Legacy finance bill.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Foung Hawj and 2 co-sponsors

Allocates Legacy Amendment funds to DNR and Parks & Trails for parks, trails, habitat, water quality, and grants to local governments and nonprofits.

Effective date 05/24/2025

#naturalresourcesdepartment #parksandtrails

Purpose and intent

HF 2563 is the Legislature’s biennial “Legacy finance” omnibus bill that authorizes spending from Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment accounts. Its primary purpose is to appropriate and direct the use of Legacy funds for natural resources, parks and trails, and related programs—funding capital projects, grants, and program operations that protect, restore, and enhance outdoor recreation, clean water, habitat, and parks infrastructure across Minnesota.

Key provisions (overview)

The public metadata and legislative history indicate the bill:

Authorizes appropriations from Legacy Amendment funds administered or coordinated with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Parks and Trails program.

Provides funding for capital projects, repairs, and development of state and local parks and trails, and likely support for land acquisition, habitat restoration, and outdoor recreation access.

Establishes or continues grant programs to local governments, nonprofit organizations, and conservation partners for projects consistent with Legacy fund purposes.

Includes program direction, grant eligibility and prioritization criteria, and likely reporting or accountability requirements for recipients and state agencies.

May contain project-specific line items, timelines for spending, and reversion/encumbrance provisions (specific line-item amounts and detailed provisions are in the bill text).

Note: The available summary information does not list itemized dollar amounts or exact line-item language. For precise appropriations, project lists, or policy riders, consult the enrolled bill text or chapter law (Chapter 36, 2025).

Who is affected

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: program administration and capital project implementation.

Parks and Trails programs at state and local levels: construction, maintenance, and grant recipients.

Local governments, tribes, nonprofit conservation and recreation organizations: potential grantees and partners.

Minnesotans who use parks, trails, and outdoor recreation resources; communities benefiting from water quality and habitat projects.

Fiscal impact

Funding comes from the Legacy Amendment (constitutional sales tax dedicated funds). The summary materials do not include dollar totals; the bill likely reallocates or authorizes multi‑million dollar appropriations to the funds noted. See the enrolled bill text for exact fiscal figures and fund sources.

Legislative timeline and procedural highlights

Introduced 03/20/2025; referred to Legacy Finance.

House and Senate amended and negotiated via conference committee (conferees listed for both chambers).

Conference committee report adopted by both chambers 05/18/2025; bill presented to Governor 05/20/2025.

Governor approved 05/23/2025; filed with Secretary of State and chaptered as Chapter 36 on 05/23/2025.

Effective date: 05/24/2025.

For complete detail on allocations, eligible projects, and statutory changes, review the enrolled bill text (HF 2563, Chapter 36, 2025) and the Minnesota Management & Budget fiscal publication associated with the bill.

Bill