Minnesota Legislature
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources
The LCCMR is made up of 17 members: 5 Senators, 5 Representatives, 5 citizens appointed by the governor, 1 citizen appointed by the Senate, and 1 citizen appointed by the House. The function of the LCCMR is to make funding recommendations to the legislature for special environment and natural resource projects, primarily from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). These projects help maintain and enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources. The LCCMR developed from a program initiated in 1963. Since 1963, approximately $1.0 billion has been appropriated to more than 2,400 projects recommended to the legislature by the Commission to protect and enhance Minnesota's environment and natural resources.
Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF)
In 1988, 77% of Minnesota voters approved a constitutional amendment establishing the ENRTF (Article XI, Sec. 14) - a constitutionally dedicated fund that originates from a combination of Minnesota State Lottery proceeds and investment income. The purpose of the ENRTF is to provide a long-term, consistent, and stable source of funding for activities that protect, conserve, preserve, and enhance Minnesota's "air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources" for the benefit of current citizens and future generations. Since 1991, the ENRTF has provided approximately $875 million to nearly 1,800 projects around the state.
2024 Request for Proposal (RFP)
As of March 31, 2023, the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) received 218 proposals requesting a total of approximately $174 million. The amount available for appropriation from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) is approximately $79 million. This RFP process is for FY 2025 funds that become available beginning July 1, 2024.LCCMR reviews and evaluates all proposals against their 10 adopted evaluation criteria. On June 8, members will select a subset of high-ranking proposals to invite for presentation before the LCCMR on June 22-23 & 27-30 in order to receive further consideration. On July 20, the LCCMR will meet to make final selection and funding allocation decisions. In late 2023, the commission will meet to approve appropriation bill language for these projects that will be presented to the 2024 Minnesota Legislature as the official LCCMR recommendations for spending from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
2023 Appropriations
On May 18, 2023, the Legislature approved 85 projects for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) and the Great Lakes Protection Account (GLPA), as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The Legislature also added one additional appropriation using unspent funds from a previous project. On May 24, 2023, the 86 appropriations were signed into law by the Governor as M.L. 2023, Chapter 60, Article 2, with $79,644,000 from the ENRTF, $176,000 recaptured from a prior fiscal year, and $189,000 from the GLPA, for $80,009,000 in total appropriations.
2023 ENRTF Appropriations 2023 Proposal & Funding Process
LCCMR Biennial Report to the Legislature
The LCCMR biennial report as required in M.S. 116P.09, Subd. 7 from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) due January 15, 2023 is available. The report covers LCCMR actions from Jan. 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022, including summaries of past funding accomplishments and new recommendations for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
Emerging Issues Account
The 2021 Legislature made 3 appropriations for the LCCMR's Emerging Issues Account: (1) M.L. 2021, First Special Session, Chapter 6, Article 5, 10 for $1,095,000 (for renewable energy demonstration projects at wastewater treatment facilities); (2) M.L. 2021, First Special Session, Chapter 6, Article 5, 20c for $393,000; and (3) M.L. 2021, First Special Session, Chapter 6, Article 6, 10c for $233,000. These appropriations are authorized under M.S. 116P.08, Subd. 4 and can be allocated to efforts addressing an unexpected and urgent need in an expedited manner.
LCCMR Strategic Planning
- LCCMR Six-Year Strategic Plan for the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund - revised and adopted on December 10, 2013; readopted on July 1, 2020
- ENRTF Strategic Planning Process Report - created by Minnesota Management and Budget, Management Analysis and Development on December 26, 2019
- Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan - completed on June 30, 2008. An integrated inventory and assessment of Minnesota's environment and natural resources that provides recommendations for addressing critical issues and trends impacting them.
LCCMR Six-Year Strategic Plan ENRTF Strategic Planning Process Report Statewide Conservation and Preservation Plan
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