On Saturday, Minnesota Senate Republicans announced a $1.4 billion bonding bill, which focuses on key infrastructure needs, jobs, and economic growth across Minnesota. The bill includes $5.75 million for infrastructure improvements to the Red Rock Rural Water System and $250,000 for a low-income dental clinic in Pipestone.

“The Senate’s bonding proposal includes a number of critical infrastructure projects across Minnesota – and I am pleased to see several important area projects funded in the legislation. By investing in our infrastructure needs through bonding, we are making a long-term investment in our local economies. These investments will ultimately bring jobs and economic development to the region,” said Senator Bill Weber (R-Luverne). “This is a good bill that focuses on what our state needs: critical infrastructure and asset preservation. I am hopeful these projects will make it across the finish line to the final bill.”

The Senate’s proposed $1.4 billion bonding bill includes $998 million in general obligation bonds – as well as an additional $400 million in trunk highway bonds – for critical infrastructure, state assets, roads and bridges, airports, and freight rail. The bill finances a total of $688 million in transportation projects, $203 million in water treatment and infrastructure grants for access to clean water, and $105 million in economic development grants. Finally, the bill includes $170 million for the maintenance of publicly owned buildings and learning environments at the University of Minnesota and campuses of the Minnesota State system.

Projects are eligible for bonding if they are publicly owned and designated as infrastructure and approximately $5.5 billion in capital requests were submitted this year. A list of projects and totals included in the bill is available here.

Senator Bill Weber represents Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Redwood, and Rock counties in the Minnesota Senate. He serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy Committee.