1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to climate change; establishing a local climate planning and action hub in 
1.3 	the Pollution Control Agency; establishing an account; requiring a report; 
1.4 	appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
1.5 	216C.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. [216C.443] LOCAL CLIMATE PLANNING AND ACTION HUB.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Definition. For the purposes of this section, "eligible entity" means:
1.9 	(1) a county, home rule charter or statutory city or town, the Metropolitan Council, a 
1.10 	regional development commission established under section 462.387, or any other local 
1.11 	political subdivision; or
1.12 	(2) a Tribal government, as defined in section 116J.64, subdivision 4.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Establishment. A local climate planning and action hub is established in the 
1.14 	Pollution Control Agency to serve as a resource for eligible applicants seeking to: (1) develop 
1.15 	and implement plans, policies, and projects to reduce local contributions to the causes of 
1.16 	climate change; and (2) adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.
1.17 		Subd. 3.Duties. The duties of the local climate planning and action hub include, at a 
1.18 	minimum:
1.19 	(1) making periodic geographic-specific data that measures local contributions to climate 
1.20 	change available to counties, Tribal governments, cities participating in the Pollution Control 
1.21 	Agency's GreenStep Cities program, and other cities with a population of 25,000 or greater;
2.1 	(2) serving as a clearinghouse to collect and disseminate (i) community-scale best 
2.2 	practices, and (ii) options to implement climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies;
2.3 	(3) providing technical assistance and training to eligible applicants regarding data 
2.4 	development and analysis, planning, policy development and implementation, and program 
2.5 	design and implementation;
2.6 	(4) supporting efforts to obtain funding for climate change projects, including:
2.7 	(i) monitoring funding opportunities available from federal, state, and foundation sources 
2.8 	and proactively notifying eligible entities that may be interested in pursuing the funding 
2.9 	opportunities;
2.10 	(ii) assisting with grant development and writing and reports to funders on grant activities;
2.11 	(iii) providing matching funds to access funding from sources other than federal funds 
2.12 	under section 216C.391; and
2.13 	(iv) awarding grants to implement programs and projects, obtain community support 
2.14 	and engagement, and measure project results; and
2.15 	(5) providing tools to measure progress toward project and community climate goals.
2.16 		Subd. 4.Collaboration; coordination. In carrying out the duties under this section, the 
2.17 	local climate planning and action hub must coordinate with and utilize the expertise of the 
2.18 	agency's GreenStep Cities program, the Clean Energy Resource Teams, the Minnesota 
2.19 	Climate Innovation Finance Authority, the Department of Commerce staff operating the 
2.20 	state competitiveness fund under section 216C.391, University of Minnesota Extension, 
2.21 	and other organizations experienced in assisting communities to address climate change 
2.22 	issues.
2.23 		Subd. 5.Report. Beginning July 1, 2025, and each July 1 thereafter, the commissioner 
2.24 	must submit a written report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and 
2.25 	house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources 
2.26 	policy and energy policy summarizing the activities of the local climate planning and action 
2.27 	hub, including a list of communities assisted, the type of assistance provided, and grants 
2.28 	made to eligible applicants.
2.29 		Subd. 6.Account established; appropriation. (a) A local climate planning and action 
2.30 	hub account is established as a separate account in the special revenue fund in the state 
2.31 	treasury. The commissioner must credit to the account appropriations and transfers made 
2.32 	to the account. Earnings, including interest, dividends, and any other earnings arising from 
2.33 	assets of the account, must be credited to the account. Money in the account at the end of 
3.1 	a fiscal year does not cancel to the general fund but remains available in the account. The 
3.2 	commissioner must manage the account.
3.3 	(b) Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner and must be used only:
3.4 	(1) for grant awards made under this section; and
3.5 	(2) to pay the reasonable costs incurred by the agency to administer this section.

3.6 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

3.7 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 3.8 	$....... in fiscal year 2025 and $....... in fiscal year 2026 are appropriated from the general 
3.9 	fund to the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to carry out the duties required 
3.10 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.443. Of this amount, up to $....... each year may be 
3.11 	used for grants awarded under Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.443, subdivision 3, clause 
3.12 	(4), items (iii) and (iv).

3.13 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.