Legislative Updates

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Legislative Updates

Our letter on the Senate's controversial environment omnibus bill

by Trevor Russell

April 20, 2021

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Senate's Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Omnibus Bill includes some helpful provisions, but also includes cuts to state environmental agencies, a package of policy rollbacks, and a raid on a constitutionally dedicated environmental fund. >>

MN House & Senate propose very different environment budgets

by Trevor Russell

April 14, 2021

While the House has proposed a substantial increase in environmental funding, the Senate has proposed significant cuts, despite an overall budget surplus. >>

Competing Clean Water Fund bills move forward in Legislature

by Trevor Russell

April 13, 2021

The Clean Water Fund is designated to protect, enhance and restore water quality in lakes, rivers and streams, as well as protect groundwater. Both the Minnesota Senate and House have authored spending proposals, but they're very different, leaving the fate of our legislative priorities — like clean-water crop funding and lead service line replacement — uncertain. >>

Action Alert: Support full funding for Forever Green [CLOSED]

March 23, 2021

FMR's top priority for the 2021 legislative session is full funding for Forever Green, our state's most important sustainable agriculture program. Please take a moment to ask key committee members to fully fund Forever Green. >>

FMR to MN Environmental Quality Board: Include climate change in environmental review

by Trevor Russell

March 22, 2021

On Monday, FMR submitted written comments to the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board in support of their draft recommendations on integrating climate change into the state's environmental review process. Here's what we said. >>

Legislation to support Forever Green clean-water crops advances

by Peter LaFontaine

March 8, 2021

The Forever Green Initiative is at an inflection point, making funding for progress on clean-water crops crucial this cycle. So far, legislation has advanced through key agricultural committees in both the House and Senate with bipartisan support. What's next? >>

Minnesota's new budget forecast redefines legislative session

by Trevor Russell

March 5, 2021

Last November's projected state budget deficit turned into a projected $1.6 billion surplus. What does that mean for clean water, soil health and other environmental issues this legislative session? >>