HF2490 : Bonding for habitat, parks, trails, and water quality

Every two years, the Legislature passes the state’s regular capital investment bill, which is also known as the bonding bill. The bonding bill is an important source of funding for long-term investments in habitat protection, parks, trails, and water quality projects.

The bonding bill approved by the House included $8 million for habitat protection; $15 million for easements to reduce run-off and protect surface waters; and $1 million for groundwater protection.

A conference committee of House and Senate members reduced the amount for habitat protection to $2 million, eliminated funding for groundwater protection, and reduced the amount for buffer easements to $6 million.  However, the conference report included nearly $50 million for state and metro parks and trails, and over $40 million for water quality projects.