HF3423 Summary

• Appropriates $113,923,000 from the outdoor heritage fund for fiscal year 2019 to acquire land, restore habitat, and enhance natural areas across prairies, forests, wetlands, and fish/wildlife habitats statewide.

• Distributes funds across six categories: prairies ($35,288,000), forests ($9,131,000), wetlands ($28,116,000), habitats ($40,978,000), and administration ($410,000), with specific amounts allocated to named projects and partner organizations.

• Modifies the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council's duties to include developing 10-year and 25-year funding plans, providing counties with lists of proposed land acquisitions, and ensuring equitable project ranking and citizen participation processes.

• Strengthens project requirements for conservation easements and restorations, including mandates for permanent easements, ecological restoration plans consistent with conservation science, long-term stewardship plans, public accountability documentation, and notification to county and town boards before land acquisition.

• Establishes fund availability periods: funds available until June 30, 2021 generally; until June 30, 2022 for real property acquisitions if agreements entered by June 30, 2021; and until June 30, 2023 or five years after acquisition for restoration work.