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.

“There are many needs across the state – and these tours help us see what, and where, those needs are,” said Senator Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson), vice chair of the Senate Capital Investment Committee. “Each year, entities across the state submit billions of dollars in bonding requests for city infrastructure, college buildings, highways, parks, trails, and much more. Visiting these requests in person helps the committee see the needs 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.

“There are a lot of worthy projects. I’m looking forward to visiting northwestern Minnesota, meeting with local officials, and hearing about their requests,” Senator Newman continued.

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

Senator Scott Newman, of Hutchinson, represents communities in McLeod, Meeker, Sibley, and Wright counties in the Minnesota Senate. Senator Newman is chair of the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee.