Establish the Minnesota Youth Reforestation & School Green Spaces Program

 

To improve school environments through youth-led environmental work. As a side effect, native tree canopy and natural

habitats will also be restored. The aim is to provide hands-on environmental education opportunities for Minnesota

students, and in the process, support student mental health, increase biodiversity, and even improve air quality.

Additionally, this bill seeks to support rural and low-income districts that lack the necessary resources for

large-scale environmental projects.

 

Minnesota faces environmental challenges, including loss of native trees, declining biodiversity, adn limited green

space in schools, especially in rural and low-income areas. The Minnesota Youth Reforestation & School Green Spaces

Program addresses these issues by providing schools with resources to enhance their outdoor environments and support

ecological restoration. Involving students in every step improves local ecosystems and teaches the next generation of

environmental stewards. Funding the program through a small one-fifth cent ($0.002) fee on single-use plastic bags

ensures it is sustainable, accessible, and able to provide meaningful environmental impact while encouraging youth

participation.

 

"MDE" is the Minnesota Department of Education

"DNR" is the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

"Native Tree" means any tree species indigenous to Minnesota, as recognized by the DNR

"School Green Space Project" includes planting native trees, creating pollinator gardens, restoring prairies, or

developing micro-forests on or near school property

"Youth environmental organization” means any youth-led or student-led group focused on sustainability, conservation, or

environmental stewardship.

“Eligible school” means any Minnesota public or charter school serving grades K–12.

 

The State of Minnesota shall fund the School Green Spaces Grant Program through a one-fifth cent ($0.002) Environmental

Stewardship Fee on each single-use plastic checkout bag distributed by retail establishments. Revenue from this fee

shall be collected by the Department of Revenue and deposited into the School Green Spaces Grant Fund. With an estimated

1,500,000,000–1,825,000,000 bags used annually in Minnesota, this fee is projected to generate approximately

$3,000,000–$3,650,000 per year, fully covering the program’s annual cost of $2,500,000 for grants and administration.

Any unused funds at the end of the fiscal year shall carry over to the following year for future grant cycles. Suppose

the fund exceeds $5,000,000 (two years of projected program costs). In that case, the surplus may be allocated to

additional youth-led environmental initiatives approved by the Minnesota Department of Education and the Department of

Natural Resources.

 

The MDE will oversee compliance with all program requirements. If a school is found to have misused grant funds or

failed to follow approved project guidelines, the MDE will require payment of any misused funds and may suspend or

terminate further grants. Schools that violate program requirements may also be deemed ineligible to receive School

Green Spaces grants for up to three years. In cases where improper planting, incorrect species selection, or inadequate

maintenance occurs, the MDE may require the school to develop and complete a corrective action plan in consultation with

the Department of Natural Resources. The MDE may also reclaim any unused state-provided materials if a project is

terminated due to noncompliance.

 

The beginning of the 2027-2028 school year