Purpose

This bill provides funding to support forests and forestry projects in Minnesota by authorizing a bond issuance for reforestation on state forest lands and related activities. It aims to meet reforestation requirements and support forestry health and management.

Main Provisions

• Subdivision 1 – Reforestation funding:
  • Appropriates 18,000,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of natural resources.
  • Uses include reforestation on state forest lands to meet the reforestation requirements in Minnesota Statutes section 89.002 subdivision 2.
  • Eligible activities include purchasing native seeds and native seedlings, planting, seeding, site preparation, and protection on state lands administered by the commissioner.
  • Of the total, 8,000,000 may be used for forest stand improvement and management, and for treatment of emerald ash borer and spruce budworm under Minnesota Statutes sections 88.01 and 88.06.
• Subdivision 2 – Bond sale:
  • To finance the appropriation, the commissioner of management and budget is authorized to sell and issue up to 18,000,000 in state bonds.
  • Bond terms and administration follow Minnesota statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and the Minnesota Constitution Article XI sections 4 to 7.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a new funding and bonding package specifically for forests and forestry capital projects, including reforestation and pest management.
• Creates an authorized bond issuance of up to 18 million dollars to support these activities.
• Directs spending on reforestation activities and on protection/treatment efforts for emerald ash borer and spruce budworm, within the stated statutory framework.
• The bill does not modify existing statutes themselves but provides new appropriations and bonding authority to fund them.

Implementation and Administration

• The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers the funded projects on state forest lands.
• Bond issuance is governed by existing state bonding statutes and constitutional provisions, with the managing and budgeting agencies coordinating the sale of bonds.

Relevant Terms - reforestation - state forest lands - native seeds - native seedlings - planting - seeding - site preparation - protection - forest stand improvement - forest management - emerald ash borer - spruce budworm - bond proceeds fund - bond sale - bonds - Minnesota Statutes section 89.002 subdivision 2 - Minnesota Statutes sections 88.01 and 88.06 - Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI sections 4 to 7 - commissioner of natural resources - commissioner of management and budget