UPDATE #3: The new draft of the bill, tracking sheet and the
The new Omnibuzz Environment and Natural Resources Budget Bill here.
The tracking sheet for the budget here.
The Omnibus LCCMR Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund here.
Watch the hearing at noon, via the Combined Legislative Meeting Calendar:
MN House Information Services will be streaming on Facebook Live.
Now we're going to read the bill. [End Update #3]
UPDATE #2: Just in by email from Peter Strohmeier, the House Environment and Natural Resources Division Committee Administrator:
Thursday, May 23, 2019 , 12:00 PM
Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division
Chair: Rep. Rick Hansen
Location: 5 State Office Building
Agenda:
Informational hearing on the Special Session Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources Bill.
Nonpartisan staff walk-through of articles and spreadsheets.
Materials will be provided when available.
No official action will be taken.
We'll let readers know about streaming media and documents for tomorrow's meeting as the details are made public. [end update #2]
UPDATE: The public informational hearing has been postponed until tomorrow, we're told. We'll update this post as information about the new time is available. [end update]
Late Wednesday morning, MinnPost's Walker Orenstein posted an in-depth look at the emerging shape of Special Session Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources Bill in Budget deal looks to address chronic wasting disease, even as Legislature sidesteps more controversial environmental issues.
More on that fine piece in a bit. Readers can take look at the budget agreement in a tweet by House Environment and Natural Resources Division Rick Hansen, DFL-S. St. Paul, (we used our ever-handy OED magnifying glass):
Signed 🖌Env Finance 🌳💧🦌😊🦆🦃🐝🎣🌾Budget 💵spreadsheet. Signed by Senate Leader Gazelka, Rep Hansen, MPCA Comm Bishop & DNR Comm @StrommenSarah. Thank you! #mnleg 🌎 pic.twitter.com/EtgIRAqwtI
— Rep. Rick Hansen (@reprickhansen) May 22, 2019
Or check out the spreadsheet here online.
According to a news release from the Minnesota House, "A copy of the bill will be available later and can be found here." That's the division's webpage; bills being heard are ordinarily posted beneath the "Upcoming Hearing" section in the upper right had corner of the page. The document has yet to appear.
Some of the shape of the final bill (had it been available before the session ended, it would be called a conference committee report) is sketched in the Orenstein piece. Here's a digest of some of that piece:
. . . In the race to finish an overall state budget — a task not yet accomplished — the CWD response was also one of the few notable initiatives to emerge from closed-door negotiations this week. A special session is expected later this week to pass a full budget, and many environmental issues that split the parties this year won’t move forward — like whether to ban a recreational wolf hunt or pass a law to cement the name Bde Maka Ska on the former Lake Calhoun — while others, like requiring a carbon-free energy grid by 2050, had yet to be decided or publicly discussed as of Wednesday morning.
. . . Overall, lawmakers were given about $13.8 million in new general fund money over existing spending to distribute to environmental causes and state agencies, including the DNR and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. More than $4 million of that will be spent on increased costs at the DNR, such as rising salaries and insurance, Meier said. Another $2.7 million will go to legal fees for DNR and the MPCA for defending their actions in court, including a DNR decision to greenlight the PolyMet copper-nickel mine plan.
. . .The House had originally proposed $32 million in new general fund spending and a hike to several environment-related fees, while the Senate offered a $57 million cut but wanted to backfill some of the money with cash from fees and funds currently dedicated for other uses. “I see the ultimate budget as a true work in compromise and one that will get rid of some of those shifts and raids and transfers,” Meier said.
The surcharge for aquatic invasive species management — levied on three-year boat registrations — would rise from $5 to $10.60 under the plan.
While the natural resources conference committee was able to work out differences on most issues, Ingebrigtsen said several controversial policies did kick up to the powerful trio.
That included much-debated provisions to ban recreational wolf hunting, create a wild rice stewardship council and finalize the name Bde Maka Ska, Ingebrigtsen said. All, he added, were shot down since each of the three leaders needed to agree on a policy for it to move forward.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled last month the DNR did not have power to change Lake Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska, although the agency is appealing the decision. While a state task force recommended lawmakers create a permanent panel to study wild rice and water pollution standards, some DFLers objected, saying there was not enough tribal representation or consultation involved.
A new carpet recycling program proposed by DFLers and a Republican plan to allow some two-line fishing did not make the final cut either, Hansen said.
One thing that did get a thumbs up from the leadership trio: naming the St. Croix River State Water Trail after former Vice President Walter Mondale. . . .
In addition to agreements on CWD-related provisions, Ingebrigtsen and Hansen’s committee is finalizing spending of lottery funds dedicated to the environment and their deal had dozens of new laws, including:
- A “No Child Left Inside” program for outdoor education championed by the DFL Grants for hunting, fishing and firearm safety wanted by Republicans amid declining participation in those sports were merged into the new program as well.
- Naming the rusty patched bumble bee as the official state bee.
- A bill to limit the extension of comment periods on some environmental reviews without approval from a business proposing a project, which raised some opposition from environmental groups.
The hearing itself, scheduled for 9:00 p.m. or at the call of the chair, will be video streamed via HTV 1. according to the Combined Legislative Meeting Calendar.
We're hoping it's streamed live on YouTube as well (bigger screen on the television). Audio streaming will also be available here.
Photo: Rusty patched bumble bee feeding on wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa). This endangered pollinator may end up being Minnesota's state bee, if the legislature can get busy in the special session.
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