Special session remains uncertain
On Tuesday, June 14, the conference committee on H.F. 622, the bonding bill passed by the House in the final hours of session, met to review the bill and hear testimony from state agencies and the University of Minnesota. President Kaler thanked the committee for the University funding provided in H.F. 622: $50 million for HEAPR, $27.2 million for the Chemistry and Advanced Materials Science Building, and $4.4 million for the Plant Growth Research Facility. He also testified in support of the Health Sciences Education Facility project, saying, "A new Health Sciences Education Facility presents Minnesota with an extraordinary opportunity to educate our students for new models of health care focused on access and affordability, teamwork and quality." View a comparison of the 2016 regular legislative session bonding bill proposals.
A special session and bonding bill remain uncertain, as the Governor and legislative leaders have yet to find a compromise on a number of issues.