House Passes Bill Funding 101 Environmental Projects Using Lottery Proceeds
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House passed HF 3377, legislation funding 101 environmental projects using lottery proceeds, on a bipartisan vote of 94-35.
The legislation, authored by Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL—South St. Paul), appropriates nearly $80 million in state lottery proceeds from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) to projects that protect, restore, and enhance Minnesota’s environment and natural resources. The projects included in the bill were recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
“From protecting pollinators to preventing PFAS and plastic pollution, your lottery dollars work for Minnesotans,” said Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL—South St. Paul), Chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee and co-chair of the LCCMR. “The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund is a key part of Minnesota’s legacy of environmental stewardship, funding habitat restoration, cutting-edge research, and clean water projects. These projects will help ensure our environment is protected for generations to come.”
The 2024 Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund Bill includes funding for environmental education projects, climate change and natural resources research, clean water resources, invasive species response, conservation land acquisition, and habitat protection and restoration projects. A full list of projects can be found here. A group of over 25 environmental and conservation organizations submitted a letter in support of the bill before today’s floor vote.
A recording of the floor debate and final vote can be found on the Minnesota House Public Information YouTube page here.
###