Legislative Updates

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

by Trevor Russell

update

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

update

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

update

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

update

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.

Act now: Save the buffers! Protect our waters

by Trevor Russell

update

March 9, 2017

Clean Water Fund bill brought forward in the House

by Trevor Russell

update

March 7, 2017

FMR strongly supports a bill introduced by Rep. Paul Torkelson (R – Hanska) to allocate the Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund (Legacy Amendment) money as recommended by the state’s 28-member Clean Water Council. FMR applauds Rep. Torkelson for his leadership on this issue, and looks forward to working with him to help HF 1731 earn Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature.

Unexpected amendment undermines state’s buffer law

by Trevor Russell

update

March 2, 2017

An unexpected amendment to the state's buffer law undermines Gov. Mark Dayton’s landmark buffer initiative by removing 50-foot buffers from as many as 48,000 miles of Minnesota streams.