On Sunday, the Minnesota Senate passed a bipartisan environment and natural resources budget that advances Minnesota by focusing on the state’s key environmental priorities. The compromise bill, Senate File 844, improves language in Minnesota’s buffer law, reforms the state’s regulatory process and maintains environmental protections to allow Minnesotans to continue to take advantage of the state’s great outdoors.  The budget bill, which passed the Senate 42-25, is the result of negotiations between the legislature and the Governor.

“Over the past several weeks Republicans from the Senate and House have been engaging Governor Dayton and his administration to craft a bipartisan environment and natural resources budget that continues to protect Minnesota’s great outdoors, while also reducing many burdensome regulations that harm economic development across our state,” said Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), Chair of the Senate’s Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee. “This legislation includes many vital reforms, particularly with its increase of local control and reforms to the buffer law.”

The legislation amends the state’s buffer law, which has been burdensome and costly to farmers since its implementation. The new languages clarifies that all public ditches are subject to the buffer requirement. The reforms also provide farmers a waiver for compliance for up to 8 months, giving them additional time they need to meet the new requirements.

S.F. 844 also reforms Minnesota’s regulatory process through amendments to the state’s rigorous permitting process, these changes will ensure that projects aren’t unfairly delayed despite meeting state standards. No part of the bill would lower environmental standards or remove existing permitting requirements. Instead, agencies would be required to provide projects with a schedule for issuing complex permits to establish a timeline for businesses and increase accountability for state agencies. The bill also allows companies to engage in an expedited permitting process in instances where time may be a factor.

Other provisions included are increased funding for state parks, allowing scopes on muzzle loaders, stricter penalties for those who violate game and fish limits, and new funding for the Conservation Easement Stewardship program.