SF909 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Clean water fund appropriation for a southeast regional groundwater protection and soil health initiative
Related bill: HF452
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill would use money from Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support a Southeast Regional Groundwater Protection and Soil Health Initiative. The funds would go to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) to provide grants to soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) in a specified set of southeastern Minnesota counties. The goal is to reduce the leaching of excess crop nutrients into groundwater, immobilize unused nitrogen in the rooting zone, and decrease soil erosion.
Main Provisions
- Grant funding from the Clean Water Fund: In fiscal years 2026 and 2027, money is appropriated to BWSR for grants to SWCDs in the following counties: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona.
- Project goals: Grants are to support projects that reduce nutrient leaching into groundwater, immobilize unused nitrogen in the rooting zone, and reduce erosion as part of the Southeast Regional Groundwater Protection and Soil Health Initiative.
- Use of funds by SWCDs: A SWCD that receives a grant may use the funds to make subgrants to eligible local projects that conform to requirements of the Olmsted County groundwater protection and soil health initiative. Eligible subprojects include cover crops, alternative crops, and haying/grazing/pasture enhancement programs.
- Subgrant flexibility: Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes section 103F.06, a SWCD receiving a grant may use the funds to subgrant for these eligible programs, provided the projects meet the specified requirements and limitations.
Notable Changes to Law
- Regional focus: Establishes a new southeast regional approach to groundwater protection and soil health, funded by the Clean Water Fund.
- Expanded subgrant authority: Allows SWCDs receiving Clean Water Fund grants to issue subgrants for specific programs (cover crops, alternative crops, haying/grazing/pasture enhancements) that align with the Olmsted County initiative, broadening allowable activities beyond some existing statutes.
- Statutory override for grant use: Introduces a temporary override of the usual distribution/allowable-use rules under Minnesota Statutes 103F.06 for the purposes of this regional initiative.
Funding and Administration Details
- Administration: Grants are administered by the Board of Water and Soil Resources.
- Duration: Funding is authorized for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
- Targeted area: Funds are directed to SWCDs in a defined set of southeastern Minnesota counties to implement the described groundwater and soil health measures.
Relevant terms - Clean Water Fund - Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) - soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) - Southeast Regional Groundwater Protection and Soil Health Initiative - nutrient leaching - groundwater protection - nitrogen immobilization - erosion reduction - cover crop program - alternative crops program - haying, grazing, and pasture enhancement program - Olmsted County groundwater protection and soil health initiative - subgrants - Minnesota Statutes 103F.06
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 03, 2025 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| February 03, 2025 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Environment, Climate, and Legacy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "The text references Minnesota Statutes section 103F.06 in a 'notwithstanding' provision related to the appropriation from the clean water fund; no new statutes are created and no existing statutory changes are enacted.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "103F.06",
"subdivision": ""
}
]