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Hundreds testify urging constitutional protection of Nebraska Environmental Trust after proposed sweeps
Summary
Supporters told lawmakers LR298 CA would lock the Nebraska Environmental Trust’s competitive grant-making into the constitution after years of transfers and proposed sweeps; conservation groups warned that recent contract language allowing funds to be pulled back is already harming projects.
Senator Tom Brandt proposed a constitutional amendment, LR298 CA, to protect the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) from transfers and sweeps that proponents say have undermined the fund’s mission.
In his opening, Senator Brandt said lotteries' proceeds were intended to support conservation and that recent and proposed transfers of NET funds threatened the trust’s ability to fund competitive, community-driven conservation projects. "If the people of Nebraska choose to adopt this amendment, it would reaffirm their original intent and provide long-term certainty for one of our state's most recognized conservation tools," Brandt said.
A broad coalition of conservation groups, local organizations and individual testifiers described NET-funded projects across the state and emphasized the fund’s leverage: witnesses told the committee NET has invested hundreds of millions of dollars and leveraged significant matching funds. Katie Torpy of The Nature Conservancy said NET has invested more than $422 million and that its grants have unlocked nearly $1 billion in matching funds across Nebraska. Testimony from Audubon, Ducks Unlimited, Nebraska Wildlife Federation, Friends of NET and numerous local conservationists warned that repeated transfers and a proposed $40 million sweep in current budget language would prevent NET from funding projects and could allow contract clauses that let the state pull previously awarded funds.
Several speakers described new contract language that allows grants to be canceled if lottery revenues fall or if transfers are made; recipients said that clause is already placing projects on hold and shifting financial risk onto local organizations. John Bender (Friends of NET) and other longtime reviewers urged the committee to send LR298 CA forward to preserve grant-making for habitat restoration, water-quality projects, and community conservation initiatives.
A neutral witness representing a rancher-led Sandhills group supported protecting the trust but urged the committee to remove language that would restrict who can apply for grants; she warned restricting applicant eligibility could prevent small nonprofits, FFA groups and individuals from accessing funds.
Senator Brandt said an amendment under consideration would keep state agencies eligible to apply but require state projects to have at least 50% match from political subdivisions, federal funds, or private donors, and he pledged to work on technical fixes. The committee closed the hearing after receiving testimony from more than 100 proponents and several opponents; no final action was taken during the hearing.
If advanced, LR298 CA would go to the floor for debate and, if passed by the Legislature, to a public vote.
