Legacy omnibus cleared for Ways and Means after debate over Wilderness Inquiry carve‑out and cuts to museums, zoo

The House Legacy Finance Committee on April 7 adopted amendments and voted to refer the biennial legacy omnibus, House File 2,563 (DE1), to the committee on Ways and Means after roughly two hours of staff explanation and public testimony from parks officials, nonprofit program leaders and cultural institutions.

The committee, co-chaired by Representative Cedric Vang (co-chair) and Chair (McDonald), approved three amendments — DE1, A2 and A1 — and advanced the bill by voice vote. The bill packages appropriations and policy language for the Outdoor Heritage, Clean Water, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage legacy funds and includes extensions and carryforwards for several existing projects.

Why it matters: The omnibus sets the spending plan that will guide distribution of constitutionally dedicated legacy funds for the 2025–27 biennium. Committee members and dozens of testifiers focused on whether specific line items and carve-outs match the constitutional restrictions that limit parks-and-trails dollars to projects of state or regional significance, and they pressed the committee to preserve competitive grant processes that serve Greater Minnesota and metro systems.

Committee action and staff summary

Nonpartisan staff walked members through a spreadsheet dated 04/07 showing recommended appropriations and several carryforwards and cancellations. The presentation listed the Outdoor Heritage Fund total at $162,111,000 (including a $120,000 cancellation to meet a 5% reserve requirement); the Clean Water Fund totals at $144,625,000 in the first year and $159,301,000 in the second year; and the Parks and Trails Fund at about $61,400,000 in year one and $68,700,000 in year two. Staff also summarized Arts and Cultural Heritage allocations, including a package of grants…