Minnesota Lawmakers Preparing Public Works Bill

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A public-works borrowing plan contains at least $320 million worth of construction projects.

Top Minnesota lawmakers agreed to the package early Thursday and it is being prepared for a vote in the upcoming special session. House Capital Investment Committee Chairman Paul Torkelson says it has money to complete the ongoing Capitol renovation, undertake a massive Iron Range bridge project, respond to recent natural disasters and construct two animal science laboratories.

Bonding bills, as they're known, require three-fifths votes to pass. So the majorities in both chambers need buy-in from the minority members. In the House, that means at least nine Democratic votes and probably more because some in the GOP might oppose it.

The new University of Minnesota animal health labs will be in Willmar and St. Paul.