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Conservation groups, Game and Parks warn sweeping Nebraska Environmental Trust and wildlife funds would halt projects
Summary
Hundreds of conservation grants and trail projects were put on hold as public testimony at the Appropriations Committee strongly opposed proposed transfers from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and Wildlife Conservation Fund to the general fund, warning the action would undermine matching funds, local projects and public trust.
The Appropriations Committee heard extensive testimony opposing provisions in LB1072 that would redirect hundreds of millions in special funds, including a proposed multi‑million dollar transfer from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) to the Water Recreation Enhancement Fund and a $1,000,000 sweep of the Wildlife Conservation Fund.
Timothy McCoy, director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, described agency obligations funded by the Wildlife Conservation Fund — including nongame species surveys, pollinator, bat and amphibian monitoring and a public conservation review tool (CERT) — and said the Wildlife Conservation Fund balance (reported at about $1.23 million) would be largely depleted by a $1,000,000 transfer. McCoy said those funds support more than 800 species of conservation need and small, targeted projects that would be curtailed if the money is swept.
Holly Adams, executive director of the Nebraska Environmental Trust, told the committee NET is funded by lottery proceeds and that NET had approved 53 grants totaling over $18 million on 01/08/2026. Adams said NET has paused executing grant contracts while it and the Department of Administrative Services assess cash flow and the impact of proposed transfers. She said NET typically encumbers full grant amounts at approval to ensure long‑term project viability; trustees paused contract execution to confirm timing and fiscal capacity.
A long line of organized public commenters — including the Nature Conservancy, Nebraska Audubon, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Plant Nebraska, NRDs, local counties, trail foundations and individual residents — urged the committee to reject NET and Wildlife Conservation Fund transfers. Testimony emphasized the leverage NET grants provide (often multiple dollars of match per NET dollar), the widespread geographic distribution of projects, and the risk that donors and matching partners will withdraw if a voter‑established trust is used as a general‑fund backstop.
Speakers also warned that redirecting NET proceeds to recreation projects such as Lewis & Clark Marina or boat slips would be inconsistent with NET’s statutory funding categories (habitat, water, waste, air, soil) and could raise constitutional and legal questions. Several speakers asked the committee to instead find other funding sources and to preserve the trust’s stability so current awardees can move forward.
