Legislative Updates

FMR is proud to be a leading voice in protecting the Mississippi River and all the people and wildlife who depend on it. 

Join us! Sign up to be a River Guardian to receive email action alerts when the river needs your help, plus invitations to educational happy hours and other events.

Legislative Updates
Legislation could protect public wells with clean-water crops

update

Legislation introduced this month would fund the Working Lands Drinking Water Program. The program will help farmers plant and sell alternative crops that protect drinking water while maintaining farm profitability. As a pilot initiative, it's limited to the state's most vulnerable wellhead areas — places where conservation crops can protect public health.  >>

Read more
How water and agriculture fared in the governor’s budget

update

On Tuesday, Gov. Walz announced his state budget proposal. We took a look at how our priorities for the river and clean water fared. Our take-away so far? We have some work to do. New investments in environment and agriculture were minor and failed to include full funding for the few initiatives that are essential to achieving Minnesota's clean water goals.  >>

Read more
House and senate introduce full funding for Forever Green

update

To get to our clean water goals in Minnesota, we need to plant more perennial and cover crops. But these crops need to be profitable before farm operations can effectively make the change. To address this challenge, two bills were introduced in mid-February in the house and senate that will fully fund the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative.  >>

Read more
Join us for MN Water Action Day • April 10, 2019

update

Join us for Water Action Day 2019, a day of public action and advocacy to let lawmakers know we care about our water! #ProtectOurWater >>

Read more
FMR’s Molly Pederson testifies for Environmental Trust Fund fix

update

In late January, a key House committee approved legislation to fix last year’s controversial raid on Minnesota’s Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund. FMR lobbyist Molly Pederson testified in support of the bill.  >>

Read more
Our 2019 legislative priorities

update

Kicking off the return of our annual Legislative Blog, here's a summary of FMR's top three legislative priorities this session: Forever Green, Working Lands and fixing the Environmental Trust Fund raid.  >>

Read more
FMR joins 186 groups supporting revised farm bill

update

FMR was one of 186 national, state and local organizations to thank Congress for strong conservation provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill and urge its timely passage. >>

Read more

Pages

Upcoming Events

Saturday, January 31, 2026 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Rosemount Wildlife Preserve and North 20 Brewing, Rosemount
Saturday, February 7, 2026 - 10:00am to 11:30am
FMR's office, near Harriet Island in St. Paul
Sign up in January; Compete throughout February 2026
Hennepin, Ramsey & Washington counties