SF1736

SF1736 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Clean Water Council structure and membership modification

Related bill: HF2481

AI Generated Summary

This bill proposes modifications to the structure, duties, and membership of Minnesota's Clean Water Council. Key changes include:

Membership Adjustments:
- The bill revises the composition of the Clean Water Council by specifying the appointment process and adding representatives from various organizations, including farm groups, environmental and business organizations, local government entities, and tribal governments.
- It ensures council members have expertise in relevant fields such as science, water quality, and hydrology.
- Government agency representatives (such as from the Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Agriculture) and legislative members will serve as nonvoting members.
Changes to Responsibilities:
- The Clean Water Council will advise on scheduling and preparing Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies (WRAPS) and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) studies, prioritizing watersheds that pose the highest risks to human health, endangered species, and aquatic health.
- The Council will continue making budget recommendations to the legislature regarding how Clean Water Fund money should be allocated.
- Recommendations must support the protection, enhancement, and restoration of water quality, allocate funds for drinking water protection, and ensure resources to prevent water degradation.
- The Council must provide annual reports to the legislature on Clean Water Fund expenditures, priorities for the upcoming biennium, and the impact of water protection efforts on economic development.
Removal of Certain Requirements:
- The bill repeals the requirement for the Council to create an implementation plan outlining general procedures, timelines, and priority-setting for addressing impaired waters.
- It also eliminates its responsibility to develop and implement public education strategies, leaving public agencies responsible for outreach.

Overall, this bill shifts some responsibilities while restructuring the membership of the Clean Water Council in Minnesota to enhance coordination in water quality oversight.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
February 19, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
February 19, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Recommendations must consider additional environmental and public health factors."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specific removals were mentioned."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the priorities for scheduling and preparing WRAPSs and TMDLs under section 114D.20 subdivision 5.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies the role of various agencies in making recommendations."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "114D.20 subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "The council may also advise on scientific processes."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "Prior limitations on non-legislative members’ role."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the duties and structure of the Clean Water Council under section 114D.30 subdivision 1.",
      "modified": [
        "Includes changes to advisory roles and responsibilities."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "114D.30 subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Specific representation from various organizations and districts."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "Previous general member roles."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill amends the membership appointment process for the Clean Water Council under section 114D.30 subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies nonvoting and voting member roles and the selection process."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "114D.30 subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Compensation rates of up to $125 a day."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "A specific removal is not detailed."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill modifies terms and compensation for non-legislative members of the Clean Water Council under section 114D.30 subdivision 4.",
      "modified": [
        "Terms and compensation processes for non-legislative members."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "114D.30 subdivision 4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Recommendation on funding focus areas including drinking water protection."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No exact items were removed."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill outlines the recommended appropriations from the Clean Water Fund under section 114D.30 subdivision 6.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies the scope and conditions attached to funding recommendations."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "114D.30 subdivision 6"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Reports to include legislative bill language recommendations."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "Old reporting formats or contents."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill updates reporting requirements to the legislature under section 114D.30 subdivision 7.",
      "modified": [
        "Includes economic impact assessments in reports."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "114D.30 subdivision 7"
  }
]