SF550 Bill Summary

• Appropriates $64.250 million from the environment and natural resources trust fund across fiscal years 2017-2019 ($8.428 million for FY2017, $50.733 million for FY2018, $5.089 million for FY2019) for natural resource projects and programs.

• Funds major categories including foundational natural resource data, water resources, environmental education, invasive species research and control, air quality and renewable energy projects, and land acquisition and habitat restoration.

• Requires recipients to submit work plans and annual or semiannual progress reports to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) before spending any funds and prohibits spending on indirect costs or institutional overhead not directly related to specific appropriations.

• Establishes detailed project requirements including use of native plant species, ecological restoration plans, restoration evaluations, permanent conservation easements, and public accountability measures for land acquisitions.

• Amends Minnesota Statutes sections 116P.05, 116P.08, and 116P.17 to modify commission duties and establish requirements for trust fund expenditures and real property acquisitions.