28 Minnesota.
6.29 Subd. 3. Forests  -0-   36,780,000
6.30 (a) Northern Forests Legacy Project
6.31 $25,090,000 the second year is to the
6.32 commissioner of natural resources to acquire
6.33 priority forest lands in fee in St. Louis County
6.34 as wildlife management areas, scientific and
Sec. 2.  6
01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
7.1  natural areas, state forests, and county forests.
7.2  Of this amount, $12,866,000 is for an
7.3  agreement with St. Louis County.
7.4  (b) Sand Lake and Seven Beavers
7.5  Acquisition and Enhancement
7.6  $7,248,000 the second year is to the
7.7  commissioner of natural resources for an
7.8  agreement with The Nature Conservancy to
7.9  acquire priority forest habitat lands in fee as
7.10 The Nature Conservancy lands, Rajala Woods
7.11 Foundation lands, state forests, and county
7.12 forests. For lands held in perpetuity by The
7.13 Nature Conservancy and Rajala Woods
7.14 Foundation, annual income statements and
7.15 balance sheets for income and expenses from
7.16 land acquired with this appropriation must be
7.17 submitted to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor
7.18 Heritage Council no later than 180 days after
7.19 each organization's respective fiscal year
7.20 closes.
7.21 (c) Hardwood Hills Habitat Conservation
7.22 Program, Phase 3
7.23 $2,524,000 the second year is to the
7.24 commissioner of natural resources for
7.25 agreements to acquire permanent conservation
7.26 easements and to restore and enhance forest
7.27 habitats in the hardwood hills ecological
7.28 section of west-central Minnesota as follows:
7.29 $90,000 to St. John's University, $354,000 to
7.30 Stearns Conservation District, and $2,080,000
7.31 to Minnesota Land Trust. Of the amount to
7.32 Minnesota Land Trust, $252,000 is to establish
7.33 a monitoring and enforcement fund as
7.34 approved in the accomplishment plan and
Sec. 2.  7
01/14/26   REVISOR    CKM/BM       26-06439
8.1  subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
8.2  97A.056, subdivision 17.
8.3  (d) DNR Forest Habitat Enhancement,
8.4  Phase 6
8.5  $1,918,000 the second year is to the
8.6  commissioner of natural resources to restore
8.7  and enhance forest wildlife habitats on public
8.8  lands throughout Minnesota.
8.9  Subd. 4. Wetlands  -0-   32,755,000
8.10 (a) Accelerating Waterfowl Production
8.11 Area Acquisition Program, Phase 18
8.12 $5,358,000 the second year is to the
8.13 commissioner of natural resources for an
8.14 agreement with Pheasants Forever, in
8.15 cooperation with the United States Fish and
8.16 Wildlife Service, to acquire land in fee and to
8.17 restore and enhance wetlands and grasslands
8.18 to be designated and managed as waterfowl
8.19 production areas in Minnesota.
8.20 (b) RIM Wetlands - Restoring Most
8.21 Productive Habitat in Minnesota, Phase 15
8.22 $3,455,000 the second year is to the Board of
8.23 Water and Soil Resources to acquire
8.24 permanent conservation easements and to
8.25 restore wetlands and native grassland habitat
8.26 under Minnesota Statutes, section 103F.515.
8.27 Of this amount, up to $60,000 is to establish
8.28 a monitoring and enforcement fund as
8.29 approved in the accomplishment plan and
8.30 subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
8.31 97A.056, subdivision 17. Subdivision 8,
8.32 paragraph (b), does not apply to this project.
8.33 A list of permanent conservation easements
8.34 must be provided as part of the final report.
Sec. 2.  8
01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
9.1  (c) Shallow Lake and Wetland Protection
9.2  and Restoration Program, Phase 15
9.3  $6,005,000 the second year is to the
9.4  commissioner of natural resources for an
9.5  agreement with Ducks Unlimited to acquire
9.6  land in fee for wildlife management purposes
9.7  under Minnesota Statutes, section 86A.05,
9.8  subdivision 8, or to be designated and
9.9  managed as waterfowl production areas or
9.10 national wildlife refuges in Minnesota, in
9.11 cooperation with the United States Fish and
9.12 Wildlife Service, and to restore and enhance
9.13 prairie lands, wetlands, and land-buffering
9.14 shallow lakes.
9.15 (d) Wetland Habitat Protection and
9.16 Restoration Program, Phase 11
9.17 $3,167,000 the second year is to the
9.18 commissioner of natural resources for an
9.19 agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to
9.20 acquire permanent conservation easements
9.21 and to restore and enhance prairie, wetland,
9.22 and other habitat on permanently protected
9.23 conservation easements in high-priority
9.24 wetland habitat complexes in the prairie,
9.25 forest/prairie transition, and forest ecoregions.
9.26 Of this amount, up to $140,000 is to establish
9.27 a monitoring and enforcement fund as
9.28 approved in the accomplishment plan and
9.29 subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
9.30 97A.056, subdivision 17.
9.31 (e) Living Shallow Lakes and Wetlands
9.32 Enhancement and Restoration Initiative,
9.33 Phase 12
Sec. 2.  9
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM       26-06439
10.1  $6,571,000 the second year is to the
10.2  commissioner of natural resources for an
10.3  agreement with Ducks Unlimited to restore
10.4  and enhance shallow lakes and wetlands on
10.5  public lands and wetlands under permanent
10.6  conservation easement for wildlife
10.7  management.
10.8  (f) Talcot Lake
10.9  $1,000,000 the second year is to the
10.10 commissioner of natural resources for the
10.11 survey, design, engineering, and permitting
10.12 of the Talcot Lake restoration and
10.13 enhancement project in Cottonwood County.
10.14 (g) Roseau Lake Rehabilitation, Phase 3
10.15 $3,505,000 the second year is to the
10.16 commissioner of natural resources for an
10.17 agreement with the Roseau River Watershed
10.18 District to restore and enhance the Roseau
10.19 Lake and Roseau River habitat complex in
10.20 Roseau County.
10.21 (h) Shallow Lakes and Wetlands
10.22 Enhancement, Phase 18
10.23 $3,694,000 the second year is to the
10.24 commissioner of natural resources to enhance
10.25 and restore shallow lakes and wetland habitat
10.26 statewide.
10.27 Subd. 5. Habitats  -0-   81,330,000
10.28 (a) Riparian Habitat Protection in Kettle
10.29 and Snake River Watersheds, Phase 3
10.30 $1,122,000 the second year is to the Board of
10.31 Water and Soil Resources, in cooperation with
10.32 the Pine County Soil and Water Conservation
10.33 District, to acquire permanent conservation
 Sec. 2.  10
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
11.1  easements and restore high-quality forests,
11.2  wetlands, and shoreline in the Kettle and
11.3  Snake River watersheds. Of this amount, up
11.4  to $70,000 is to establish a monitoring and
11.5  enforcement fund as approved in the
11.6  accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
11.7  Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
11.8  Subdivision 8, paragraph (b), does not apply
11.9  to this project. A list of permanent
11.10 conservation easements must be provided as
11.11 part of the final report.
11.12 (b) Cannon River Watershed Habitat
11.13 Restoration and Protection Program, Phase
11.14 15
11.15 $2,847,000 the second year is to the
11.16 commissioner of natural resources for
11.17 agreements to acquire lands in fee and to
11.18 restore and enhance wildlife habitat in the
11.19 Cannon River Watershed as follows: $92,000
11.20 to Clean River Partners and $2,755,000 to
11.21 Trust for Public Land.
11.22 (c) DNR Aquatic Management Area
11.23 Acquisition and Trout Stream Easement
11.24 Acquisition
11.25 $2,153,000 the second year is to the
11.26 commissioner of natural resources to acquire
11.27 land in fee as aquatic management areas and
11.28 to acquire permanent conservation easements
11.29 to protect trout-stream aquatic habitat. Of this
11.30 amount, up to $88,000 is to establish a
11.31 monitoring and enforcement fund as approved
11.32 in the accomplishment plan and subject to
11.33 Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
11.34 subdivision 17.
 Sec. 2.  11
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
12.1  (d) Washington County Habitat Protection
12.2  and Enhancement Partnership, Phase 2
12.3  $2,774,000 the second year is to the
12.4  commissioner of natural resources for
12.5  agreements to acquire permanent conservation
12.6  easements and to restore and enhance wildlife
12.7  habitats in Washington County as follows:
12.8  $741,000 to Washington County and
12.9  $2,033,000 to Minnesota Land Trust. Of the
12.10 amount to Minnesota Land Trust, $196,000 is
12.11 to establish a monitoring and enforcement
12.12 fund as approved in the accomplishment plan
12.13 and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
12.14 97A.056, subdivision 17.
12.15 (e) Fisheries Habitat Protection on Strategic
12.16 North Central Minnesota Lakes, Phase 12
12.17 $2,286,000 the second year is to the
12.18 commissioner of natural resources for an
12.19 agreement with Northern Waters Land Trust
12.20 to acquire land in fee and to restore and
12.21 enhance wildlife habitat to sustain healthy fish
12.22 habitat on coldwater lakes in Aitkin, Cass,
12.23 Crow Wing, and Hubbard Counties.
12.24 (f) Greenbelt, Phase 1
12.25 $1,448,000 the second year is to the
12.26 commissioner of natural resources for an
12.27 agreement with Comfort Lake-Forest Lake
12.28 Watershed District to acquire land in fee and
12.29 permanent conservation easements and to
12.30 restore and enhance wildlife habitat within the
12.31 Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District
12.32 boundary.
12.33 (g) Integrating Habitat and Clean Water,
12.34 Phase 4
 Sec. 2.  12
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
13.1  $1,803,000 the second year is to the Board of
13.2  Water and Soil Resources to acquire
13.3  permanent conservation easements and to
13.4  restore and enhance wildlife habitat identified
13.5  under the One Watershed, One Plan program
13.6  for stacked benefit to wildlife and clean water.
13.7  Of this amount, up to $40,000 is to establish
13.8  a monitoring and enforcement fund as
13.9  approved in the accomplishment plan and
13.10 subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
13.11 97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent
13.12 conservation easements must be provided as
13.13 part of the final report.
13.14 (h) Metro Big Rivers, Phase 16
13.15 $6,685,000 the second year is to the
13.16 commissioner of natural resources for
13.17 agreements to acquire land in fee and to
13.18 restore and enhance natural habitat systems
13.19 associated with the Mississippi, Minnesota,
13.20 and St. Croix Rivers and their tributaries in
13.21 the metropolitan area as follows: $1,468,000
13.22 to Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
13.23 Trust, Inc.; $869,000 to Friends of the
13.24 Mississippi River; $1,032,000 to Great River
13.25 Greening; and $3,316,000 to Trust for Public
13.26 Land.
13.27 (i) Mississippi Headwaters Habitat
13.28 Corridor Project, Phase 10
13.29 $2,733,000 the second year is to acquire lands
13.30 in fee and permanent conservation easements
13.31 and to restore wildlife habitat in the
13.32 Mississippi headwaters. Of this amount, (1)
13.33 $1,369,000 is to the commissioner of natural
13.34 resources for agreements as follows: $60,000
13.35 to the Mississippi Headwaters Board and
 Sec. 2.  13
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
14.1  $1,309,000 to Trust for Public Land; and (2)
14.2  $1,364,000 is to the Board of Water and Soil
14.3  Resources, of which up to $70,000 is to
14.4  establish a monitoring and enforcement fund
14.5  as approved in the accomplishment plan and
14.6  subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
14.7  97A.056, subdivision 17. A list of permanent
14.8  conservation easements must be provided as
14.9  part of the final report.
14.10 (j) Protecting Coldwater Fisheries on
14.11 Minnesota's North Shore, Phase 4
14.12 $1,673,000 the second year is to the
14.13 commissioner of natural resources for an
14.14 agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to
14.15 acquire permanent conservation easements
14.16 and to restore and enhance wildlife habitat in
14.17 priority coldwater tributaries to Lake Superior.
14.18 Of this amount, up to $196,000 is to establish
14.19 a monitoring and enforcement fund as
14.20 approved in the accomplishment plan and
14.21 subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
14.22 97A.056, subdivision 17.
14.23 (k) Protecting Minnesota's Lakes of
14.24 Outstanding Biological Significance, Phase
14.25 5
14.26 $2,943,000 the second year is to the
14.27 commissioner of natural resources for
14.28 agreements to acquire land in fee and
14.29 permanent conservation easements and to
14.30 restore and enhance lakes of outstanding
14.31 biological significance in northeast and
14.32 north-central Minnesota. Of this amount,
14.33 $1,592,000 is to the Northern Waters Land
14.34 Trust and $1,351,000 is to Minnesota Land
14.35 Trust. Of the amount to Minnesota Land Trust,
 Sec. 2.  14
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
15.1  up to $140,000 is to establish a monitoring
15.2  and enforcement fund as approved in the
15.3  accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
15.4  Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
15.5  (l) Red River Basin Riparian Habitat
15.6  Program, Phase 2
15.7  $3,867,000 the second year is to acquire
15.8  permanent conservation easements to protect,
15.9  restore, and enhance stream and riparian
15.10 habitat throughout the Red River watershed.
15.11 Of this amount, $116,000 is to the
15.12 commissioner of natural resources for
15.13 agreements with the Red River Watershed
15.14 Management Board and $3,751,000 is to the
15.15 Board of Water and Soil Resources. Of the
15.16 amount to the Board of Water and Soil
15.17 Resources, up to $250,000 is to establish a
15.18 monitoring and enforcement fund as approved
15.19 in the accomplishment plan and subject to
15.20 Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
15.21 subdivision 17. A list of permanent
15.22 conservation easements must be provided as
15.23 part of the final report.
15.24 (m) Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat
15.25 Restoration Program, Phase 15
15.26 $2,039,000 the second year is to the
15.27 commissioner of natural resources for an
15.28 agreement with the Shell Rock River
15.29 Watershed District to acquire land in fee and
15.30 to restore and enhance habitat in the Shell
15.31 Rock River watershed.
15.32 (n) Southeast Minnesota Protection and
15.33 Restoration, Phase 14
 Sec. 2.  15
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
16.1  $7,849,000 the second year is to the
16.2  commissioner of natural resources for
16.3  agreements to acquire land in fee and
16.4  permanent conservation easements and to
16.5  restore and enhance wildlife habitat in
16.6  southeast Minnesota. Of this amount,
16.7  $1,000,000 is to The Nature Conservancy,
16.8  $5,788,000 is to Trust for Public Land, and
16.9  $1,061,000 is to Minnesota Land Trust. Of the
16.10 amount to Minnesota Land Trust, up to
16.11 $140,000 is to establish a monitoring and
16.12 enforcement fund as approved in the
16.13 accomplishment plan and subject to Minnesota
16.14 Statutes, section 97A.056, subdivision 17.
16.15 (o) St. Croix Watershed Habitat Protection
16.16 and Restoration, Phase 7
16.17 $3,807,000 the second year is to the
16.18 commissioner of natural resources for
16.19 agreements to acquire land in fee and acquire
16.20 permanent conservation easements and to
16.21 restore and enhance natural habitat systems in
16.22 the St. Croix River watershed as follows:
16.23 $2,131,000 to Trust for Public Land, $130,000
16.24 to Wild Rivers Conservancy, and $1,546,000
16.25 to Minnesota Land Trust. Of the amount to
16.26 Minnesota Land Trust, up to $140,000 is to
16.27 establish a monitoring and enforcement fund
16.28 as approved in the accomplishment plan and
16.29 subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
16.30 97A.056, subdivision 17.
16.31 (p) Upper Mississippi Flyway Habitat
16.32 Conservation Program
16.33 $2,127,000 the second year is to the
16.34 commissioner of natural resources for an
16.35 agreement with Minnesota Land Trust to
 Sec. 2.  16
 01/14/26   REVISOR    CKM/BM   26-06439
17.1  acquire permanent conservation easements
17.2  and to restore and enhance wetlands, stream
17.3  corridors, and associated uplands in central
17.4  Minnesota. Of this amount, up to $196,000 is
17.5  to establish a monitoring and enforcement
17.6  fund as approved in the accomplishment plan
17.7  and subject to Minnesota Statutes, section
17.8  97A.056, subdivision 17.
17.9  (q) A River of Birds in the Sky: Conserving
17.10 Minnesota's Flyway
17.11 $1,211,000 the second year is to the
17.12 commissioner of natural resources for an
17.13 agreement with National Audubon Society to
17.14 restore and enhance priority wildlife habitat
17.15 along the St. Croix, Minnesota, and
17.16 Mississippi river valleys.
17.17 (r) Bone Lake South, Phase 2
17.18 $1,413,000 the second year is to the
17.19 commissioner of natural resources for an
17.20 agreement with Comfort Lake-Forest Lake
17.21 Watershed District to restore and enhance
17.22 wildlife habitat in the Bone Lake south habitat
17.23 complex in Washington County.
17.24 (s) DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and
17.25 Enhancement, Phase 9
17.26 $6,429,000 the second year is to the
17.27 commissioner of natural resources to restore
17.28 and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded
17.29 streams and aquatic management areas and to
17.30 facilitate fish passage throughout Minnesota.
17.31 (t) Little Cannon River Stream Habitat
17.32 Restoration
 Sec. 2.  17
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
18.1  $500,000 the second year is to the
18.2  commissioner of natural resources for
18.3  agreements for survey, design, engineering,
18.4  and permitting of the Little Cannon River
18.5  restoration and enhancement project in
18.6  Goodhue County as follows: $40,000 to Clean
18.7  Rivers Partners, $10,000 to Great River
18.8  Greening, and $450,000 to Trout Unlimited.
18.9  (u) Mission Creek Watershed Connectivity
18.10 $1,279,000 the second year is to the
18.11 commissioner of natural resources to restore
18.12 and enhance coldwater stream habitat in the
18.13 Mission Creek watershed in St. Louis County.
18.14 (v) Mud River Enhancement Project
18.15 $2,917,000 the second year is to the
18.16 commissioner of natural resources for an
18.17 agreement with Red Lake Watershed District
18.18 to restore and enhance the Mud River habitat
18.19 complex in Marshall County.
18.20 (w) Oak Savanna Restoration for Living
18.21 Landscapes
18.22 $1,679,000 the second year is to the Board of
18.23 Water and Soil Resources, in partnership with
18.24 the Xerces Society, to restore and enhance oak
18.25 savanna and associated ecosystems on local
18.26 public and Tribal lands.
18.27 (x) Swift Coulee Channel Restoration and
18.28 Enhancement, Phase 2
18.29 $2,635,000 the second year is to the
18.30 commissioner of natural resources for an
18.31 agreement with the Middle-Snake-Tamarac
18.32 Rivers Watershed District to restore and
18.33 enhance priority habitat associated with the
 Sec. 2.  18
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
19.1  Swift Coulee channel restoration in Marshall
19.2  County.
19.3  (y) Woods Creek Restoration
19.4  $750,000 the second year is to the
19.5  commissioner of natural resources for an
19.6  agreement with Cook County to restore and
19.7  enhance coldwater stream habitat in Woods
19.8  Creek in Cook County.
19.9  (z) Minnesota Statewide Trout Habitat
19.10 Enhancement and Protection
19.11 $750,000 the second year is to the
19.12 commissioner of natural resources for an
19.13 agreement with Trout Unlimited for survey,
19.14 design, engineering, and permitting of trout
19.15 stream restoration and enhancement projects
19.16 throughout Minnesota.
19.17 (aa) Conservation Partners Legacy Grant
19.18 Program: Statewide and Metro Habitat,
19.19 Phase 18
19.20 $13,611,000 the second year is to the
19.21 commissioner of natural resources for a
19.22 program to provide competitive matching
19.23 grants of up to $500,000 to local, regional,
19.24 state, and national organizations for enhancing,
19.25 restoring, or protecting forests, wetlands,
19.26 prairies, or habitat for fish, game, or wildlife
19.27 in Minnesota. Unless there are not enough
19.28 eligible grant applications received, of this
19.29 amount, at least $3,500,000 is for grants in the
19.30 seven-county metropolitan area and cities with
19.31 a population of 50,000 or more and at least
19.32 $3,000,000 is for grants to applicants that have
19.33 not previously applied for money from the
19.34 outdoor heritage fund. Grants must not be
 Sec. 2.  19
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
20.1  made for activities required to fulfill the duties
20.2  of owners of lands subject to conservation
20.3  easements. Grants must not be made from the
20.4  appropriation in this paragraph for projects
20.5  that have a total project cost exceeding
20.6  $1,000,000. Of the total appropriation,
20.7  $600,000 may be spent for personnel costs,
20.8  outreach, and support to first-time applicants
20.9  and other direct and necessary administrative
20.10 costs. Grantees may acquire land or interests
20.11 in land. Easements must be permanent. Grants
20.12 may not be used to establish easement
20.13 stewardship accounts. The program must
20.14 require a match of at least ten percent from
20.15 nonstate sources for all grants. The match may
20.16 be cash or in-kind. For grant applications of
20.17 $25,000 or less, the commissioner must
20.18 provide a separate, simplified application
20.19 process. Subject to Minnesota Statutes, the
20.20 commissioner of natural resources must, when
20.21 evaluating projects of equal value, give
20.22 priority to organizations that have a history of
20.23 receiving, or a charter to receive, private
20.24 contributions for local conservation or habitat
20.25 projects. All restoration or enhancement
20.26 projects must be on land permanently
20.27 protected by a permanent covenant ensuring
20.28 perpetual maintenance and protection of
20.29 restored and enhanced habitat, by a
20.30 conservation easement, or by public ownership
20.31 or in public waters as defined in Minnesota
20.32 Statutes, section 103G.005, subdivision 15.
20.33 Priority must be given to restoration and
20.34 enhancement projects on public lands.
20.35 Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
20.36 subdivision 13, applies to grants awarded
 Sec. 2.  20
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM     26-06439
21.1  under this paragraph. This appropriation is
21.2  available until June 30, 2029. No less than five
21.3  percent of the amount of each grant must be
21.4  held back from reimbursement until the grant
21.5  recipient completes a grant accomplishment
21.6  report by the deadline and in the form
21.7  prescribed by and satisfactory to the
21.8  Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The
21.9  commissioner must provide notice of the grant
21.10 program in the summary of game and fish law
21.11 prepared under Minnesota Statutes, section
21.12 97A.051, subdivision 2.
21.13 Subd. 6. Administration  -0-   2,156,000
21.14 (a) Contract Management
21.15 $450,000 the second year is to the
21.16 commissioner of natural resources for contract
21.17 management duties assigned in this section.
21.18 The commissioner must provide an
21.19 accomplishment plan in the form specified by
21.20 the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council
21.21 on expending this appropriation. The
21.22 accomplishment plan must include a copy of
21.23 the grant contract template and reimbursement
21.24 manual. No money may be expended before
21.25 the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council
21.26 approves the accomplishment plan. Money
21.27 appropriated in this paragraph is available until
21.28 June 30, 2028.
21.29 (b) Core Functions in Partner-led OHF
21.30 Land Acquisitions
21.31 $1,377,000 the second year is to the
21.32 commissioner of natural resources to
21.33 administer the initial development, restoration,
21.34 and enhancement of land acquired in fee with
 Sec. 2.  21
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
22.1  money appropriated from the outdoor heritage
22.2  fund. This appropriation may be used for land
22.3  acquisition costs incurred by the Department
22.4  of Natural Resources as part of conveyance
22.5  of parcels to the department and initial
22.6  development activities on fee title acquisitions.
22.7  Money appropriated in this paragraph is
22.8  available until June 30, 2034.
22.9  (c) Technical Evaluation Panel
22.10 $189,000 the second year is to the
22.11 commissioner of natural resources for a
22.12 technical evaluation panel to conduct up to 20
22.13 restoration and enhancement evaluations under
22.14 Minnesota Statutes, section 97A.056,
22.15 subdivision 10. Money appropriated in this
22.16 paragraph is available until June 30, 2028.
22.17 (d) Legislative Coordinating Commission
22.18 $140,000 the second year is to the Legislative
22.19 Coordinating Commission for administrative
22.20 expenses of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor
22.21 Heritage Council and for compensating and
22.22 reimbursing expenses of council members.
22.23 This appropriation is in addition to the fiscal
22.24 year 2027 appropriation in Laws 2025, chapter
22.25 36, article 1, section 2, subdivision 6,
22.26 paragraph (b), and is available until June 30,
22.27 2027. Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.281,
22.28 applies to this appropriation.
22.29 Subd. 7. Availability of Appropriation
22.30 (a) Money appropriated in this section may
22.31 not be spent on activities unless they are
22.32 directly related to and necessary for a specific
22.33 appropriation and are specified in the
22.34 accomplishment plan approved by the
 Sec. 2.  22
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
23.1  Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
23.2  Money appropriated in this section must not
23.3  be spent on indirect costs or other institutional
23.4  overhead charges that are not directly related
23.5  to and necessary for a specific appropriation.
23.6  Money appropriated for fee title acquisition
23.7  of land may be used to restore, enhance, and
23.8  provide for public use of the land acquired
23.9  with the appropriation. Public-use facilities
23.10 must have a minimal impact on habitat in
23.11 acquired lands.
23.12 (b) Money appropriated in this section is
23.13 available as follows:
23.14 (1) money appropriated to acquire real
23.15 property is available until June 30, 2030;
23.16 (2) money appropriated to restore and enhance
23.17 land acquired with an appropriation in this act
23.18 is available for four years after the acquisition
23.19 date with a maximum end date of June 30,
23.20 2034;
23.21 (3) money appropriated to restore and enhance
23.22 other land is available until June 30, 2031;
23.23 (4) notwithstanding clauses (1) to (3), money
23.24 appropriated for a project that receives at least
23.25 15 percent of its funding from federal funds
23.26 is available until a date sufficient to match the
23.27 availability of federal funding to a maximum
23.28 of six years if the federal funding was
23.29 confirmed and included in the original
23.30 approved draft accomplishment plan; and
23.31 (5) money appropriated for other projects is
23.32 available until the end of the fiscal year in
23.33 which it is appropriated.
 Sec. 2.  23
 01/14/26   REVISOR    CKM/BM   26-06439
24.1  Subd. 8. Payment Conditions and Capital
24.2  Equipment Expenditures
24.3  (a) All agreements referred to in this section
24.4  must be administered on a reimbursement
24.5  basis unless otherwise provided in this section.
24.6  Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section
24.7  16A.41, expenditures directly related to each
24.8  appropriation's purpose made on or after July
24.9  1, 2026, or the date of accomplishment plan
24.10 approval, whichever is later, are eligible for
24.11 reimbursement unless otherwise provided in
24.12 this section. For the purposes of administering
24.13 appropriations and legislatively authorized
24.14 agreements paid out of the outdoor heritage
24.15 fund, an expense must be considered
24.16 reimbursable by the administering agency
24.17 when the recipient presents the agency with
24.18 an invoice or a binding agreement with the
24.19 landowner and the recipient attests that the
24.20 goods have been received or the landowner
24.21 agreement is binding. Periodic reimbursement
24.22 must be made upon receiving documentation
24.23 that the items articulated in the
24.24 accomplishment plan approved by the
24.25 Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council have
24.26 been achieved, including partial achievements
24.27 as evidenced by progress reports approved by
24.28 the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
24.29 Reasonable amounts may be advanced to
24.30 projects to accommodate cash flow needs,
24.31 support future management of acquired lands,
24.32 or match a federal share. The advances must
24.33 be approved as part of the accomplishment
24.34 plan. Capital equipment expenditures for
24.35 specific items in excess of $10,000 must be
 Sec. 2.  24
 01/14/26   REVISOR   CKM/BM   26-06439
25.1  itemized in and approved as part of the
25.2  accomplishment plan.
25.3  (b) Unless otherwise provided, no money
25.4  appropriated from the outdoor heritage fund
25.5  in this act may be used to acquire, restore, or
25.6  enhance any real property unless the specific
25.7  acquisition, restoration, or enhancement is
25.8  approved as part of the accomplishment plan
25.9  on the parcel list.
25.10 (c) Reimbursement of eligible expenses must
25.11 be submitted no later than 12 months after the
25.12 approval of the final report.
25.13 Subd. 9. Mapping
25.14 Each direct recipient of money appropriated
25.15 in this section, as well as each recipient of a
25.16 grant awarded according to this section, must
25.17 provide geographic information to the
25.18 Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council for
25.19 mapping any lands acquired in fee with funds
25.20 appropriated in this section and open to public
25.21 taking of fish and game. The commissioner
25.22 of natural resources must include the lands
25.23 acquired in fee with money appropriated in
25.24 this section on maps showing public recreation
25.25 opportunities. Maps must include information
25.26 on and acknowledgment of the outdoor
25.27 heritage fund, including a notation of any
25.28 restrictions.
25.29 Subd. 10. Carryforward
25.30 (a) The availability of the appropriation for
25.31 Laws 2021, First Special Session chapter 1,
25.32 article 1, section 2, subdivision 5, paragraph
25.33 (l), St. Louis River Restoration Initiative,
25.34 Phase VIII, is extended to June 30, 2027.
 Sec. 2.  25
01/14/26   REVISOR      CKM/BM  26-06439
26.1 (b) The availability of the appropriation for
26.2 Laws 2022, chapter 77, article 1, section 2,
26.3 subdivision 5, paragraph (u), Daylighting
26.4 Phalen Creek, is extended to June 30, 2028.
26.5     EFFECTIVE DATE. Subdivision 10 is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 2.  26