1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; appropriating money for accelerated conservation 
1.3 	planting, living snow fences, and ash tree replacement.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. ACCELERATED CONSERVATION PLANTING PROGRAM; 
1.6 	APPROPRIATION.
 1.7 	$....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Water 
1.8 	and Soil Resources for an accelerated conservation planting program. This is a onetime 
1.9 	appropriation and is available until June 30, 2026. The work must be carried out consistent 
1.10 	with the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 103C.501, and be used for financial and 
1.11 	technical assistance to landowners via local units of government for the purpose of 
1.12 	establishing or enhancing tree, shrub, and associated conservation practices that will reduce 
1.13 	greenhouse gas emissions and add resiliency to the landscape by sequestering carbon, 
1.14 	conserving energy, and improving water quality and habitat. Of this amount, $....... must 
1.15 	be used to address invasive species control via cooperative weed management agreements. 
1.16 	Money appropriated in this section may only be used to acquire and plant trees native to 
1.17 	Minnesota.

1.18 	Sec. 2. LIVING SNOW FENCE PROGRAM; APPROPRIATION.
 1.19 	$....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
1.20 	transportation for contracts to build and improve living snow fences consisting of trees, 
1.21 	shrubs, native grasses, and wildflowers. Money appropriated in this section may only be 
2.1 	used to acquire and plant trees native to Minnesota. This is a onetime appropriation and is 
2.2 	available until June 30, 2026.

2.3 	Sec. 3. ASH TREE REPLACEMENT GRANTS; APPROPRIATION.
 2.4 	(a) $....... in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner 
2.5 	of natural resources for grants to local units of government to replace trees removed to 
2.6 	address emerald ash borer. Priority must be given to environmental justice areas. Money 
2.7 	appropriated in this section may only be used to acquire and plant trees native to Minnesota. 
2.8 	This is a onetime appropriation.
2.9 	(b) For purposes of this appropriation, an environmental justice area is one or more 
2.10 	census blocks with a history of higher than average cumulative impacts from air pollution 
2.11 	located in Minnesota:
2.12 	(1) in which, based on the most recent data published by the United States Census Bureau:
2.13 	(i) 40 percent or more of the population is nonwhite;
2.14 	(ii) 35 percent or more of the households have an income at or below 200 percent of the 
2.15 	federal poverty level; or
2.16 	(iii) 40 percent or more of the population over the age of five have limited English 
2.17 	proficiency; or
2.18 	(2) within Indian Country, as defined in United States Code, title 18, section 1151.