HF 340 Summary

• Appropriates $127,505,000 from the outdoor heritage fund for fiscal year 2020 and $565,000 for fiscal year 2021 for conservation and habitat projects across Minnesota.

• Funds prairie habitat acquisition and restoration through partnerships with organizations like Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy, and Ducks Unlimited, prioritizing native prairie bank lands.

• Allocates money for forest protection and restoration, wetland enhancement, and aquatic habitat improvements across multiple regions and watersheds throughout the state.

• Establishes a competitive grant program (Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program) providing up to $400,000 matching grants to organizations for habitat enhancement and restoration projects.

• Modifies and extends availability dates for previous appropriations from 2015 and 2017 heritage fund allocations to allow projects additional time for completion.