Higher ed conference committee meetings begin
Today, the conference committee on the higher education omnibus bill (Senate File 5) will meet for the first time to discuss the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Last week, the following legislators were appointed the conference committee:
- House Higher Education Chair Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls)
- Representative Marion O’Neill (R-Maple Lake)
- Representative Glenn Gruenhagen (R-Glencoe)
- Representative Drew Christensen (R-Burnsville)
- Representative Gene Pelowski (DFL-Winona)
- Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Chair Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka)
- Senator Greg Clausen (DFL-Apple Valley)
- Senator Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley)
- Senator Kari Dziedzic (DFL-Minneapolis)
- Senator Jeremy Miller (R-Winona)
Yesterday, President Kaler sent letters to the committee chairs, Senator Bonoff and Representative Nornes, outlining the University of Minnesota’s positions on the bills. Also yesterday, Legislative Action Network members who are constituents of the conferees and legislative leadership emailed their legislators and encouraged them to support the tuition freeze and Medical School funding.