On Wednesday, the Senate’s Environment and Natural Resources Finance Committee passed a comprehensive environment and natural resources bill. The omnibus budget bill, authored by Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), emphasizes funding Minnesota’s critical environment priorities with efforts that prioritize recycling and waste management, targeting Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and supporting groundwater preservation. The legislation also helps Minnesota’s tourism industry and increases funding for the state’s parks and trails. Lastly, the legislation modifies several wasteful regulations and removes the PCA’s authority to enact the California Emission Standards without legislative approval.

 “We want all Minnesotans to have access to an environment that is clean, accessible, and safe, and preserved for generations to come,” Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen said. “Minnesotans should be able to enjoy the outdoors, and our budget supports getting people out on our lakes, boosting our great tourism industry,  and investing in our parks and trails that so many folks have relied on for entertainment over this past year.”

“We also know that government bureaucracy can sometimes blur the line between sound policy and overreach,” Senator Ingebrigtsen continued. “An example of this has been the recent attempt by the PCA to implement California’s costly emission standards. Senate Republicans will continue to fight for sound policy that protects our communities without putting too much of a burden on Minnesotan families.”