As the legislature works to assemble a final state budget agreement, Senator Jerry Relph (R-St. Cloud) will serve on the conference committee for the higher education bill. The conference committee, which includes five members of each legislative body, is responsible for working out a compromise on differences in the higher education budget bills passed by the House and the Senate. 

“I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to find common ground on how we can best fund higher education in Minnesota,” said Senator Relph. “We’re lucky to have some of the finest institutions of higher education in the nation right here in our backyard. I expect to have a serious conversation about how we can preserve our state’s legacy of higher learning for generations to come.”

In April, the Minnesota Senate passed a higher education budget that would boost funding for scholarship and grant programs, cap student tuition, bolster successful programs that meet workforce needs, and add additional mental health services. In total, the Senate bill would invest more than $3.3 billion in Minnesota’s public higher education systems.

Conference committees will begin meeting this week and will continue until an agreement is reached. After a conference committee has passed compromise legislation, both legislative bodies must vote to approve the agreement before sending it to the governor for a signature or veto. The legislature is constitutionally-mandated to adjourn by May 20.

“Our students are facing unique challenges in a rapidly-changing world. We need to make sure we are planning for the future, doing as best we can to equip today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders. I am optimistic we will find an agreement,” Senator Relph concluded.

Senator Jerry Relph represents St. Cloud, Waite Park, St. Augusta, Haven Township, Minden Township, and St. Joseph Township in the Minnesota Senate.