HF2430 - Legacy and Outdoor Heritage Bill Summary

• Appropriates $97.42 million from outdoor heritage fund for fiscal year 2013 across prairies ($24.64M), forests ($10.3M), wetlands ($31.14M), habitats ($31.12M), and administration ($220K).

• Establishes prairie grasslands public grazing program allowing DNR to enter into cooperative farming agreements with livestock owners to annually graze up to 50,000 acres of prairie and grasslands for wildlife habitat management.

• Appropriates $27.63 million from clean water fund for fiscal year 2013 for TMDL studies, groundwater protection, water quality monitoring, riparian buffers, and aquatic invasive species research at University of Minnesota.

• Modifies film production jobs program control from Explore Minnesota Tourism director to commissioner of administration; increases parks and trails fund appropriations to Metropolitan Council ($15.14M in FY 2013).

• Amends outdoor heritage fund requirements to mandate accomplishment plans, conservation easement standards, easement monitoring and enforcement, real property reporting, and restrictions on land use alterations without Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council approval.