On Monday, the Minnesota Senate passed legislation that fixes a small technical glitch in the 2018 bonding bill that potentially could have delayed several important area public works projects. The bill, which passed with wide, bipartisan support, was signed into law on Tuesday morning by Governor Tim Walz.

“We can now move ahead with certainty on the important area projects funded in the bonding bill,” said Senator Andrew Lang (R-Olivia). “Passing this bill and signing it into law ensure these needed fixes are included and that projects that are vital in our district are completed. The projects – from wastewater treatment to highway expansion – affect thousands of southwestern Minnesota residents every day. I’m glad the legislature came to a bipartisan agreement and got this done.”

The legislation addresses a small technicality in the bonding bill signed into law last year, which could have prevented certain projects from moving forward. Several area projects included in last year’s bonding bill are enabled to receive funding by this legislation, including sewer upgrades in DeGraff, water infrastructure upgrades in New London, and the completion of the four-lane expansion of Highway 23 from Willmar to St. Cloud. While the legislation does not specifically name these projects, they are in line to receive funding through the Public Facilities Authority’s Point Source Implementation Grant program and the Water Infrastructure Funding program.

Senator Andrew Lang, of Olivia, is in his first term representing District 17, which includes communities in Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Renville, and Swift counties.