SF 4304 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Outdoor Heritage Fund

This bill allocates $187.5 million from Minnesota's outdoor heritage fund for conservation projects in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, primarily benefiting land conservation agencies and environmental organizations. The funding supports specific initiatives including acquiring permanent conservation easements and fee lands for wildlife habitats, prairie restoration, and expanding wildlife management areas in designated counties. Money is distributed to partners such as Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy, and local conservation groups for projects focused on native prairie preservation and wildlife habitat enhancement. The appropriations are one-time allocations that must be spent within the specified fiscal years, with reporting requirements to track completed conservation easements and project outcomes.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 9, 2026 Last action May 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

1st Engrossment → 2nd Engrossment · 4 edits · May 7, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was updated from the 1st to the 2nd engrossment, reflecting a new legislative session date and a significant increase in the total funding appropriation from $187,528,000 to $191,081,000. The revision removes specific line items for wetlands and waterfowl acquisition programs while adding numerous new sections and subsections, particularly expanding the scope of provisions in sections 37 and 38. This change indicates a restructuring of the bill's content to accommodate new policy requirements or administrative updates.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded through the addition of 16 new subsections in section 37 and 11 new subsections in section 38, alongside the removal of specific wetlands and waterfowl funding lines.

FISCAL

The total appropriated amount was increased by $3,553,000, moving from $187,528,000 to $191,081,000.

Specific funding allocations for the Wetlands program and the Accelerating Waterfowl Production Area Acquisition Program were deleted.

REQUIREMENT

New subsections were added to sections 37 and 38, significantly expanding the detailed requirements or provisions in those areas.

TECHNICAL

New sections 14.35, 21.35, 24.35, 25.31 through 25.35, 33.35, 34.34, and 37.22 through 37.36 were inserted to reorganize or add content.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Finance

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor