2014 Legislative Session Wrap-up

A big year at the state capitol results in a number of policy changes that effect the Mississippi River.

The 2014 state legislative session has wrapped up. Priority water bills like the triclosan ban, establishing a legislative water commission, funding new cover crop research through the Forever Green Project, addressing White Bear Lake groundwater sustainability , and the Toxics Reduction Act passed both chambers, and now await Governor Daytons signature. Here is a recap from this session:

Passed: Triclosan Phase Out

Our top legislative priority this year was a measure that makes Minnesota the first state in the nation to prohibit the sale of cleaning products containing triclosan that are used by consumers for hand and body cleansing, effective January 1, 2017. The Senate passed the final bill on May 13, 2014 by a vote of 58-0. The House passed the final bill on May 14, 2014 by a vote of 110-19. On May 16th, Governor Dayton signed the bill into law, making Minnesota the first state to adopt a phase out of triclosan in consumer hand soap and body washes in the nation.

Passed: Legislative Water Commission

Representative Peter Fischer (HF 1769) and Senator Chuck Wiger (SF 234) introduced bills to re-establish Minnesotas Legislative Water Commission. The commission is a bi-partisan 12-member panel charged with vetting clean water policy and administrative initiatives.

Re-establishing this commission, especially at a time when water issues have become both more prominent and more complex in our state, is a strong step forward for Minnesota.

Language creating the Legislative Water Commission was included in both the Senate Omnibus Finance Bill and House Omnibus Finance Bill. The Senate included funding of $150,000 in fiscal year 2015. The House included funding of $180,000 for fiscal year 2014 and $167,000 in 2015.

Following the Conference Committee, the final bill included funding of $155,000 in the first year and $145,000 each year thereafter for the Legislative Water Commission.

Passed: Forever Green Initiative Funding

Minnesota is home to about 27 million acres of farmland, almost half of our states land area. These landscapes are dominated by corn (8.7 million acres in 2012) and soybeans (7.2 million acres in 2012). Unfortunately, these landscapes are only green and growing for about 4 months a year. The other eight months of the year, barren farm soils are prone to fertilizer and pesticide leaks as well as wind and rain erosion which all pollute our states waters.

Minnesota currently lacks the cover crop varieties that can be consistently established in our climate. To address this, FMR has joined with our partners and the University of Minnesota to support the Forever Green Initiative.

The Forever Green Initiative is designed to provide funding to develop innovative crop varieties that can improve soils, consume excess fertilizers, and protect our water quality.

The Minnesota Senate Omnibus Supplemental Finance Bill included $1.15 million in onetime funding for the Forever Green Initiative. The money comes from the Clean Water Fund, which has unused funds in excess of its 5 percent reserve. The Minnesota House Omnibus Finance Bill included no money for the provision.

These bills went to a conference committee late in the session. Following the conference committee, the final Omnibus Supplemental Finance Bill included $1,000,000 in one-time funding for the Forever Green Initiative.

The Supplemental Finance Bill passed the Senate by a vote of 37-22. This bill passed the House by a vote of 75-55. The bill now awaits Governor Daytons signature.

Passed: The Toxics Reductions Act

FMR strongly supports efforts to reduce toxic pollution in Minnesotas communities. This session, Representative Melissa Hortman (HF 2542) and Senator John Marty (SF 2192) authored the Toxics Reduction Act.

The Toxics Reduction Act phases out mercury, lead, and formaldehyde in certain products to protect public health and the environment. In addition, the Senate version of SF 2192 was amended on the House floor to include language prohibiting the sale of cleaning products containing triclosan that are used by consumers for hand and body cleansing.

The final bill was passed by the Senate on May 13 by a vote of 58-0 and approved in the House on May 14 by a vote of 110-19. As of this writing, the bill awaits the signature of Governor Dayton.

Passed: A sensible White Bear Lake bill

White Bear Lake waters levels were a hot topic this session. Late in the 2014 session, FMRs Executive Director Whitney Clark co-authored a commentary urging the Minnesota Legislature to forgo a foolish lake-augmentation funding scheme for White Bear Lake.

Instead, FMR asked the Legislature to let sound science and sustainable principles guide the states involvement in northeast metro groundwater and surface water management. The Legislature listened.

The States Omnibus Finance Bill includes $400,000 to implement strategies recommended by the Metropolitan Councils ongoing research into sustainable water management in the northeast metro and White Bear Lake. Additional funds were allocated to promote infiltration, conservation, and water management throughout the northeast metro groundwater management area.

This is an important victory for sustainable groundwater management in Minnesota. Local advocates had pushed for a $50-55 million dollar augmentation plan that would do little to address groundwater levels at the heart of White Bear Lakes decline. Instead, this bill will fund sustainable solutions that will stabilize the aquifer and lead to long-term water supply and surface water security for White Bear Lake and surrounding communities.

Summary

The 2014 session provided the legislature with the opportunity to reaffirm Minnesotas commitment to clean water and healthy communities. The legislature rejected unwise rollbacks to environmental protections, and advanced critical policy and funding bills that make for a better Minnesota.

  • Triclosan – perhaps the largest source of dioxins to Minnesotas surface waters – will be phased out of cleaning products that are used by consumers for hand and body cleansing.
  • Forever Green will help fund the development of new crops that will improve soil health, protect water quality, provide habitat, and help farmers bottom line.
  • The legislative Water Commission will help the legislature make wise water policy decisions for years to come.
  • Toxics like mercury and lead will be phased out of select products statewide.
  • White Bear Lake issues will be addressed using sensible, suitable principles.

FMR wishes to thank all the legislators of both parties who worked hard to make these legislative victories possible.

For more information about the 2014 legislative session and FMRs water quality priorities, please contact FMRs Water Program Director Trevor A. Russell at (651) 222-2193 x18 or trussell@fmr.org.

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