Why It Matters: Millions of sportsmen-generated dollars have been protected in Nebraska after critical amendments were made to Legislative Bill 1413 prior to the bill being signed into law by the Governor. The original version of LB 1413 would have redirected $7,000,000 from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission state game fund and $2,500,000 from the Nebraska Habitat Fund to the state general fund. Due to opposition from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), and several other conservation organizations, who pointed out that the state game fund was comprised of sportsmen-generated dollars instead of tax revenue, the language to redirect money from the state game fund and the habitat fund was removed.
Highlights
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation opposed sections 30 and 31 of the original version of Nebraska Legislative Bill 1413 (LB 1413), which would have redirected $7,000,000 in sportsmen-generated dollars from the state game fund and $2,500,000 from the habitat fund.
- Due to high amounts of opponents to LB 1413 who pointed out that the bill would render Nebraska ineligible to receive federal apportionments through the Pittman-Robertson Act, amendments were made to remove the language that would have redirected these crucial sportsmen-generated dollars.
- The amended version of LB 1413 made it through the legislature and was signed by the Governor, ultimately protecting millions of conservation dollars.
As previously reported, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation submitted written testimony to the Nebraska’s Legislature’s Appropriations Committee opposing section 30 and 31 of Legislative Bill 1413. Section 30 and 31 would have redirected $7,000,000 in sportsmen-generated dollars from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) state game fund and $2,500,000 from the Nebraska Habitat Fund to the state general fund. Due to the large amount of opposition from CSF, and multiple conservation organizations, who pointed out that this diversion would render the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission ineligible for their Pittman-Robertson allocations, LB 1413 was amended and removed the original language of section 30 and 31. By removing this language and not transferring millions of sportsmen-generated dollars, NGPC will not lose these critical funds they rely on for their conservation efforts and remain eligible to receive their federal apportionments.
It is important to note that NGPC relies on the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and federal apportionment of revenue that is generated through manufacturer-level excise taxes on sporting goods authorized through the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux Acts. This framework is known as the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF). If LB 1413 would have passed as originally written, NGPC would not have been able to receive their federal appointments, specifically through the Pittman-Robertson Act which requires that license revenue be used for the administration of the state fish and wildlife agency.
The NGPC received more than $27.4 million in federal apportionments in 2023 alone. If LB 1413 would have passed as originally written, NGPC would have lost nearly $36.9 million in conservation dollars, much more than the proposed $9.5 million. NGPC can continue their critical conservation work that benefits all residents of the Cornhusker State.
