Mt. Simon-Hinckley aquifer appropriation permits eligibility criteria expansion

This bill expands eligibility criteria for water-use permits from the Mt. Simon-Hinckley aquifer in Minnesota. It allows new permits for potable water use and agricultural irrigation outside metropolitan counties, provided there are no feasible alternatives and a water conservation plan is included. The changes directly affect water resource managers, agricultural operators, and municipal water systems seeking permits from this aquifer. The legislation modifies existing state statutes to clarify these requirements while maintaining restrictions on new water appropriations.