MN HF181

Appropriates $100,008,000 from the outdoor heritage fund for fiscal year 2016 and $607,000 for fiscal year 2017 for land acquisition, restoration, and enhancement projects across prairies, forests, wetlands, and aquatic habitats.

Allocates funds to specific programs including wildlife management area acquisitions, prairie restoration, forest protection, waterfowl production areas, and habitat enhancement through partnerships with organizations like The Nature Conservancy, Pheasants Forever, and Ducks Unlimited.

Establishes new restrictions on outdoor heritage fund use, including prohibitions on pollinator lethal insecticides on acquired lands, emergency haying and grazing in disaster responses, and limits on donations from landowners exceeding documented project expenses.

Modifies the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council structure and requirements for accomplishment plans, contract management, reimbursement procedures, and monitoring of easement stewardship accounts.

Extends availability of appropriations until June 30, 2018 for most activities, June 30, 2019 for real property acquisitions with binding agreements, and June 30, 2020 for restoration and enhancement work.