Minnesota Senate Bill SF2719

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/20/25
• Refer: 3/20/25

Caption

Washington County wood waste and diseased tree utilization program grant bond issuance and appropriation

Summary

SF 2719 is a capital investment bill that would appropriate $4 million from the state bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of natural resources for a grant to Washington County. The grant would support land acquisition for the county’s wood waste and diseased tree utilization program. The bill also authorizes the state to sell and issue up to $4 million in general obligation bonds to finance the appropriation. The measure is narrowly focused on a single local project in Washington County and is framed as a state capital investment. It would add a new appropriation section to Minnesota law for this specific purpose and rely on the state’s existing bond issuance statutes and constitutional authority for issuing bonds. The effective date would be the day after final enactment.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would create a one-time $4 million state-funded grant for Washington County and authorize the corresponding bond sale. It would not broadly amend program law, but it would direct state capital dollars to land acquisition tied to the county’s wood waste and diseased tree utilization efforts, likely supporting local forestry, disposal, or biomass-related infrastructure. The bill would affect the Department of Natural Resources, the commissioner of management and budget, and Washington County as the grant recipient.

Sentiment

Based on the available record, the bill appears to have a neutral-to-supportive posture, with no recorded opposition, votes, or committee testimony in the provided materials. The bill was introduced and referred to the Senate Capital Investment Committee, suggesting it was being considered as a standard bonding proposal rather than a controversial policy measure. Because no discussion transcripts or vote history are available, there is no evidence of significant public debate in the materials provided.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the available record. Potential areas of scrutiny in a bonding bill of this kind would typically include whether the project qualifies as a state capital investment, whether the land acquisition is the best use of bonding dollars, and whether the local benefit to Washington County justifies state debt financing. However, the provided materials do not show any expressed objections or competing viewpoints.