Higher education capital projects

A House division approved a series of bonding requests for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Sponsored by Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia), HF1063 would provide $106.6 million for a series of capital construction projects that were either vetoed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty or only partially funded by last year’s bonding law.

The university’s portion of the money — $39.5 million — would fund a new Bell Museum of Natural History, while MnSCU’s $67.1 million share would go toward a series of smaller projects across the state.

Rukavina also sponsors HF859 that authorizes $50 million for MnSCU and $35 million for the university to fund those institutions’ respective higher education asset preservation and replacement (HEAPR) requests.

The House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division approved the bills Feb. 24 and referred them both to the House Capital Investment Finance Division.

Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) sponsors SF150, the companion to HF859. It awaits action by the Senate Higher Education Budget and Policy Division. The companion to HF1063 is SF990 sponsored by Pappas and awaits action by the Senate Finance Committee.

The division approved two other bonding projects, sending each to the House Capital Investment Finance Division:

• HF23, sponsored by Rep. Kim Norton (DFL-Rochester), would authorize $6 million for a steam pipeline from Rochester Community and Technical College to a local waste-to-energy plant. Norton said steam from the plant would help heat and cool RCTC, reducing the college’s operating costs. A companion, SF75, sponsored by Sen. Ann Lynch (DFL-Rochester), was laid over Feb. 23 by the Senate Economic Development and Housing Budget Division;

• HF283, sponsored by Rep. Kathy Brynaert (DFL-Mankato), would authorize $13.8 million for a combined women’s hockey center and performing arts center for Minnesota State University, Mankato. The facility would be an expansion of Mankato’s Alltel Center. A companion, SF125, sponsored by Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato), awaits action by the Senate Economic Development and Housing Budget Division.