Legislative Updates

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Legislative Updates
Help us stop 10 bad water bills at the MN Legislature

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Ten bad water bills have been introduced this legislative session that are going to the House and Senate for passage. These bills undermine basic environmental science, roll back existing protections or block public participation in environmental decisions.

Learn more, or take action now.

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MN State Capitol pic
House votes 69-56 to block state’s Groundwater Protection Rule

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On Monday, April 26, the Minnesota House of Representatives voted 69-56 to pass a bill to block the state’s Groundwater Protection Rule from going into effect without legislative approval.

Gov. Mark Dayton has promised a veto, but the blocking language exists in several other bills, meaning it may yet advance to the governor's desk as part of other legislation. >>

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Our letter to the MN House on the Groundwater Protection Rule

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FMR and our allies just sent this letter to the Minnesota House opposing proposed legislation to block our state’s Groundwater Protection Rule. >>

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Aerial image of Mississippi River near Crosby Park in St. Paul
Top 10 bad water bills at the legislative halfway point

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The legislature is rolling up its sleeves and rolling back bedrock protections for water quality. Here's our top-10 list of bad water bills (so far) this session. >>

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'Zombie' 16-year water pollution holiday bill is back from the dead in #MNLeg

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What do you do when administrative law judges strike down your Legislative provision as a violation of the Clean Water Act? Revive it, of course — and expand it. Welcome to the bad bill that just won't die. >>

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#MNLeg advances bill to grant itself approval over agency permit fees

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Our Legislature is considering eliminating the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's ability to increase permit fees, potentially pushing the costs of monitoring and regulating water pollution onto taxpayers. >>

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Bills nullifying wild rice protection advance at #MNLeg

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The Minnesota House and Senate are quickly advancing bills to eliminate water quality standards that protect wild rice – Minnesota’s state grain. >>

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