Minnesota State Lottery funds will continue to fund conservation efforts for another 25 years after over 77% of Minnesota voters approved a constitutional amendment extension on the 2024 ballot. 

The original 1988 amendment established the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and has funded more than 1,600 projects for more than $1 billion. 

Related: Understanding the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund on the Minnesota ballot

These projects span a wide range of conservation efforts. Along with habitat protection, outdoor education for children and investments into parks and trails, the funding supports research into clean water, such as invasive species and the removal of PFAS, long lasting manmade chemicals that can affect human and animal health. 

Marcus Starr, campaigns director at Conservation Minnesota and organizer for the Minnesotans for the Great Outdoors coalition of organizations in support of the amendment, celebrated the vote in a news release on Wednesday.

“The results are a clear indication that investing in our Great Outdoors isn’t a partisan issue, but rather a value we all share,” Starr wrote. 

In an interview with MinnPost on Wednesday, Starr added that while “a lot happened on the ballot last night,” “one thing (Minnesotans) can agree on is the environment.” 

On constitutional amendments in Minnesota, a majority of all voters casting ballots in the election must say “yes” for passage, not just a majority of votes cast on the amendment question.