Environment (Coastal & Flood Protection)

This bill creates a revolving loan program to help municipalities and homeowners along the Mississippi River address shoreline erosion that threatens their buildings. The Department of Natural Resources would administer the program, using $2 million in state funding to provide loans to eligible applicants who meet income and other criteria. The legislation also grants the department authority to create rules for the program and allows it to use emergency rule procedures without needing to prove an immediate public safety emergency. Additionally, the bill extends the time emergency rules remain in effect to 25 months and authorizes the creation of half a full-time equivalent position to manage the program.

AB 209 creates two revolving loan programs: one for Great Lakes shoreline erosion control and another for hazard mitigation projects. It directly affects municipalities and homeowners threatened by erosion along Lake Michigan or Lake Superior, as well as local governments seeking funds for hazard mitigation. The bill establishes a $5 million appropriation from the environmental fund for the Great Lakes program and a separate hazard mitigation revolving loan fund using federal funds, state transfers, and loan repayments. All repaid loan principal and interest are recycled into the programs, creating a self-sustaining funding mechanism.

AB 118 creates a state-funded pilot program to help farmers transition to managed grazing systems, allocating $500,000 annually from the environmental fund. The program provides grants covering technical assistance, infrastructure (like fencing and water systems), and incentives during the first three years of implementing new or improved grazing practices on marginal lands (e.g., flood-prone or steep areas). Grants are limited to $40,000 per farmer, with payments phased over three years (75% upfront, then 12.5% each subsequent year). The bill directly affects farmers adopting forage-based managed grazing and requires the Department of Agriculture to support this transition through a new staff position. It does not fund existing grazing systems, focusing only on new implementations or enhancements that improve conservation and financial outcomes.

SB 207 creates two revolving loan programs: one for hazard mitigation and another specifically for Great Lakes erosion control. The bill establishes a $5 million funding pool from the environmental fund, using repayments of principal and interest from existing loans to provide new loans for eligible projects. This program directly affects communities facing coastal erosion or natural hazards by offering low-cost financing for infrastructure improvements. The revolving nature means funds are recycled as loans are repaid, creating a sustainable funding source without requiring new annual appropriations.