The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program reauthorization is moving fast. Assembly Bill 315 (AB315), which was introduced this week, proposes certain policy changes to the Stewardship Program, such as creating a new mechanism whereby the legislature must approve “major” land acquisitions before they can proceed. AB 315 is now part of the legislative process to reauthorize Knowles-Nelson, in parallel with the state budget.
The bill will have its first public hearing this Wednesday at 11:00 AM before the Assembly Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation. The hearing will also be livestreamed on WisEye, and our team will be there to testify and report back on key developments.
Contact your legislators and committee members now! Tell them you want a strong Knowles-Nelson reauthorization that works for Wisconsin.
Breaking Down Assembly Bill 315
After carefully analyzing the bill and consulting with legislators, we believe this proposal has a strong foundation but needs targeted improvements to best serve Wisconsin.
What’s Working Well:
- Funding Stability: The bill provides stable funding for land trusts, local governments, DNR property development, and the Recreational Boating Facilities program. While DNR acquisition funding faces further cuts and Friends grants appear eliminated, the overall funding structure offers needed predictability.
- Planning Certainty: The four-year authorization gives organizations the certainty needed for long-term project planning.
- Expanded Support for Restoration & Management: New habitat management grants for nonprofit conservation organizations like land trusts will help ensure already-conserved lands receive proper stewardship–a critical need that has lacked adequate state support.
Areas of Concern:
- Unbalanced Priorities: The bill directs DNR to prioritize land management over acquisition, which could inadvertently stifle new conservation efforts. Without additional funding, already-stretched grant programs lack the resources to effectively support both priorities.
- Flawed Oversight Process: While we understand legislators’ desire for involvement in major land acquisitions, the current proposal lacks deadlines, a clear process, or mandatory votes. Projects could stall indefinitely without a mechanism for accountability.
How We’re Responding:
Rather than taking a position for or against the bill, we’re engaging constructively with legislators to request these improvements:
- Equal footing for acquisition and management priorities
- Clear oversight processes with deadlines, transparency, and mandatory accountability measures technical fixes to strengthen the bill’s effectiveness
We want to ensure that policy changes to the program improve, not impede, conservation efforts.
Your Input Matters: Take Action Right Now
Contact your legislators and committee members now! Reinforce to them that you are a Knowles-Nelson supporter and that we need to work together to pass a reauthorization that improves the program and helps it work for Wisconsin.
Together, we can ensure this reauthorization improves conservation opportunities for all Wisconsinites.
Featured imaged by Akshay Chauhan, 2022
