LCCMR recommends $103 million to benefit Minnesota's environment

SAINT PAUL, MN (07/30/2025) (readMedia)-- The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) voted on July 18, 2025, to recommend funding for 109 proposals totaling approximately $103 million to the Minnesota Legislature. The agreement is the result of a competitive, multi-stage process for recommending spending from the Minnesota Lottery-supported Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF).

LCCMR co-chairs Sen. Foung Hawj, Rep. Sydney Jordan, and Rita Albrecht, said of the recommendations, "With over $100 million going to impactful projects across the state, this funding package will directly benefit Minnesota's extraordinary environment and natural resources. The LCCMR received unprecedented interest in ENRTF funding this cycle, and with the guidance of the LCCMR's recently updated strategic plan and refreshed funding priorities, we are proud to have selected worthy projects that address Minnesota's greatest environmental challenges and opportunities."

The LCCMR's 2026 ENRTF Request for Proposal (RFP) sought proposals that address several priority issue areas, including resiliency, water, education and outdoor recreation, fish and wildlife, energy, and land. The proposals recommended for funding seek to address both ongoing and emergent challenges across the state. Some highlights include recommended funds for:

• Supporting and expanding Minnesota's state parks, trails, and scientific and natural areas.
• Protecting Minnesota's native flora and fauna, including bison, sturgeon, and raptors.
• Improving accessibility of Minnesota's outdoor spaces to all Minnesotans through adaptive equipment, upgraded facilities and trails, and targeted programming.
• Bolstering climate resiliency of Minnesota's ecological and human communities.
• Researching the impacts of contaminants like PFAS and microplastics on Minnesota's water resources, and effective mitigation strategies.
• Preservation and restoration of Minnesota's iconic prairies, forests, and water bodies.

The LCCMR received 400 proposals requesting a total of approximately $359 million in response to the 2026 RFP. After evaluating the proposals and hearing presentations from proposers, the LCCMR voted to recommend full or partial funding to 109 proposals. These recommendations will be finalized by LCCMR in bill form later this winter and presented to the 2026 Legislature for consideration during the legislative session beginning February 17, 2026. Approved projects would begin work after funds become available on July 1, 2026. For more information, visit the 2026 Proposal and Funding Process page on the LCCMR website.

The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund is a permanent dedicated fund in the Minnesota state treasury that was established by 77% voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 1988. The amendment directs forty percent of the net proceeds of the Minnesota State Lottery into the Trust Fund through the year 2050. Since 1991, approximately $1.2 billion from the ENRTF has been spent through the LCCMR process on over 1,800 projects that protect and enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources in every county of the state.

The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources is made up of 5 state senators, 5 state representatives, and 7 citizen members. The function of the LCCMR is to make funding recommendations to the Minnesota State Legislature for special environment and natural resource projects, primarily from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The LCCMR developed from a program initiated in 1963. Since then, approximately $1.6 billion has been appropriated to over 2,700 projects recommended to protect and enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources.

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