House committee advances capital-construction bill with veterans, college and penitentiary fixes

The Committee of the Whole advanced House Bill 111, the state-funded capital construction bill, after multiple committee amendments and extended floor debate.

Chairman Pendergraft walked members through definitions, project lists and special notes, and said the bill includes planning for community college projects and a variety of state facilities. He noted a request for spending authority for a fairgrounds show building using private funds and described the veterans project in Buffalo, saying federal funds (about $67 million) are expected and the state would front costs to move construction forward.

Representative Bridal spoke in favor of a Committee of the Whole amendment to fund Sheridan College’s science center, saying the project is "ready to go" with more than $12 million in private fundraising and a total project cost of roughly $27 million. He asked colleagues to support a general-fund share of about $15 million to complete the project.

Other amendments adopted gave the Department of Corrections and the construction department more flexibility to secure land for a future penitentiary and corrected technical omissions in college maintenance line items. One amendment failed on a standing-count vote. After debate the committee recommended passage of HB 111 back to the House.

What happens next: HB 111 will be folded into the capital construction package going forward and paired with a construction bill expected later in the session.