Legacy dollars will fund $777 million to outdoors, clean water, parks and trails, and the arts

A new law will appropriate nearly $777 million from legacy funds to protect drinking water sources; protect, enhance, and restore wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; preserve arts and cultural heritage; support parks and trails; and protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.

The Legacy Amendment approved by voters in 2008 increases the state sales tax by three-eighths of 1% from July 1, 2009 until 2034. That additional revenue is dedicated to four funds: 33% Clean Water Fund; 33% Outdoor Heritage Fund; 19.75% Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund; and 14.25% Parks and Trails Fund.

Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL-Brooklyn Center) and Sen. Foung Hawj (DFL-St. Paul) sponsor the law that takes effect July 1, 2025, unless otherwise noted.

HF2563*/SF2865/CH36

The Outdoor Heritage Fund is the only one of the four funds to be distributed annually rather than biennially, and $162.11 million will be appropriated in fiscal year 2026 broken down as:

• $77.65 million for 21 habitat projects, and a conservation partners grant program;

• $33.43 million for 10 prairie projects;

• $29.03 million for eight wetland protection or restoration projects;

• $19.96 million for seven forest projects; and

• $2.04 million for administration purposes.

[MORE: View the spreadsheet for all fund categories]

Almost $303.93 million from the Clean Water Fund is appropriated for 2026-27 biennium projects, including:

• $139.34 million for 17 Board of Water and Soil Resources projects; including $88.1 million to implement state-approved watershed-based plans;

• $49.2 million for the Pollution Control Agency for nine projects, including $18.9 million to complete statewide assessments of surface water quality and trends;

• $33.35 million for the Department of Agriculture for 11 projects;

• $30.14 million for six Department of Health projects;

• $28.8 million for the Department of Natural Resources for 10 projects, including $5.65 million for stream flow monitoring;

• $16.54 million for Public Facilities Authority with all but $100,000 for the point source implementation grants program;

• $4.15 million for the Metropolitan Council, including $2.75 million for projects to address emerging drinking water supply threats and overall water sustainability; and

• $2.4 million for University of Minnesota, largely “for a program to evaluate performance and technology transfer for stormwater best management practices.”

The Parks and Trails Fund appropriations are $130.17 million for the 2026-27 biennium.

Of the $78.63 million for the Department of Natural Resources, $51.53 million is to “connect people to the outdoors; acquire land and create opportunities; maintain existing holdings; and improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan.”

Also at $51.53 million is the Metropolitan Council appropriation “to fund the list of projects approved by the elected representatives of each of the metropolitan parks implementing agencies.”

The Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will receive $179.91 million for projects in fiscal years 2026-27. Funding can only be spent for arts, arts education and access, and to preserve Minnesota's history and cultural heritage:

• $84.56 million to the Minnesota State Arts Board, of which, $67.65 million is for arts and arts access initiatives;

• $36.39 million for the Minnesota Historical Society, including $13.94 million for historic and cultural programs and purposes related to state heritage, and $12.95 million for statewide historic and cultural grants to local, county, regional, or other historical or cultural organizations or for activities to preserve significant historic and cultural resources;

• $26.44 million for the Minnesota Humanities Center, including $16.17 million for a community identity and heritage grant program;

• $19.61 million for the Department of Administration, including $8.37 million to public television production and acquisition grants, $3.61 million for public radio, $3.04 million for Como Zoo program development, $2 million for Minnesota Public Radio, and $100,000 for cultural programming at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery;

• $5.4 million for Department of Education for “the 12 Minnesota regional library systems to provide educational opportunities in the arts, history, literary arts, and cultural heritage of Minnesota”;

• $3.4 million for the Minnesota Zoo “to provide access and education related to programs on the cultural heritage of Minnesota”;

• $2.61 million for the Indian Affairs Council, including $1.3 million to preserve and foster education programs and services for Dakota and Ojibwe language; and

• $1.5 million for the Department of Agriculture for grants to county fairs and Minnesota FFA programming.

With a few exceptions, such as accessibility accommodations, money from the arts and cultural heritage fund cannot be used for new construction or capital construction projects except for preservation of historic structures or sites.

HF2563* / SF2865 / CH36