Bill
HF 2453
Allows outdoor use of captured rainwater and stormwater under standards for collection, storage, testing, and safe non-potable applications like irrigation and landscaping.
HF 2453 (Minnesota, 2025-2026) – Rainwater and Stormwater Outdoor Use Provided
Overview
HF 2453 proposes to authorize and regulate the outdoor use of rainwater and stormwater in Minnesota. The intent appears to be to create a framework for capturing, storing, and utilizing captured precipitation and runoff for outdoor applications, potentially reducing demand on centralized water supplies and managing municipal stormwater runoff. The bill’s action history indicates introduction in 2025, with later amendments adjusting the author representation, and ongoing consideration by the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy committee.
Key Provisions (as indicated by bill title and available action history)
- Authorization for Outdoor Use: Establishes a statutory framework permitting the outdoor use of rainwater and stormwater captured from rainfall events and stormwater systems.
- Standards and Compliance: Creates requirements related to how rainwater and stormwater may be collected, stored, tested, and used outdoors to ensure safety, reliability, and environmental protection. This may include quality standards, labeling, and system design criteria.
- End-Uses and Applications: Focuses on outdoor applications such as irrigation, landscaping, toilet flushing, or other non-potable outdoor uses. Specific enumerated uses or allowed end-uses would be defined in the bill text.
- System Requirements: Likely includes requirements for storage tanks, filtration, treatment (where applicable), and measures to prevent public health risks or nuisance conditions (e.g., algae growth, contamination, leaks).
- Building and Zoning Considerations: Potentially addresses permitting, inspections, and integration with local building codes and zoning rules. May specify who may install and maintain systems (licensed professionals versus private property owners).
- Local Government and State Roles: Framework may delineate responsibilities between state agencies and local units of government for permitting, oversight, and enforcement.
Who would be affected
- Property Owners and Residents: Individuals and businesses seeking to use rainwater or stormwater outdoors would be subject to standards and permitting (where required).
- Contractors and Installers: Professionals involved in designing, installing, and maintaining rainwater/stormwater systems would operate under defined standards and licensing or registration requirements.
- Local Governments: Cities, towns, and counties may administer permits, inspections, and enforcement for outdoor use systems, aligning with state guidelines.
- Public Health and Environmental Stakeholders: Agencies and entities responsible for water quality, public health protections, and stormwater management would oversee compliance and safety measures.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Introduction: Bill introduced and assigned to Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy.
- Amendments: Noted changes in authorship (e.g., author stricken and later updates adding co-sponsors) during the 2025-2026 session.
- Next Steps: The bill would proceed through committee deliberations, potential amendments, floor debate, and votes in both chambers, followed by reconciliation if needed and final signature or veto by the governor.
Notes
- The exact substantive details, including specific standards, allowed end-uses, permitting steps, cost implications, rebates or incentives, and enforcement mechanisms, would be found in the bill’s full text. The summary above reflects the bill’s general purpose inferred from the title and available action history.
Would you like me to extract and summarize the exact sections and any numerical provisions (e.g., permitting fees, storage capacity thresholds) if you provide the bill text or link to the official docket?
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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