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Committee adopts amendment to shift remaining ALS research appropriation for statewide collaboration
Summary
The Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee adopted an oral amendment to House File 2930 to reallocate the remaining balance of a 2022 ALS research appropriation to support a coordinated University of Minnesota–Mayo collaboration; the bill was laid over for further consideration.
Representative Zack Hill presented House File 2930 to shift the remaining balance of a 2022 appropriation for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research into a statewide collaborative effort led by Minnesota's major research centers.
The bill would not create new spending but would reallocate existing funds to “open up” the balance to a coordinated consortium, Representative Hill said. He told the committee the remaining balance in the fund is $15,262,263 and offered an oral amendment to change the billed amount from $15,000,000 to that precise figure. “Currently remaining in the fund is $15,262,263,” Representative Hill said during his presentation.
Why it matters: supporters said the measure aims to reduce piecemeal grants and concentrate resources toward larger, collaborative research that may accelerate progress against ALS. Dante Tomassoni, who testified about the bill's origin and his late father Senator David Tomassoni’s work on the appropriation, argued the original intent was to fund work aimed at a cure. Dr. David Wouk, director of the University of Minnesota ALS program, told the committee the appropriation to date funded five projects (three at the University of Minnesota and two at Mayo Clinic) and that a coordinated approach could leverage statewide capacity.
Committee action and details: after Representative Hill offered the oral amendment, Chair Wolgamott moved the amendment; members voted by voice and the amendment was adopted. The amendment changes the amount to $15,262,263. The committee then laid House File 2930 over for further consideration.
What supporters said: Tomassoni framed the effort as continuing his father’s work and said piecemeal awards had limited impact. Dr. Wouk said Minnesota’s Mayo–University partnership provides a model for statewide coordination and that applying the remaining balance to a consortium could “accelerate ALS research and care for Minnesotans.”
What the record shows: the committee did not allocate new funds; the action was a reallocation of an existing 2022 appropriation. No final funding award decisions were taken at the hearing; the bill was laid over.
Next steps: House File 2930 is laid over for further committee work and potential inclusion in future legislative packages.
