House Capital Investment Committee hits the road

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Tracy Beltz, warden of the state women’s prison in Shakopee, describes a proposal to add a perimeter security fence to the facility, not only to keep inmates in, but to keep intruders out, since the prison is located in a residential area. (Photo by Paul Battaglia)

The second year of a legislative biennium is often focused on passing a capital investment, or bonding, law.

In anticipation of the Legislature whittling down nearly $3 billion in requests from state agencies and local governments, members of the House and Senate Capital Investment committees have been touring the state to get a first-hand look at some of the requests.

View a photo gallery that followed House members Oct. 9 as they toured some project requests from southeastern and south-central Minnesota.

It is anticipated the 2014 capital investment law will be in the $850 million range, putting total biennial bonding spending at about $1 billion.

A capital investment law passed late in the 2013 session totaled $156 million, with $109 million going toward State Capitol renovations. Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul), who chairs the House Capital Investment Committee, crafted an $800 million general-obligation bonding package that included money for higher education, a trio of civic center expansions and money to expand transit in the metropolitan area. However, that bill failed by five votes.

View the local government and state agency project requests that have been submitted for consideration during the 2014 legislative session.

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