I watched the Minnesota House floor hearing on HF3911 this afternoon, an experience that confirmed the value of my graduate degree in creative writing, since I felt I could have written a script that included the Republican member's floor speeches, having watched the House environment committee hearings on the bills that were folded into the bill.
Bluestem posted about this process in Prevention is better than clean-up: split vote sends budget, policy bill out of enviro committee.
The bill passed today. Earlier, in mid April, the Minnesota House had passed an environment policy bill.
I'll add the YouTube of the floor debate to this post as it becomes available (the floor session is still going on as I post this). Here's the Minnesota House Information Services YouTube of the floor debate:
Here's Session Daily's coverage of the floor debate:
Planting trees, measures to protect state’s helium resources included in environment package that clears House
By Margaret StevensMore than once Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) has shared the adage that the best time to plant trees is 20 years ago. The next best time is today.
“It’s another great day to plant trees,” Hansen said Wednesday in introducing HF3911, the environment and natural resources supplemental policy and finance bill that would provide approximately $19 million from various funds to plant trees in communities, state parks, along trails and at the zoo.
The House passed the bill, as amended, 68-63 and sent it to the Senate.
Besides trees, Hansen offered another reason to support the bill: helium. Following discovery of a huge and valuable helium reserve in Northern Minnesota, lawmakers proposed setting a regulatory framework for exploration and extraction of the gas.
There are currently no regulations surrounding the extraction of helium, allowing production without consequences, Hansen said. The bill would put a moratorium on extraction while regulators work out the details to protect the state’s resources. That work could be the most important thing the Legislature does this year, Hansen told the House Ways and Means Committee when the bill was heard there.
Rep. Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa) said clean water, clean air, and an improved regulatory process are shared values.
“I think where we have disagreements is how do we get from Point A to completion,” he said, adding he might prefer a little more carrot and a little less stick.
Appropriations
The bill would appropriate $17.5 million from the General Fund including:
- $8 million to the Metropolitan Council for community tree grants;
- $6.8 million to help cover legal costs at the Pollution Control Agency and Department of Natural Resources;
- $1.2 million to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for its Lawn to Legumes program which encourages expansion of pollinator habitat; and
- via an amendment successfully offered by Rep. Ben Davis (R-Merrifield) $200,000 to reimbuse local law enforcement agencies for search and rescue operations related to recreational activities on unsafe ice.
[MORE: View the spreadsheet]
Waste reduction
Provisions of a so-called Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act are included in the bill.
Spearheaded by Rep. Sydney Jordan (DFL-Mpls), the goal is to shift responsibility of packaging waste, which makes up 40% of the waste stream, from consumers to producers. By 2032, with a few exceptions, all packing and paper products would have to be compostable, recyclable or collected under an approved stewardship plan.
Another provision would require the Pollution Control Agency develop a boat wrap stewardship plan aimed at preventing tons of plastic from ending up in landfills or incinerators.
While seeing merit in the ideas, Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely) thinks they should start with pilot programs instead of a statewide rollout.
The bill also includes scores of policy provisions affecting air, land, water and wildlife.
Ag-related provisions
Several Republicans oppose the bill because of its possible impact on agriculture, noting increases in agriculture-related penalties and additional regulation of livestock operations of more than 10,000 animals.
Rep. Steven Jacob (R-Altura) unsuccessfully offered an amendment to delete provisions that would prohibit planting corn on state land.
Those provisions would end a decades-old program where farmers grow crops on state land leaving some for wildlife. “This was a good program for the farmers, for the hunters and most of all it’s good for the wildlife,” he said.
Jacob said the bill in general penalizes hardworking Minnesotans and discourages businesses from locating here.
He also took issue with the bill’s spending. “At the end of the day this bill pits the DNR against farmers, pits small farmers against big farmers, and pits neighbor against neighbor.”
Representative Hansen issued a press release about the bill's passage:
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed HF 3911, the 2024 Environment and Natural Resources Budget and Policy bill on a vote of 68-63. The legislation, authored by Representative Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul), includes significant investments in tree planting and addressing emerald ash borer, policies strengthening and enforcing Minnesota’s air quality statutes, and substantial provisions dealing with the state’s solid waste problems.
The Environment and Natural Resources Budget and Policy bill invests over $46 million in protecting Minnesota’s water, air, soil, and wildlife. The bill includes over $19 million in trees and tree planting grants throughout Minnesota, with a focus on environmental justice areas. It includes additional funding for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for oversight and enforcement, funding for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that includes improvements to ATV trails in greater Minnesota, and funding for the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) including funding for the Lawns to Legumes Program.
“After last year’s historic investments in environmental stewardship, we are not slowing down in our mission of preventing pollution and protecting our air, water, soil, and wildlife,” said Rep. Hansen, Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee. “This year the legislature is investing over $19 million in trees, increasing oversight and penalties for repeat polluters, and taking major steps to address landfills and our solid waste issue.”
The bill includes significant policy provisions aimed at environmental protection and pollution prevention. The bill increases the MPCA’s enforcement authority, increases civil penalties for repeat polluters, and requires emissions testing protocols for the top 30 facilities that pose the greatest risk to human health. The legislation also includes Representative Sydney Jordan’s Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act, a major step forward in dealing with solid waste by ensuring that packaging producers are responsible for the waste they create and are incentivized to increase recycled content.
“Across Minnesota we are inundated with packaging, from our doorsteps to store shelves. Packaging waste and printed paper now account for 40% of our garbage,” said Rep. Jordan, Vice Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee. “The burden of managing this ever-growing deluge of packaging waste currently falls on local governments - and taxpayers. Today’s bill takes steps to ensure the producers of this waste are paying their fair share.”
This year’s Environment and Natural Resources bill builds on last year’s historic legislation that invested over $670 million in new environment and natural resources funding. That bill included a nation-leading PFAS prevention package, addressed issues like chronic wasting disease, emerald ash borer, and aquatic invasive species, and added stronger protections for Minnesotans in environmental justice areas.
More information can be found in the bill language, nonpartisan research summary, and spreadsheet. A recording of the floor debate and final vote can be found here.
I'll keep an eye out for Senate action on the bill.
Photo: Rep. Rick Hansen presents the environment and natural resources supplemental budget bill on the House Floor May 1. (Photo by Michele Jokinen/ via Session Daily).
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