Southeast regional groundwater protection and soil health initiative appropriation

1.1 A bill for an act​ 1.2 relating to agriculture; appropriating money for a southeast regional groundwater​ 1.3 protection and soil health initiative.​ 1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​ 1.5 Section 1. APPROPRIATION; SOUTHEAST REGIONAL GROUNDWATER​ 1.6 PROTECTION AND SOIL HEALTH INITIATIVE.​ 1.7 (a) $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the​ 1.8 general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for grants to soil and water conservation​ 1.9 districts in the counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted,​ 1.10 Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona to reduce leaching of excess crop nutrients into​ 1.11 groundwater, immobilize unused nitrogen from the rooting zone, and reduce erosion as part​ 1.12 of a new southeast regional groundwater protection and soil health initiative.​ 1.13 (b) Notwithstanding any provision of Minnesota Statutes, section 17.134, to the contrary,​ 1.14 a soil and water conservation district that receives a grant under this section may use the​ 1.15 grant to make subgrants for projects that conform to the requirements and limitations of the​ 1.16 Olmsted County groundwater protection and soil health initiative, including a cover crop​ 1.17 program, alternative crops program, and a haying, grazing, and pasture enhancement program.​ 1​Section 1.​ 25-04746 as introduced​03/06/25 REVISOR SS/DG​ SENATE​ STATE OF MINNESOTA​ S.F. No. 2845​NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​ (SENATE AUTHORS: BOLDON)​ OFFICIAL STATUS​D-PG​DATE​ Introduction and first reading​03/20/2025​ Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development​