This week, the University of Minnesota presented its supplemental budget request before the House and Senate higher education committees. The request is $10 million recurring in the base budget to allow the University to hold tuition flat for in-state undergraduates on all system campuses in the 2018-19 academic year. President Eric Kaler, Vice President for Finance and Operations Brian Burnett, and several undergraduate students testified in this week's hearings. We now await the legislature's budget "targets" to determine if there will be any additional resources available for higher education and other budget areas.
Both the Minnesota House and Senate have adjourned for the week, as they observe the legislative spring recess. It's a time to catch a breath, reconnect with family, and prepare for the final push. Lawmakers will return on April 9 and must finish their business by May 21 or face a special session.
This week, the University of Minnesota presented its supplemental budget request before the House and Senate higher education committees. The request is $10 million recurring in the base budget to allow the University to hold tuition flat for in-state undergraduates on all system campuses in the 2018-19 academic year. President Eric Kaler, Vice President for Finance and Operations Brian Burnett, and several undergraduate students testified in this week's hearings. We now await the legislature's budget "targets" to determine if there will be any additional resources available for higher education and other budget areas.
Yesterday marked the second committee deadline, meaning that bills needed to pass out of both the House and Senate policy committees before the end of the day or they are no longer viable, barring a special rule. This significantly winnows the number of bills moving through the process.
And there are a lot of bills this year. In fact, as of today, both the House and Senate are on pace to introduce record numbers of bills this biennium. There are currently 4,323 bills introduced in the House and 3,384 in the Senate, not including the 8 bills introduced as part of the 2017 special session. Government Relations reviews all bills introduced each session to determine any impact to the University.
The pace will be swift when legislators return to the State Capitol on April 9. Tax reform, a supplemental budget, capital infrastructure repair, and a myriad of policy issues remain for resolution.