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�i111% iNC�., This year the legislature has decided to combine omnibus bills into bills that encompass three to four difference committees. Transportation funding is being combined with Veterans and Military Affairs, Labor and Industry, Pensions and State Government Finance. The expectation is that conference committees will meet to work out the differences with these multi -subject omnibus bills. Bonding bill tops to-do list as Legislature returns from break with much business left Lawmakers traditionally pass an infrastructure funding package, called the bonding bill, in even -numbered years. The House is supposed to propose the bill first before the Senate offers its version. Depending on when the House rolls out its plan, bonding conversations could start in earnest around the time of the state Fishing Opener on May 14, said Sen. Tom Bakk, an Independent from Cook who chairs the Senate committee focused on bonding. "I don't think it will get serious between the House and the Senate until then," Bakk said. "It's just always the last thing out of town. Everyone will tell you it's the most important thing of the session, it's the thing we're here for — it's still always the last thing." 2022 Minnesota Legislative Session Break Over - Time to Get Busy The legislature is back from the Easter/Passover break is busy passing omnibus funding bills. Although this is not thl budget year - a two-year budget was passed last year - supplemental budgets in the even years have become commonplace in recent years. The governor proposed a supplemental budget in light of tt $9.25 billion surplus in the general fund as well as about $' billion in remaining federal COVID funds. The legislature does not have to pass a supplemental budget and they ma go home without one if agreement cannot be reached. However, the governor would have the ability to decide ho% to spend the federal COVID dollars absent agreement by the legislature. The governor, the House and the Senate have all recognized the need to increase transportation funding fror the general fund in order to match and maximize the amou of federal infrastructure dollars coming to Minnesota. They of course, have different approaches. The governor's budg proposal calls for transferring general fund dollars to both the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund (HUTDF) and to a pool of money that would be available for transit and other modes. This funding would be provided for at least four years and the increases would be added to the base. The House has a much smaller amount of general fund dollars being transferred to transportation with much of tha provided as one-time increases. The Senate provides both a four-year transfer of general fund dollars to match federa infrastructure funds and a statutory dedication of the revenue from the sales tax on auto repair parts. The regular session is set to end May 23rd. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 2