ACTION ALERT – Urge legislators to pass the LCCMR bills!

The Minnesota Legislature has until June 30 to pass the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) bill. If it does not pass, dozens of important projects and programs will lose out on state funding.

The Legislature failed to pass an LCCMR bill in 2020, which means both the 2020 and 2021 bills are in play this year. Both bills contain funding for the DNR’s local parks and trails grant programs, as well as funding for individual projects. Yet these bills have been stalled by a dispute over unrelated issues. If the 2020 LCCMR bill does not pass by June 30, the money that is recommended for the DNR grant programs for that year — as well funding for parks and trails projects for several of our members — will revert to the Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund.

We need your help to ensure that the Legislature passes the LCCMR bills by June 30, either as standalone bills or as part of the larger environment and natural resources omnibus bill.

Will you please take a few moments to email key legislative leaders and urge them to pass the 2020 and 2021 LCCMR bills?

Contact:

• Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen, Representative Rick Hansen and members of their Environmental and Natural Resources Working Group. Click here to send an email to all of them.

Your message:

• Urge them to pass the 2020 and 2021 LCCMR bills before June 30. Failure to pass the 2020 bill by June 30 leaves money behind that cannot be used for other purposes.
• Emphasize that the LCCMR bills include funding for several important projects and programs, including DNR grant programs that provide essential matching funds for local parks and trails that are not eligible for Legacy grants.
• Remind them that the pandemic has highlighted the importance and popularity of parks and trails (and give local examples!).
• Mention that the DNR grants and the other projects in the LCCMR bills will directly stimulate the economy and create jobs without adding to the deficit.
• Be sure to mention if your city or county has a project in either of the bills.

Questions? If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Wefel at eawefel@flaherty-hood.com.