Legislators Need to Pass the 2021 Legacy Bill Now
While differences between the House, Senate, and Governor over the state budget have increased the
likelihood of a special session, the Legacy bill relies on dedicated revenues and can still be passed by the
end of the regular session on May 17—with or without a budget agreement. Dedicated funding to
protect and restore natural resources is not controversial and should not be held hostage. Legislators
need to be reminded to get this part of their job done on time during the regular session.
The Legacy Amendment to the state constitution created a statewide sales tax with a portion of revenue
dedicated to protecting, restoring, and enhancing habitat for fish and wildlife. This portion, called the
Outdoor Heritage Fund, is appropriated annually by the Legislature to enable the Minnesota DNR and
conservation nonprofits to protect, restore and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests and habitat for fish
and wildlife. Minnesota Trout Unlimited has used OHF grants to restore habitat in and along more than
90 miles of trout and steelhead streams.
The funding recommendations of the citizen-legislative committee known as the Lessard-Sams Outdoor
Heritage Council were separately adopted by the House and Senate. However, because the Legacy
Omnibus Bill that each body passed has minor differences, a “conference committee” was appointed to
resolve the differences. But the Legacy Conference Committee has only met once and has not had any
public conversation about reconciling their bill. Conversations about tax increases, the size of the state
budget, and the partisan differences over Clean Cars rulemaking have overshadowed other work. The
Legislature is not expected to finish this work on time, but instead return in June special session.
Conservationists and others who care about the health of Minnesota’s environment need to contact
legislators now and demand they pass the Legacy bill by May 17.
Consider making these points in your telephone call or email:
• Find a compromise and pass the Legacy Omnibus Bill before the end of the regular session.
• The Legacy bill is something Minnesotans are counting on for access to land, parks, arts, and
clean water.
• While differences over the state budget have increased the likelihood of a special session, the
Legacy bill relies on dedicated revenues and can still be passed by May 17—with or without a
budget agreement.
Find both your Representative’s and Senator’s phone numbers using this link: LCC-GIS (leg.mn)
And be sure to also contact these leaders to urge passage of the Legacy bill:
House Speaker Melissa Hortman: 651-296-4280
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka: 651-296-4875
Additional background:
