After convening a special session at 12:01 am on Tuesday, May 23, the Legislature early this morning finalized the remaining budget bills for the fiscal year 2018-2019 biennium.
After convening a special session at 12:01 am on Tuesday, May 23, the Legislature early this morning finalized the remaining budget bills for the fiscal year 2018-2019 biennium. The legislature then adjourned the special session sine die.
For the past several days, the legislature and governor were negotiating 7 remaining bills, four of which - health and human services, E-12, state government, and transportation - were needed to finalize the FY 18-19 budget. The other three bills were pensions, taxes, and bonding. See below for more information on the bonding bill.
We expect the legislature to present all remaining bills to the governor today. For the budget bills passed during the regular session (including the higher education bill passed on 5/21), the governor has three days to sign or veto the bills after presentment. For the budget bills passed in the special session, the governor has 14 days to sign or veto. He can also line-item individual items in an appropriation bill or pocket veto any bill by refusing to either sign or veto, which carries the same effect as a veto.
The sum total of all budget bills passed this year was $1.630 billion. For fiscal year 2020-21, the total is $2.062 billion. Higher education specifically increased $210 million in FY 18-19 and $190 million in FY 20-21. The full state budget passed by the legislature amounts to approximately $46 billion.
Bonding bill passes; $119.9 million for University of Minnesota
One of the bills completed this morning is a $988 million bonding bill (HF 5).
Included in the bonding bill is $119,934,000 for the University of Minnesota, or 49% of the University's request:
- $20.6 million for Higher Education Asset Preservation (HEAPR);
- $28.267 million for the Chemistry and Advanced Materials Science Building at UM-Duluth;
- $66.667 million for the Health Sciences Education Facility at UM-Twin Cities; and
- $4.4 million for the Plant Growth Research Facility at UM-Twin Cities.
The University's share of the total bonding bill is 12.1%. The percentage of funding for higher education in total in the bonding bill (General Obligation bonds only) is 19.1%. You can view a comparison of the bonding bills.
Legislature reconvenes in February
The second session of the 90th Legislature will begin at noon on February 20th, or just under 270 days from today. So, just around the corner.
The second year of the biennium is often referred to as the "bonding year," although the Legislature and Governor have approved bonding bills regularly in both the odd and even sessions of the biennium.
Thank you!
On behalf of the full Government Relations team, thank you to all students, faculty, employees, and alumni of the University system who contributed time, energy, advocacy, and good spirit during this legislative session. We very much appreciate it!