Senate passes Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund package after dispute over a grantee

The Minnesota Senate on May 11 approved the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund package (House File 3426 / Senate File 3857) by a recorded vote of 44–23 after extended debate over grantee conduct and appropriate use of ENRTF dollars.

Sponsor Sen. Eric Hawj described the bill as the Legislative‑Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) package of projects selected after multiple meetings and public review; the measures fund conservation, restoration, outdoor‑education and resiliency projects across the state.

Floor debate focused heavily on one recommended grantee, Friends of the Boundary Waters, and whether an item on its website and a short social‑media post — which the sponsor said was promptly removed and apologized for — crossed into political advocacy. Sen. Heintzeman and others argued that constitutionally dedicated trust funds should not be used to support groups engaged in lobbying or partisan activity, and offered A2 to delete the Friends grant from the package; proponents of the grantee said its core programs bring thousands of Minnesota students into wilderness education and that the organization immediately took corrective steps.

The chamber adopted a more narrowly focused emerging‑issues amendment (A3) earlier in the debate; after a roll call the A2 amendment (deleting the Friends grant) was adopted and then the whole ENRTF bill passed final passage 44–23. Members on both sides emphasized oversight, stewardship and the role of ENRTF funds in connecting young people with Minnesota’s outdoor resources.

The vote concludes the Senate’s action on the LCCMR package; the bill will proceed according to legislative process for concurrence, enrollment or conference as required.