Senate passes $10.5 million cash bill including dairy cooperative and local housing grants

The Minnesota Senate approved House File 17, a relatively small cash bill totaling about $10.5 million that funds a set of targeted projects, including a $3.5 million appropriation for a First District dairy cooperative wastewater facility in Litchfield and $2.439 million for a local public-housing program serving Washington and Olmsted counties.

Senator Susan Pappas, the bill’s floor author, summarized the bill and listed committee members and agency staff who worked on the measure. She said the bill is “very skinny” in dollar terms but included several projects committee members had prioritized.

Senator Michael Croon asked whether the First District Association dairy cooperative is a private for-profit entity; Pappas confirmed that it is. Croon expressed discomfort with using public funds for a private cooperative’s wastewater facility and questioned the appropriateness of including that project in a cash bill.

Pappas responded that the legislature has precedent for appropriations to entities that provide public benefits, citing past grants and loans to organizations and to projects such as workforce training facilities. The floor debate did not produce an amendment to remove the dairy appropriation.

On final passage the Senate recorded 37 ayes and 30 nays; the bill passed and the title was agreed to. Sponsors said spreadsheets and project lists were circulated to members and that implementation details would follow administrative steps and any conditions stated in the appropriation language.

Key line items discussed on the floor included the $3.5 million for the First District dairy cooperative wastewater project and $2.439 million for local public housing programs. Lawmakers asked for and were provided a spreadsheet of projects for members to review.