With no bonding bill, many accessibility projects have to wait until 2025, 2026

June 2024
By Access Press Staff

Minnesota's capital projects seeking state bonding dollars will now have to wait until at least 2025 or 2026, as no special legislative session will be called to finish the work left undone in May. On the final day of session, the House passed a $900 million bonding package, but the Senate ran out of time before midnight, ending any chance of approval. This is a significant setback in a year that is traditionally focused on bonding, especially after Gov. Tim Walz had introduced a $982 million infrastructure plan earlier in the session—much smaller than 2023's record-setting $2.6 billion package.

A wide range of projects were hoping for 2024 funding, including accessible and supportive housing, state facility upgrades, and accessibility improvements across Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lands. The DNR had requested $2 million to continue accessibility work at state parks and wildlife management areas. The Minnesota State Academies in Faribault also sought design funding for major updates: $300,000 for a new student center at the Academy for the Deaf, and $300,000 for therapy pool improvements at the Academy for the Blind. Both campuses face more than $33 million in asset preservation needs but had requested just $1.227 million this year.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services had also asked for $12.266 million for statewide asset preservation—only a fraction of the $184 million in deferred maintenance needs. With no bonding bill this year, all of these projects will remain on hold.

With no bonding bill, many accessibility projects have to wait until 2025, 2026 | Access Press