HF4656

Purpose

• The bill is a capital investment measure that would provide funding for community treeplanting grants. It aims to support urban forestry by directing money to grant programs that plant trees in communities.

Main Provisions

• Subdivision 1 – Appropriation: An amount of 5,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the Metropolitan Council for community treeplanting grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.355.
• Subdivision 2 – Bond Sale: The commissioner of management and budget must sell and issue state bonds up to 5,000,000 to finance the appropriation, following the procedures in Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.

Funding Source and Use

• Source: bond proceeds fund.
• Use: to fund the Metropolitan Council's administration of community treeplanting grants (as authorized by statute 473.355).

Administrative and Legal Authority

• The bill relies on existing bonding and appropriation process:
  • Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 govern bond sales.
  • Minnesota Constitution article XI, sections 4 to 7 govern bond issuance.
  • Grants administered under Minnesota Statutes 473.355.

Significant Changes to Law

• Introduces a new appropriation of 5,000,000 from the bond proceeds fund for community treeplanting grants.
• Authorizes the state to issue up to 5,000,000 in bonds to finance this appropriation, expanding funding for urban forestry/tree planting initiatives under the established statutory framework.

Relevant Terms

• community treeplanting grants
• Metropolitan Council
• bond proceeds fund
• appropriation
• bonds / bond sale
• Minnesota Statutes 473.355
• Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675
• Minnesota Constitution article XI sections 4 to 7
• capital investment
• urban forestry
• tree planting grants