Purpose

• Authorizes capital investment funding for forests and forestry projects and authorizes the sale of state bonds to finance these activities.

Key Definitions

• Reforestation: The process of renewing forests, either naturally or with human help, that follows Minnesota’s reforestation policy. It covers purchasing native seeds and native seedlings, planting, site preparation, and protection on state lands overseen by the commissioner of natural resources.
• State forest land: The state-owned forest lands listed in the bill. The bill provides a long list of named state forests (e.g., Badoura, Battleground, Bear Island, Beltrami Island, Big Fork, Birch Lakes, Blackduck, Bowstring, Buena Vista, Burntside, Centennial, Chengwatana, Cloquet Valley, Crow Wing, D.A.R., Emily, Finland, Fond du Lac, Foot Hills, General C. C. Andrews, George Washington, Golden Anniversary, Grand Portage, Hill River, Huntersville, Insula Lake, Kabetogama, Koochiching, Lake Isabella, Lake Jeanette, Lake of the Woods, Land O’Lakes, Lost River, Lyons, Mississippi Headwaters, Nemadji, Northwest Angle, Pat Bayle, Paul Bunyan, Pillsbury, Pine Island, Red Lake, Remer, Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood, Riverlands, Rum River, Sand Dunes, Savanna, Smokey Bear, Smoky Hills, Snake River, Solana, St. Croix, Sturgeon River, Two Inlets, Waukenabo, Wealthwood, Welsh Lake, White Earth, Whiteface River, and others).

Main Provisions

• Subd.1 Definitions: Establishes terms used in this section, including reforestation and state forest land, and clarifies that “state forest land” refers to the listed state forests administered by the commissioner of natural resources.
• Subd.2 Reforestation: Appropriates 18,000,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of natural resources to provide for reforestation on state forest lands. Of this amount, 8,000,000 may be used for forest stand improvement and management and for treatment of emerald ash borer and spruce budworm on state forest lands, under Minnesota Statutes sections 88.01 and 88.06.
• Subd.3 Bond sale: Requires the state to sell and issue bonds in an amount up to 18,000,000 to finance these activities. Bond proceeds will be issued and handled in the manner prescribed by Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and by the Minnesota Constitution Article XI, sections 4 to 7.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new capital investment funding stream specifically for forest reforestation and related forestry projects by authorizing up to 18 million in state bonds.
• Directs use of bond proceeds for reforestation on state forest lands, with a specific portion (8 million) earmarked for forest stand improvement, management, and pest treatments (emerald ash borer and spruce budworm) under existing statutory authority (88.01 and 88.06).
• Formalizes how bonds will be issued and repaid through established state debt and bond statutes (16A.631-16A.675) and constitutional provisions (Article XI).

Impact Snapshot

• Financial: Up to 18 million in bond funding for reforestation and related forestry improvements.
• Operational: The Department of Natural Resources will oversee reforestation on a broad list of state forests; pest control for emerald ash borer and spruce budworm is specifically funded.
• Governance: Bonds issued by the state under existing debt laws and constitutional rules; the Commissioner's of Management and Budget handles bond sales.

Relevant Terms - reforestation - state forest land - forests and forestry capital projects - bond proceeds fund - bonds / bond sale - commissioner of natural resources (DNR) - forest stand improvement - emerald ash borer - spruce budworm - native seeds - native seedlings - seeding site preparation - protection (of reforestation efforts) - Minnesota Statutes 89.002(2) - Minnesota Statutes 88.01 and 88.06 - Minnesota Statutes 16A.631–16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI - list of state forests (examples: Badoura, Battleground, Bear Island, Beltrami Island, Big Fork, etc.)