Over 30 years ago, Minnesotans voted to dedicate a portion of state lottery proceeds to conservation. Since then, it’s provided over $1 billion for our Great Outdoors. In November, a question to renew this funding will be on the front of every Minnesotan’s ballot. To ensure this critical funding source remains dedicated for the Great Outdoors, over 50% of voters must vote “YES.” Leaving the question blank counts as a “No” vote. If it doesn’t pass, the constitutional protection for this important conservation funding will expire.

Brief History
In 1988, 77% of voters approved an amendment to dedicate state lottery proceeds to fund conservation activities. Since then, voters have twice renewed this funding, which contributes to Great Outdoors projects.

Since its first appropriations in 1991, the program has provided over $1 billion in stable, long-term funding for innovative projects in natural resource management. Today, the lottery funds over $70 million annually to help protect our Great Outdoors and ensure every Minnesotan can enjoy and benefit from a healthy, thriving environment. The impacts of the funds are far-reaching, helping aid local communities, protect ecosystems, promote outdoor recreation, improve health outcomes, emphasize environmental equity, bolster agricultural resiliency, and support successful businesses and good-paying jobs.

Securing lottery funding is a lengthy, complex, time-consuming, and resource-intensive process, meaning grant awardees are mainly large, well-established organizations. This creates barriers for tribes, small nonprofits, and BIPOC-leg organizations from accessing state conservation dollars. Over the past five funding cycles, nearly 70% of available LCCMR funds were distributed to state agencies and universities. 

During the 2023 legislative session, legislators approved a bill to place an amendment on the ballot to extend the ENRTF’s lottery dedication until 2050, prevent the use of lottery funds for wastewater infrastructure, increase the annual withdrawal from the ENRTF from 5.5% to 7%, and appropriate the additional 1.5% of the ENRTF to a new Community Grant Program, which supports investments in underserved organizations and communities

Ballot Language and Location

The ballot question will be on the front of the ballot, likely on the right column. This will be the same for every voter, regardless of which county they reside in. Sample ballots will be made available by the Secretary of State towards the end of August. The ballot amendment language reads:

Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to protect drinking water sources and the water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams; conserve wildlife habitat and natural areas; improve air quality; and expand access to parks and trails by extending the transfer of proceeds from the state-operated lottery to the environment and natural resources trust fund, and to dedicate the proceeds for these purposes?

Minnesotans For Our Great Outdoors