Why It Matters: The Nebraska legislative session saw its fair share of legislation that would ultimately have negative impacts on the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission funding. There were multiple bills aimed at offering free and discounted licenses and a bill to divert millions of dollars away from Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Despite these efforts, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) remained active in opposing and offering proposed amendments to these bills to uphold the American System of Conservation Funding.
Highlights:
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation was active in Nebraska as multiple sportsmen-related bills were introduced throughout the session.
- Legislative Bill 826 (LB 826) and Legislative Bill 1036 (LB1036) were bills that aimed to offer free and discounted hunting and fishing licenses to resident and nonresident veterans.
- Legislative Bill 1413 (LB 141) would have redirected a total of $9.5 million in sportsmen-generated dollars away from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC).
On April 18, the short 60-day session came to an end in the Cornhusker State. There was no shortage of sporting bills introduced during the session and CSF was active in engaging on these by submitting written testimony to several legislative committees. Highlighted below are examples of CSF’s engagement to uphold the American System of Conservation Funding.
Legislative Bill 826: This piece of legislation would have removed the residency requirement which would have made nonresident veterans eligible to receive an annual combination fishing, fur-harvesting, and hunting permit at a discounted rate. CSF submitted testimony to the Natural Resources Committee highlighting the negative impact this would have on NGPC’s funding and encouraged amendments be made to the bill for reimbursement from the state general fund back to the NGPC. LB 826 did not make it out of the Natural Resources Committee.
Legislative Bill 1036: LB 1036 would have allowed for active-duty veterans who are Nebraska residents to receive a free annual combination fishing, fur-harvesting, and hunting permit. CSF submitted testimony to the Natural Resources Committee outlining the impact that no-cost licenses could have on the NGPC’s ability to fully claim their portion of revenue made available through the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts. LB 1036 also failed to make it out of committee. Legislation like LB 826 and LB 1036 are well intended pieces of legislation that carry unintended consequences that may negatively impact the NGPC and, as a result, the quality of opportunities available to sportsmen and women.
Legislative Bill 1413: This legislation looked to redirect $7 million from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission state game fund and $2.5 million from the Nebraska Habitat Fund. CSF submitted testimony, and thanks in part to opposition from CSF and several partner conservation organizations, LB 1413 was amended to remove the redirection from state game fund and the habitat fund, ultimately protecting NGPC’s funding they rely on for their conservation efforts and allowing NGPC to remain eligible to receive their federal apportionments.
CSF was active in safeguarding the American System of Conservation Funding by offering amendments to reimburse NGPC from the state general fund for no-cost and discounted licenses and opposing legislation that would have redirected a total of $9.5 million in sportsmen-generated dollars. In 2023 alone, the NGPC received $27.4 million in federal apportionments. Through CSF’s efforts, over $37 million was protected and NGPC can continue their conservation efforts that benefit all Nebraskans.
