March 24, 2017
Legislature advances omnibus budget bills
This week, House and Senate committees, guided by spending targets announced by leadership, worked quickly to assemble and pass their omnibus budget and tax bills. These omnibus bills must be passed to the House or Senate floor by the final bill deadline on March 31. The full House and Senate will likely then vote on many of these bills prior to the start of the legislature’s spring break on April 10.
Below is a summary of the House and Senate higher education omnibus bills. If you’d like additional information on other finance bills (environment, agriculture, taxes, etc.), please contact the Office of Government and Community Relations.
House and Senate higher education committees pass omnibus budget bills
On Wednesday, March 22, the Senate Higher Education Policy and Finance Committee passed its omnibus bill. Leadership provided $100 million to the committee in their budget target. The bill funds the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State, the Minnesota State Grant Program, and the Office of Higher Education.
The Senate higher education bill provides $29.6 million in FY18-19 for the University of Minnesota, including:
- $23.6 million for Core Missions Support
- $4 million for MnDRIVE
- $2 million for the Natural Resources Research Institute
The Senate bill also includes the following policy provisions:
- Requests tuition freezes for academic years 2017-18 and 2018-19
- Requires additional reporting items in biennial budget proposals
- Requests a plan to increase the number of Greater Minnesota students at the Twin Cities campus
On Thursday, March 23, the House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance Committee passed its omnibus bill. Leadership provided $149 million to the committee in their budget target. The bill funds the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State, the Minnesota State Grant Program, and the Office of Higher Education.
The House higher education bill provides $22.1 million in FY18-19 for the University of Minnesota, including:
- $2 million for MnDRIVE
- $14 million for Health Training Restoration
- $4 million for the Natural Resources Research Institute
- $600,000 for a program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- $1.5 million for tuition payment assistance on the Morris campus
The House bill also includes the following policy provisions:
- Requests automatic admission to any Minnesota high school student who graduates in the top 10% of their high school class
- Prohibits mandatory fees funding non-instructional student programs, activities, groups, or services (The prohibition does not include fees for academic, administrative, or health services.)
- Requires performance metrics tied to the state’s appropriation
- Requires additional reporting requirements in biennial budget proposals