This week, the Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee will continue its MNfrastructure bonding tour in northwestern Minnesota. The tour, which will take place Tuesday, October 1 through Thursday, October 3, is the second in a series of similar tours in each region of the state. The committee will hear more than 30 proposals from local governments, colleges, state agencies, and other entities.

“Our state has many, many capital needs, but limited funding. These tours help the committee see exactly what – and where – those needs are,” said Senator David Senjem (R-Rochester), chair of the Senate Capital Investment Committee. “With more than $5 billion in capital requests for this year, there are undoubtedly many worthy projects. I’m looking forward to visiting these communities and seeing these projects firsthand.”

Projects are eligible for bonding if they are publicly owned and designated as infrastructure. More than $5.3 billion in capital requests have been made by state agencies, colleges, cities, counties, townships, and other government entities across Minnesota. When the legislature convenes in February, the committee will formally consider the requests before putting together a bill.

“Bonding” refers to the process by which the state finances certain construction projects of local, regional, and statewide significance through the selling of bonds. A “bonding bill”, also known as a capital investment bill, is a piece of legislation that authorizes the issuing of bonds and other capital to pay for certain construction projects and infrastructure upgrades. Bonding legislation requires a 3/5 majority in each body to pass.

More information on the tour can be found on the MNfrastructure website.

Senator David Senjem, of Rochester, represents Dodge and Olmsted counties in the Minnesota Senate. He serves as chair of the Senate Capital Investment Committee and is a former majority leader and minority leader.