Protect the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund

In 1988, Minnesota voters approved a constitutional amendment dedicating lottery proceeds to protecting, conserving, preserving and enhancing "the state's air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources." 

Since then, the fund (officially known as the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund or ENRTF) has supported over a thousand research and restoration projects in natural areas and communities throughout the state, including successful FMR habitat projects at Spring Lake Park ReserveHampton Woods and many other FMR restoration sites.

FMR has long supported this funding source alongside many environmental, natural resource and outdoor recreation groups. And Minnesota voters have renewed the amendment each time it's been on the ballot.

From advocating for the amendment's renewal at the ballot box to ensuring that legislators spend the trust fund in ways that honor the will of Minnesota's voters, FMR will continue to protect the fund for decades to come.

Protect the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund
Gov. Dayton signs off on Enviro Trust Fund raid!

In a major defeat for Minnesota's environment, Gov. Dayton has signed off on the legislature's $98 million of the state’s Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund to pay for debt on state bonds.

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Our letter to Gov. Dayton on the Environmental Trust Fund raid

FMR and our allies urge Gov. Mark Dayton to veto the raid of Minnesota's environment trust fund. Learn more from the Star Tribune or FMR's Legislative Updates blog.  >>

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The 2018 bonding bill: What’s in, what’s out and what trust fund got raided to pay for it

The House and Senate passed a final state bonding bill in the final weekend of the session. While the overall bill includes some excellent projects, the overall bill includes a massive $98 million raid to the state's Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) and $500,000 for regulated polluters to provide “oversight” of their own state regulators. >>

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Bad to worse: Raid on Environmental Trust Fund balloons to $98 million!

In an unprecedented move, a much-feared $47 million-dollar raid on the state’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund ballooned to a $98-million raid in the Minnesota legislative session’s final hours. >>

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House & Senate eye raid on Environment Trust Fund

We have a new leader in the clubhouse for bad ideas this legislative session: The Minnesota House and Senate are looking to raid $47 million from the state’s Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund to pay debt service on bonding projects! >>

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