Legislature adjourns sine die, no bonding bill
Legislature adjourns sine die, no bonding bill
Last night, the Minnesota Legislature adjourned the 2016 regular session without reaching agreement on transportation funding or a bonding bill. However, the House and Senate did pass tax and supplemental budget bills in the final 24 hours.
In a press conference this afternoon, Governor Dayton expressed his disappointment in the legislature's failure to pass a bonding bill, particularly emphasizing the need for a new Health Sciences Education Facility at the University of Minnesota.
The governor now holds the authority to call the legislature to a special session. It is expected he will delay doing so until an agreement can be reached with legislative leaders. Unlike in budget or odd-numbered years, there is no risk of a shutdown of state government.
President Kaler will issue a statement later today thanking Governor Dayton for his support of the University of Minnesota and encouraging the legislature to pass a bonding bill with increased investment in the U.
Supplemental budget bill awaits governor's signature
On Sunday, May 22, the House and Senate passed a supplemental budget bill, including funding for two University requested FY17 initiatives:
- Health Training Restoration - $800,000 ongoing
- Mining Innovation Minnesota - $2.6 million
View a comparison of the supplemental budget proposals.
The bill also contains policy and funding for these University programs:
- Rochester campus collegiate recovery program - $100,000
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory equipment - $283,000
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory software tool - $600,000 in FY17; $1.2 million in FY18-19
- Forever Green Agriculture Initiative - $1 million
- Cultivated wild rice research - $450,000 ongoing
- Potato breeding research - $350,000 ongoing
- State ombudsman monitoring of Department of Psychiatry clinical drug trials
- Extension of the Farmer Lender Mediation program
Read the bill. The bill does not include any language regarding fetal tissue research at the University of Minnesota. Governor Dayton has 14 days to sign or veto the bill.
Legislature passes LCCMR bill
The legislature also passed the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) bill on Sunday, May 22. The bill contains $15.7 million for 33 University of Minnesota projects, including $1.1 million for the Mining Innovatio n Minnesota initiative.
Read the bill. Governor Dayton has 14 days to sign or veto the bill.