On Sunday evening, Sen. Bill Weber (R-Luverne) and his Senate Republican colleagues led the way in passing final conference committee reports that fund Minnesota’s higher education, agricultural, and environment budget areas. The reports, which are the result of negotiations between the Senate, House, and Gov. Dayton, passed with broad, bipartisan support.
“The benefits of our budgets will be felt by southwestern Minnesotans, as well as citizens across the state,” said Sen. Weber, who served on the conference committee for the agricultural budget. “With a budget surplus exceeding a billion dollars, our budgets prioritize programs proven to work while making a significant investment into the future of our state.”
The omnibus agricultural budget provides $123.5 million in funding for agricultural-related programs in Minnesota. In this amount is funding for programs critical to rural communities, including funding for combating noxious weeds, such as Palmer amaranth, fresh food access in rural communities, and language clarifying that ‘verification of need’ does not supersede ‘label is the law.’ Finally, the bill provides funding for grants that will be available to new and expanding agricultural facilities that provide significant impact to the region, including truShrimp, a rapidly-expanding shrimp production facility located in Balaton.
The higher education budget invests $3.28 billion in Minnesota’s post-secondary institutions and students, workforce training, and research – an increase of $210 million over the previous budget. In addition to a $1.65 million increase in funding to Minnesota West Community and Technical College, supplemental funding will also be available for two-year community and technical colleges in Greater Minnesota, including the Minnesota West system. Funding for programs aimed at addressing our state’s shortage of qualified senior and health care workers, along with the teacher shortage felt in many rural communities, is included in the bill.
Addressing the buffer strip requirement is a primary component of the environment bill, which implements a grace period of eight months for those whose buffer strips may not be in compliance with the requirements. Those implementing buffers can work with local soil and water conservation districts for alternative practices. In addition, the bill includes language exempting cities from Pollution Control Agency water quality standards if their wastewater treatment facilities have less than 16 years of operation, mitigating potentially-enormous costs to city governments.
“Southwestern Minnesota is home to a vibrant agricultural economy and unparalleled natural beauty. Our environment and ag budgets focus on the future and address the many concerns brought to us by farmers, landowners, cities, and counties. In addition, our higher education bill provides Minnesota students – the leaders of tomorrow – access to a quality, affordable post-secondary education, ensuring students and institutions have every opportunity to succeed.” Sen. Weber continued. “These bills will do a lot of good for our entire state.”
Sen. Weber is in his second term representing Senate District 22, which includes communities in Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock counties. In addition to serving as chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy Committee, Sen. Weber served on the conference committees for the agriculture and education budget.