Legacy Amendment funds total $191 million into state prairies, forests, wetlands

More than $191 million from the Outdoor Heritage Fund will be distributed to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game and other wildlife. The money was allocated as recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.

The law also updates rules for buying property, alters the borders on some state parks, authorizes the sale or transfer of specific state lands, provides funds to defend a state trademark and extends additional unemployment benefits.

Rep. Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa) and Sen. Foung Hawj (DFL-St. Paul) sponsor the law that takes effect July 1, 2026, unless otherwise noted.

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HF2439/SF2077*/CH126

Outdoor Heritage Fund

The Legacy Amendment approved by voters in 2008 increases the state sales tax by three-eighths of 1% from July 1, 2009, until 2034. That additional revenue is dedicated to four funds: 33% Outdoor Heritage Fund; 33% Clean Water Fund; 19.75% Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund; and 14.25% Parks and Trails Fund.

The Outdoor Heritage Fund is the only one of the four funds to be distributed annually rather than biennially, and $191.08 million appropriated in Fiscal Year 2027 will be broken down as:

• $82.41 million for 27 habitat projects, including $13.8 million for metro-area conservation partners grant program;

• $36.39 million for 11 prairie projects;

• $33.19 million for eight wetland protection or restoration projects;

• $36.94 million for four forest projects; and

• $2.16 million for administration purposes.

AURI trademark

Effective May 28, 20026, the new law makes a onetime appropriation of $80,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 to the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute for supporting a legislatively-created nonprofit’s trademark litigation.. The legislatively-created nonprofit, which researches and develops markets for expanded uses of agricultural products, is in a federal court legal battle over trademark infringement against a dietary company called Auri Nutrition.

Policy

Also effective May 28, 2026, many policy provisions in the law extend, update or clarify previous Legacy Amendment grants.

The law carries over $11 million to protect the Mississippi River from invasive carp. Projects connected to the Mesabi Trail, Zollman Zoo, Plum Creek Park and Robinson Quarry Park are among those getting extensions of grants from the Parks and Trails Fund. It also delays funding for Phase 3 of the Roseau Lake Rehabilitation project until the outcome of possible litigation is more certain.

Other provisions:

• term limits will be placed on public members of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council so they cannot serve more than eight years. Years served before that date apply to the limit, but sitting members may finish their term regardless of years served;

• allow the Outdoor Heritage Council to meet in closed session to interview executive director candidates; and

• update regulations around the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission and set a two-year, instead of one-year, term for the chair.

State lands

Also in the law are DNR provisions clarifying how the department acquires land and establishes easements for access to streams and native prairies.

The new law describes additions to the statutory boundaries of the Frontenac and Great River Bluffs state parks, and a deletion from the Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.

And, effective May 28, 2026, the new law specifies the private or public sale or conveyance of surplus state land or tax-forfeited land by the state in Becker, Mille Lacs, Pine, Redwood, St. Louis, Wabasha and Washington counties.

Employment

A provision in the law applies to layoffs in the Iron Range. It extends additional unemployment insurance benefits for mining workers subject to mass layoffs. This is effective retroactively from Nov. 1, 2025.

SF2077* / HF2439 / CH126