ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Sunday, May 18, the Minnesota Legislature passed the 2025 Legacy bill. Governor Walz subsequently signed the bill into law. The bill funds several projects in and around Duluth and state-wide, including:
- $400,000 for the Great Lakes Aquarium lake sturgeon project and collaboration
- $1,500,000 for Children’s Museums around the state, including the Duluth Children’s Museum, for grants for interactive exhibits and outreach programs
- $264,000 for the Lake Superior Zoo
- $970,000 for Wilderness Inquiry outdoor education programs
Senator Jen McEwen (DFL-Duluth, Vice-Chair of the Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee) releases the following statement:
“The programs funded by the Legacy bill restore, protect, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and wildlife habitats in Minnesota, and they help connect Minnesotans to our rich, diverse cultural heritage and environment. I am especially pleased that we secured funding toward the collaboration between the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Department of Natural Resources, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Great Lakes Aquarium to help restore native sturgeon to the St. Louis River ecosystem. The Duluth Children’s Museum, the Lake Superior Zoo, and Wilderness Inquiry also received funding and are wonderful institutions that teach people of all ages about the culture, nature and wildlife that make the Northland so special. I’m grateful to all those who advocated with me for these important investments.”In 2008, Minnesotan voters added the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, to protect and preserve Minnesota’s water, parks and trails, arts and cultural heritage. Since its passage, the Legacy Amendment has generated nearly $5.7 billion in funding for projects around the state. You can learn more about the important work funded by the Legacy Amendment here: https://www.legacy.mn.gov/
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