Back in February 2022, Tony Kennedy reported for the Star Tribune in Minnesota outdoors lovers push to recapture dedicated funding:
Years ago when former state Sen. Bob Lessard was campaigning with Bud Grant for dedicated outdoors funding, the legendary Vikings coach preached the importance of legislators keeping their hands "out of the cookie jar.''
In the case of "lottery in lieu'' monies won in 2000 for hunting, fishing, parks and trails, Grant's concerns came to life when lawmakers quickly raided the special account to help shore up the state's general fund. . . .
It's too early to say whether the restoration attempt will succeed, but the push is receiving bipartisan support in the Senate and House, where a companion bill is ushered by Rep. Rick Hansen, D-South St. Paul, also a committee chairman.
"Hopefully the coalition of Minnesotans will continue to grow and get this great outdoors bill passed,'' Hansen said after Ruud's Senate committee voted Wednesday in favor of the change.
"Lottery in Lieu" allocations — created in the 1990s — are tied to state lottery ticket sales. Those sales are exempt from state sales tax, so the Legislature imposed an "in lieu'' fee equal to the tax. In 2000, Lessard and others led a charge at the Capitol to dedicate 97 % of the "in lieu" proceeds to the outdoors. Half went to the Department of Natural Resources Game and Fish Fund and nearly all the rest was assigned to parks and trails. Two percent went to zoos.
But just one year later, budget shortfalls prompted lawmakers to reduce the dedicated amount to 87%. In 2003, it was further reduced to 72.43% , where it still stands. The portion trimmed from the account still flows into the general fund.
That effort was dashed last year, but the push is renewed this year.
In the Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, Chair Rick Hansen, DFL-S. St. Paul, presented HF389,which would increase the amount dedicated to those purposes from 72.43% to 99%.
Here's a Minnesota House press release about the hearing, Rep. Hansen’s Statement on the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee Advancing Lottery-In-Lieu Legislation:
This afternoon, the Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Committee advanced HF 389, a bill to increase the percentage of revenue from the lottery-in-lieu account that is dedicated to protecting fish and wildlife, and improving trails, parks, and zoos.
When the account was established, 97% of lottery-in-lieu funds were dedicated to the uses listed above. During the Pawlenty Administration, that account was raided, and the amount dedicated was reduced to 72.43% with the rest going to the general fund. HF 389 would increase the amount dedicated to those purposes from 72.43% to 99%.
State Representative Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul), chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, is the author of HF 389.
“This bill rights past wrongs by increasing the percentage of lottery-in-lieu funds dedicated to preserving our fish and wildlife and improving our trails, parks, and zoos after those funds were raided to pay for other projects,” Rep. Hansen said. “By returning funding to this dedicated account, we can protect our natural resources for future generations of Minnesotans to enjoy. I thank the testifiers and others who supported the bill during previous sessions and today’s hearing.”
The bill passed and was referred to the Ways and Means Committee. Video of the meeting is available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube channel[embedded below]. More information, including documents in support of the bill from the hearing, is available on the committee webpage.
Here's the Minnesota House Information Services YouTube of the hearing mentioned above, beginning with the hearing on HF389:
Logo: The Minnesota State Lottery Logo.
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