Legislative Updates

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Legislative Updates

Building on a successful Water Action Day

by Trevor Russell

May 3, 2017

More than 1,000 Minnesotans joined us at the Capitol to urge legislators and Gov. Mark Dayton to invest in clean water and protect Minnesota's great outdoors. Now we're keeping up the momentum with the River Guardians and Water Action Daily.

Pollution Control Agency chief: Anti-environment bills put politics ahead of science

by Trevor Russell

April 6, 2017

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner recently penned a thoughtful commentary on the threat of anti-environmental legislation moving forward at the Minnesota Legislature this session.

MINNPost: 'Legislature makes a sweeping assault on Minnesota's environmental traditions'

by Trevor Russell

April 5, 2017

"When people like [FMR director] Whitney Clark and Steve Morse call out the Minnesota Legislature for a 'full frontal assault' on the state’s traditions of environmental stewardship, for an 'unprecedented' trashing of established and accepted practice, it’s time to take notice," writes Ron Meador in MINNPost. We couldn't agree more.

FMR joins letter opposing House and Senate environmental bills

by Trevor Russell

March 30, 2017

FMR is proud to be a signatory on a pair of letters to the Minnesota House and Senate asking members to vote ‘no’ on the Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources budget bills.

MN House & Senate rewrite Legacy and undercut Clean Water Fund recommendations.

by Trevor Russell

March 30, 2017

A pair of bills advanced in the House and Senate this week that re-write appropriations for the State’s Clean Water Fund. These bills:

Undermine the Clean Water Council’s recommendations;
Violate the Legislature’s 2015 promise to taxpayers on buffer funding; and
Reduce or eliminate funding for drinking water, agricultural conservation, water monitoring and other core clean water programs.

Stealth House-only bill undermines agency rulemaking

by Leili Fatehi

March 16, 2017

A bill poised to pass the Minnesota House with minimal hearings would make it possible for a single legislative committee to block or hamstring state agencies from adopting or even proposing rules to protect Minnesotans' environment, natural resources, health, and safety. Written by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the bill explicitly elevates the interests of corporate polluters and other regulated entities above all other regulatory considerations.