This bill, proposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives, is focused on addressing nitrate pollution in private drinking water wells. Here's a simplified breakdown of its key provisions:

1. Purpose: The bill aims to allocate funds for actions to reduce the levels of nitrates in private wells, particularly where these levels exceed safe drinking standards.

2. Financial Allocation: A total of $3,866,000 is set to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This funding comes from the state's general funds.

3. Activities Funded:

   • Repair and reconstruction of wells using methods like reverse osmosis to tackle high nitrate levels.
   • Educational outreach and technical support for homeowners on how to manage and reduce nitrate contamination.

4. Target Areas: The initiatives are specifically targeted at private wells located in eight counties: Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona.

5. Priority Groups: The intervention prioritizes households living below 300% of the federal poverty line and those with infants or pregnant individuals, as they are most vulnerable to the health risks posed by nitrates.

6. Administrative Costs: Up to 6.5% of the allocated funds can be used for covering administrative expenses related to these initiatives.

7. Collaboration: The bill also allows for the transfer of funds between the Commissioner of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Health for administering these mitigation efforts.

The objective of this legislative proposal is to safeguard public health by ensuring safer drinking water for residents in the affected areas through improvements to water infrastructure and support for affected households.