Bill Summary: HF710

• Appropriates $103,978,000 from the outdoor heritage fund for fiscal year 2018 and $585,000 for fiscal year 2019 for natural resource conservation projects across five categories: prairies ($30.9 million), forests ($16.8 million), wetlands ($28.9 million), habitats ($26.6 million), and administration ($879,000 and $585,000).

• Funds specific land acquisition, restoration, and enhancement projects through agreements with organizations including Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, Ducks Unlimited, and local conservation groups targeting prairie, wetland, forest, and fish/wildlife habitats statewide.

• Creates new revenue disclosure requirements for outdoor heritage fund recipients, requiring disclosure of all revenues generated from funded land within 60 days after appropriation availability ends, with revenues directed to habitat protection, approved alternative uses, or return to the outdoor heritage fund.

• Modifies prior appropriations from 2015 and 2016 special sessions, adjusting funding amounts for various habitat projects including increases to monitoring/enforcement funds for RIM buffer programs ($728,000-$1,079,000).

• Repeals subdivision 8 of Minnesota Statutes section 97A.056 regarding prior revenue disclosure requirements that applied only when land transferred to state ownership.