Southeast regional groundwater protection and soil health initiative funding provided, and money appropriated.

HF 2708 appropriates funds from the general fund for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support a new southeast Minnesota groundwater protection and soil health initiative. The bill directs the Board of Water and Soil Resources to provide grants to soil and water conservation districts in Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona counties. These grants will fund projects to reduce nutrient leaching into groundwater, immobilize unused nitrogen, and decrease erosion. Conservation districts may use the funds for subgrants aligned with the existing Olmsted County initiative, including cover crop programs and soil health enhancements.