The state natural resource conservation board, not the state land department, will hand out environmental license plate donations, and each natural resource conservation district with an education center can get up to $10,000 a year instead of a set $5,000.
Official title: natural resource conservation board; fund
- September 12, 2026
What changes
BeforeThe $17 annual donation from each environmental special plate went into a fund for disbursement by the state land department for environmental education programs.
NowThe donations still go into the environmental special plate fund, but the state natural resource conservation board disburses them for environmental education programs. The $25 plate fee and its $8/$17 split stay the same.
BeforeSubject to legislative appropriation, the board had to distribute $5,000 a year to each natural resource conservation district with an established education center.
NowSubject to legislative appropriation, the board must distribute not more than $10,000 a year to each such district, for environmental education programs.
BeforeThe geographic natural resource areas that 8 board members come from were defined by a statewide organization representing all natural resource conservation districts.
NowThe state natural resource conservation board defines these areas. They must be contiguous (connected), and the board must prioritize major land resources, types of crops grown and other shared land features when drawing them.
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NowEach board member representing a geographic natural resource area may stay in office until a successor is appointed.
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NowPeople serving on the board when the law takes effect may continue until their normal terms end; later appointments follow the updated law.
Who it affects
- Natural resource conservation districts with established education centers
- Members of the state natural resource conservation board and those who appoint them
- State natural resource conservation board
- State land department
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- How much the Legislature will appropriate, and how the board will decide amounts up to the $10,000 limit
- How many districts have an established education center
- When the board must define the new geographic natural resource areas
- Whether the existing geographic areas will change in practice
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.